OT: Arizona State University - NCAA D1 Hockey

[Sinurgy]

If they can build a competitive program, the rest will take care of itself...

 

[Mosby]

http://www.houseofsparky.com/2015/1...ver-arena-arizona-coyotes-oceanside-ice-arena

ASU Hockey: Sun Devils plan to play games at Gila River Arena next season

The home of the NCAA Division I Sun Devils might not be its current home for very long. And its newest temporary home might be an NHL arena.

ASU currently plays at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe, and the rink announced in early January it would house the NCAA team next season. It may do so for a few games, but coach Greg Powers said Friday the team does not consider the rink its long-term home, or even play all its games there next season.

"I want to make it abundantly clear," Powers said. "(Oceanside) is not, absolutely not, the permanent, long-term home for Sun Devil hockey.

"No one ever said we're playing all our games next season at Oceanside. We might just play some."

Powers said negotiations are ongoing for games to be played as soon as next season at Gila River Arena in Glendale, home of the NHL's Arizona Coyotes. Powers called the possibility of ASU playing rival Arizona at the Coyotes' rink "very likely."

The endgame for ASU hockey is a 4,000-6,000-seat arena in the East Valley, preferably on campus, Powers said. He said he hopes to have that done in time for ASU's third Division I season in 2017-18.

With 2015-16 games played at a combination of Oceanside and Gila River and 2017-18 ideally at the new facility, that leaves 2016-17, the first full season of NCAA scheduling. Powers said the Coyotes may continue to play host.

"I would expect most of, if not all of our games to be at a major arena," Powers said. "And that very likely could be Gila River."

The NHL rarely plays back-to-back games, meaning ASU could schedule its games for Coyotes off nights. There also exists the possibility of a double-header, with ASU playing a Saturday matinee before a Coyotes night game.

Powers offered no further update on the discussions for a new stadium in the 2017-18 season.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

Good lord, an ASU/Coyotes doubleheader would be frigging AWESOME. I'd have to buy my first-ever ASU souvenir.

 

[CC96]

Ahhh ****! ****, ****, ****. I gotta drive out to Glendale even more if I wanna see an ASU game? ****, I hate that place. I already drive out there too much for the Coyotes, so I don't think I'll be able to make many ASU games now.

 

[ClassLessCoyote]

ASU has alumni all over the Valley. It's quite possible that attendance won't be an issue depending on what's the target number for the games.

 

[Desert Ice 11]

The endgame for ASU hockey is a 4,000-6,000-seat arena in the East Valley, preferably on campus, Powers said. He said he hopes to have that done in time for ASU's third Division I season in 2017-18.

Hockey in the east valley! Yesssss!!!

 

[TheLegend]

ASU commits are beginning to come in. Gage Mackie committed to ASU today. Ranked 178th in North America on the 2015 Entry Draft list.


http://www.houseofsparky.com/2015/2/9/8007651/asu-arizona-state-hockey-gage-mackie-sun-devils-nhl-draft

 

[Jormungandr]

Anyone have any idea why the plan is to play 2 seasons in the USHL before joining the Sun Devils for 2017-2018?

 

[MIGs Dog]

Anyone have any idea why the plan is to play 2 seasons in the USHL before joining the Sun Devils for 2017-2018?

Doesn't want to travel to Glendale either

 

[MIGs Dog]

The USHL does not pay a stipend, and therefore unlike the CHL their players are NCAA eligible.

If the NCAA starts paying athletes to play, the entire dynamic for NCAA hockey could change if former CHL players were to become eligible.

 

[TheLegend]

A confirmation ASU will play some games at GRA next year.

 

[CC96]

A confirmation ASU will play some games at GRA next year.

God ****ing damnit. I might not even go to a single ASU game next year now, considering I already have to drive in traffic to the badlands of Glendale like 50 times a year. ****!

 

[CC96]

Why couldn't they have just struck a deal with U.S. Airways Center? Fml.

 

[zz]

Since we're going to pick third, maybe we can get Eichel to play a season for ASU before heading to Buffalo?

 

[zz]

Why couldn't they have just struck a deal with U.S. Airways Center? Fml.

I know right??? Makes no ****ing sense. How many students are going to make the drive all the way there? At least US Airways is walking distance from downtown campus and a short light rail ride away from Tempe.

I don't get it.

 

[rt]

There will be 900 fans at those games if the tickets are free.

 

[mouser]

Depends on how many games we're talking about. The speculation before was that it would only be a handful of the D1 games at a big arena.

 

[ClassLessCoyote]

Keep in mind they're way more ASU Fans throughout the valley than Coyotes Fans. I'm sure that if college hockey becomes more and more popular overtime among ASU Fans that where they reside doesn't matter, especially since there is more than 1 ASU Campus in the valley.

 

[Mosby]

More revenue opportunities for IceArizona and Glendale. Cool.

 

[zz]

Keep in mind they're way more ASU Fans throughout the valley than Coyotes Fans. I'm sure that if college hockey becomes more and more popular overtime among ASU Fans that where they reside doesn't matter, especially since there is more than 1 ASU Campus in the valley.

That was exactly the reasoning behind creating that damn arena. And guess what? Location does matter.

It matters even more when your target market is pretty broke and rides a bike.

Oh well. I'm sure they tried working out a deal with US Airways but it must be cost-prohibitive to get an ice rink put in place once a week. I'm sure Gila River is much cheaper to rent, and probably the only viable option considering Oceanside has very little seating.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

That was exactly the reasoning behind creating that damn arena. And guess what? Location does matter.

It matters even more when your target market is pretty broke and rides a bike.

College students know what carpools and buses are. They'll be fine.

 

[PHX FireBirds18]

That was exactly the reasoning behind creating that damn arena. And guess what? Location does matter.

It matters even more when your target market is pretty broke and rides a bike.

Oh well. I'm sure they tried working out a deal with US Airways but it must be cost-prohibitive to get an ice rink put in place once a week. I'm sure Gila River is much cheaper to rent, and probably the only viable option considering Oceanside has very little seating.

I have a game on Saturday at Oceanside so I haven't seen it yet, but they recently did some renovations there to seat 1500 people. Which would be a huge step above what they originally had. Someone told me that they need to at least be able to hold that to be a D1 arena.

 

[Summer Rose]

I have a game on Saturday at Oceanside so I haven't seen it yet, but they recently did some renovations there to seat 1500 people. Which would be a huge step above what they originally had. Someone told me that they need to at least be able to hold that to be a D1 arena.

I reffed at Oceanside on Sunday. They've currently ripped out all the seating on the south side of the ice sheet and have moved the penalty benches and scorekeeper's table to the opposite side of the ice. The stands behind the end boards are still there.

I'm not sure what they have in mind for the empty space.

 

[awfulwaffle]

I'm sorry, but give a college kid a chance to drink and just hop on a train - much better than "hey - want to go out to Glendale and party at Westgate after?" - "Sure, what do you think a cab ride will cost?" - "Too much" - "Screw it, let's just go to Mill"

Terrible idea. I'm sure there were plenty of costs involved, but the stands are going to be barren compared to what it could have been if marketed right at Talking Stick. Hell, I might not even be living on the light rail in a year, but this still stinks. Going to Glendale just sucks.

 

[0point1]

Buses?