ECAC Reportedly Considering Moving Tournament to Albany

jtwcornell91 · May 16, 2002, 02:49:53 PM

http://uscho.com/news/2002/05/16_004435.php

::yark::

Al DeFlorio · May 16, 2002, 04:32:38 PM

Maybe someone in Centerville does have an ounce of good sense, after all.:-D :-D :-D

Jim Hyla · May 16, 2002, 05:10:57 PM

I have my hotel reservations for LP, but would be happy to go to Albany. For me not alot of difference, but for my daughter, and I suspect others, Albany would be nicer.

jtwcornell91 · May 16, 2002, 06:15:59 PM

We've had this debate before, but I'd say "nice" is what Placid has going for it. "Convenient" is Albany's selling point.

Al DeFlorio · May 16, 2002, 06:27:07 PM

By staying in Saratoga Springs you get "nice" (much nicer than LP, IMHO) as well as "convenient."

redraider13 · May 17, 2002, 03:29:57 AM

It looks like an announcement might be made as early as next week, and we are moving there as early as this season! I love Lake Placid, but I think Albany should be tried. If for no other reason than to convince the local businesses in LP not to mark up their prices several hundred percent when we come to town. If we can get considerable attendance in Albany, and get treated well there, I say we go for it.

ericho_4511 · May 17, 2002, 11:06:45 AM

One possible reason that it would be good to have the ECAC's in Albany is to lose the "small time...EZAC" image.

The "Big Three" conferences (if you will) all hold their tournaments in arenas:
WCHA - St. Paul Excel Center, Milwaukee Bradley Center etc...
CCHA - Detroit, Joe Loius Arena
HE - Boston, Fleet Center

Having the ECAC tournament in Lake Placid is a wonderful fan experience and I've enjoyed it immensely whenever I've been there. Greg Berge has often made the point that it's great to literally have the whole town dedicated to, and filled with, college hockey fans!

However from a national standpoint, it could be viewed as a small-time conference having its tournament in a quaint barn in a po-dunk town.
If the ECAC is serious about raising its image and competing on the national stage for recruits and recognition, moving the tournament to a city with a bonafide arena might make some sense.

Let the arguments begin about whether the Pepsi Arena and Albany qualify as "city" and "bonafide arena".

(BTW I lived in Albany for nearly 10 years and I do think they qualify).

Eric

Al DeFlorio · May 17, 2002, 11:12:57 AM

"Greg Berge has often made the point that it's great to literally have the whole town dedicated to, and filled with, college hockey fans!"

Dedicated to ripping college hockey fans off would be a more accurate characterization.

ericho_4511 · May 17, 2002, 11:22:06 AM

I agree in general. But I don't think they discriminate against college hockey fans. They rip everyone off.....skiers, Empire State Games, summer tourists, etc....

After all, Lake Placid is a tourist trap town. Think Lake George with Olympic history.....

Eric

jtwcornell91 · May 17, 2002, 11:39:21 AM

I feel exactly the opposite. The ECAC was getting squeezed out of Boston by Hockey Least, so rather than trying to compete with the other conferences on their terms, they forged their own path, embracing their small-town roots. The ECACs in Lake Placid were something different; moving to Albany would mean trying to be like the big boys and coming up short. The Academic League will never beat the others at their own game; the key is to underline the differences that make the ECAC special, and Lake Placid was one of those.

jtwcornell91 · May 17, 2002, 11:47:34 AM

Al DeFlorio wrote:

QuoteBy staying in Saratoga Springs you get "nice" (much nicer than LP, IMHO) as well as "convenient."

So you'll stay in Saratoga Springs, Greg will stay in a Best Western in Albany, Melissa will stay at home, I'll stay at my Mom's in Kingston, and we'll lose the extra sense of community that Placid's immersion brings.

ugarte · May 17, 2002, 12:29:43 PM

Can't we all just crash on the floor of Greg's room at the Best Western? Stop being so cheap, Greg. Get a suite.

Greg Berge · May 17, 2002, 01:27:52 PM

I'm accepting donations...

Nothing to add to what I and others have pointed out for years about Lake Placid. The ECAC is apparently incapable of taking one step forward (getting rid of the F5) without 6 steps back (this). Hopefully, Lake Placid will sue their asses off.

DeltaOne81 · May 17, 2002, 01:37:23 PM

Well, this being my first visit to Lake Placid, I can certainly say I loved the town. A little more parking and it would have been perfect :-). However, the one plus I can certainly see from Albany... a "standard" ice sheet. It bothers me that the automatic bid is decided on a different ice surface than most of the teams play on all year long - just doesn't feel right.

Now I'm not turning into a Syracuse lax fan and claiming that hockey shouldn't be allowed to be played there (or in the rain for that matter ;-) ) or that it doesn't count if it is, but it would just seem more appropriate to be on a 200x85 sheet.

That said, and practical factors ignore, the perfect solution would be Lake Placid with a 200x85, IMHO.

-Fred

Greg Berge · May 17, 2002, 01:43:35 PM

The perfect solution is to play the tourny at Lynah, with season ticket holders retaining their seats. ;-)