HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:21 pm

CrimsonCakeEater wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 1:25 pm

Doc Holliday wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 12:43 pm I thought I remembered it being a Blake parent, but I think the point remains.

I used to think it was ridiculous with the empty building & thought it should be at Ridder, but it doesn't bother me anymore. Xcel is the pinnacle arena to play at in the state, so I got no problem with it being the ultimate location for the tournament. I know baseball has done CHS & then moved to Target Field for the championship, but may as well keep it at the same place throughout.

The X is fine for the girls, they fill up the lower bowl pretty well on Friday and Saturday.

As a supporter of the women's game, I've been to the semifinals and finals probably a dozen times, I've never seen the lower bowl close to half full.

I went to a number of State Tournaments when the girls played at the Colloseum. The night 1999 when Krissy Wendell's Park Center team played South St. Paul in the quarter finals it was a sellout. I don't recall what capacity was for hockey at the Colloseum.

I've listened to the past 2 episodes of the YHH pod and they have multiple times discussed the venue for 8AA but have not explained very well how it works.

Can anyone explain how it works?

The51 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:15 am I've listened to the past 2 episodes of the YHH pod and they have multiple times discussed the venue for 8AA but have not explained very well how it works.

Can anyone explain how it works?

high seed for semis and then neutral site for championship based on location.
choices are usually thief river, bemidji or st cloud

WarmUpTheBus wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:06 am

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:21 pm

CrimsonCakeEater wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 1:25 pm

The X is fine for the girls, they fill up the lower bowl pretty well on Friday and Saturday.

As a supporter of the women's game, I've been to the semifinals and finals probably a dozen times, I've never seen the lower bowl close to half full.

I went to a number of State Tournaments when the girls played at the Colloseum. The night 1999 when Krissy Wendell's Park Center team played South St. Paul in the quarter finals it was a sellout. I don't recall what capacity was for hockey at the Colloseum.

Well, lot's if things were different in the flip phone era.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 12:09 pm

WarmUpTheBus wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:06 am

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:21 pm

As a supporter of the women's game, I've been to the semifinals and finals probably a dozen times, I've never seen the lower bowl close to half full.

I went to a number of State Tournaments when the girls played at the Colloseum. The night 1999 when Krissy Wendell's Park Center team played South St. Paul in the quarter finals it was a sellout. I don't recall what capacity was for hockey at the Colloseum.

Well, lot's if things were different in the flip phone era.

Sure was! You could text people and not have to look at your phone since you got a better feel for what key your finger was on with physical buttons!

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 12:09 pm

WarmUpTheBus wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:06 am

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:21 pm

As a supporter of the women's game, I've been to the semifinals and finals probably a dozen times, I've never seen the lower bowl close to half full.

I went to a number of State Tournaments when the girls played at the Colloseum. The night 1999 when Krissy Wendell's Park Center team played South St. Paul in the quarter finals it was a sellout. I don't recall what capacity was for hockey at the Colloseum.

Well, lot's if things were different in the flip phone era.

Yup. Motorola Razr on the 30 minute per month plan only to be used in emergencies.

elliott70 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:31 am

The51 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:15 am I've listened to the past 2 episodes of the YHH pod and they have multiple times discussed the venue for 8AA but have not explained very well how it works.

Can anyone explain how it works?

high seed for semis and then neutral site for championship based on location.
choices are usually thief river, bemidji or st cloud

So they just reserve a night for the finals at all 3 rinks? And then what are their factors for deciding once the 2 teams are known

The51 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:18 pm

elliott70 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:31 am

The51 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:15 am I've listened to the past 2 episodes of the YHH pod and they have multiple times discussed the venue for 8AA but have not explained very well how it works.

Can anyone explain how it works?

high seed for semis and then neutral site for championship based on location.
choices are usually thief river, bemidji or st cloud

So they just reserve a night for the finals at all 3 rinks? And then what are their factors for deciding once the 2 teams are known

I am not sure how they reserve them but they try to split the mileage.
In this case Bemidji has about 90 miles and Moorhead about 110 miles.


Section 8A rotates from East grand to thief to Warroad.

elliott70 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:41 pm

The51 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:18 pm

elliott70 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 11:31 am

high seed for semis and then neutral site for championship based on location.
choices are usually thief river, bemidji or st cloud

So they just reserve a night for the finals at all 3 rinks? And then what are their factors for deciding once the 2 teams are known

I am not sure how they reserve them but they try to split the mileage.
In this case Bemidji has about 90 miles and Moorhead about 110 miles.


Section 8A rotates from East grand to thief to Warroad.

Section 4AA should go to a neutral site as well since Hill-Murray practically owns Aldrich Arena.

wbmd wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 1:12 am

elliott70 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:41 pm

The51 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:18 pm

So they just reserve a night for the finals at all 3 rinks? And then what are their factors for deciding once the 2 teams are known

I am not sure how they reserve them but they try to split the mileage.
In this case Bemidji has about 90 miles and Moorhead about 110 miles.


Section 8A rotates from East grand to thief to Warroad.

Section 4AA should go to a neutral site as well since Hill-Murray practically owns Aldrich Arena.

Where would you suggest they go? There is not another venue that provides the cental location, seating capacity and quality sightlines that Aldrich provides.

wbmd wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 1:12 am

elliott70 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:41 pm

The51 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:18 pm

So they just reserve a night for the finals at all 3 rinks? And then what are their factors for deciding once the 2 teams are known

I am not sure how they reserve them but they try to split the mileage.
In this case Bemidji has about 90 miles and Moorhead about 110 miles.


Section 8A rotates from East grand to thief to Warroad.

Section 4AA should go to a neutral site as well since Hill-Murray practically owns Aldrich Arena.

Sigh. Do we really have to go through this every year?

Aldrich is owned and operated by Ramsey County Parks, and if you want ice time, it's available. Johnson, White Bear, Stillwater, NSP, and Tartan abandoned Aldrich, of their own volition. If it were not the home of boys and girls Hill hockey, I'm not sure it would even be open today. It is hands down the best, most practical venue for section final games. Section 5 even used it for a few years, and it's long drive from Maple Grove on a Thursday night.

White Bear and Stillwater could play as many games as they want there. And why they don't play both of their regular season games there is beyond me. Hell, WB could find three other teams and play a nice holiday tournament there. Stillwater and WB made choices to not play at Aldrich anymore. They could choose to play more games there, too. So stop whining, sleep in the bed you made.

Would it really be a good idea to choose a smaller venue that would accommodate even fewer fans? Seriously? So it sells out in ten minutes instead of 15? It's not like section championships were hard to come by for Hill before the finals were moved there. Y'all outghta be grateful we still have Aldrich available because of Hill.

Now I can see one valid reason to play the game at that crummy rink WB plays at, they wouldn't have to pull down any championship banners. (You can't say the same for Stillwater, those Zephyr banners in the corner would need to be removed.)

UST once built should host 3AA and 4AA - and most likley will.

wbmd wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 1:12 am

elliott70 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:41 pm

The51 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:18 pm

So they just reserve a night for the finals at all 3 rinks? And then what are their factors for deciding once the 2 teams are known

I am not sure how they reserve them but they try to split the mileage.
In this case Bemidji has about 90 miles and Moorhead about 110 miles.


Section 8A rotates from East grand to thief to Warroad.

Section 4AA should go to a neutral site as well since Hill-Murray practically owns Aldrich Arena.

The 4AA final will probably move to St. Thomas' new arena once complete. It makes the most sense geographically for a neutral site game.

I never thought about WBL/Stilly hosting a Christmas tourney at Aldrich, would be a good idea. I know for a handful of years WBL played a home game at Aldrich near the end of the year. Looks like they didn't do that this year, and it showed.

I mean I wouldn't be shocked if some section finals get moved to the new UST rink, but people are still going to somehow gripe about it like b-b-b-b-but Hill still gets to play at a private schools rink or something. It wont end. No matter the venue, no matter the logos on the ice.

Aldrich was the birthplace of the Wild and is the cathedral of high school hockey in Minnesota.

No matter the venue, no matter the logos on the ice. People who are not wearing kelly green on a Saturday night in late February/early March will find a way to be upset.

Ridder was perfect last night.

O-townClown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 9:14 am Ridder was perfect last night.

I agree. Perfect venue for two big schools to play one game.

Hill fans do get confused when they are not the top seed and have to sit on the North side of the arena.

ryguyMN wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 9:05 am

wbmd wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 1:12 am

elliott70 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 4:41 pm

I am not sure how they reserve them but they try to split the mileage.
In this case Bemidji has about 90 miles and Moorhead about 110 miles.


Section 8A rotates from East grand to thief to Warroad.

Section 4AA should go to a neutral site as well since Hill-Murray practically owns Aldrich Arena.

The 4AA final will probably move to St. Thomas' new arena once complete. It makes the most sense geographically for a neutral site game.

Would very much welcome seeing 4AA played at the new Saint Thomas arena. I think there are some logistical things that would need to be figured out before it could actually happen. If 4AA does make the move to that venue, the usual Friday night section final might have to move to earlier in the week. I believe it's a dual purpose arena (basketball and hockey) so figuring out 4 DI teams (M and W Hockey/Hoops) not using the venue on a Friday night might be near impossible. Would miss that aspect of having the 4AA section final on a friday night - but would be a welcomed new venue with more seating than Aldrich.

SEC Scotty wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 9:37 am Hill fans do get confused when they are not the top seed and have to sit on the North side of the arena.

When I was the HM student manager/statistician years ago I always sat in the press box. So I was used to it at least

TourneyEarnie wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 9:13 am I never thought about WBL/Stilly hosting a Christmas tourney at Aldrich, would be a good idea. I know for a handful of years WBL played a home game at Aldrich near the end of the year. Looks like they didn't do that this year, and it showed.

I mean I wouldn't be shocked if some section finals get moved to the new UST rink, but people are still going to somehow gripe about it like b-b-b-b-but Hill still gets to play at a private schools rink or something. It wont end. No matter the venue, no matter the logos on the ice.

Aldrich was the birthplace of the Wild and is the cathedral of high school hockey in Minnesota.

No matter the venue, no matter the logos on the ice. People who are not wearing kelly green on a Saturday night in late February/early March will find a way to be upset.

No, that would be the Hippodrome in Eveleth.

The MSHSL should just rent out Ridder for all metro-based section finals. I can't imagine there being a ton of empty seats. Yeah, it's a commute for some, but if you're going to be playing at the X at state, there's going to be a commute anyway.

The undersized section final venues for the metro just gives the appearance that there is large demand, when in fact, it's more about lower supply and turning people away.

ryguyMN wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 11:03 am The MSHSL should just rent out Ridder for all metro-based section finals. I can't imagine there being a ton of empty seats. Yeah, it's a commute for some, but if you're going to be playing at the X at state, there's going to be a commute anyway.

The undersized section final venues for the metro just gives the appearance that there is large demand, when in fact, it's more about lower supply and turning people away.

The MSHSL doesn't determine locations - it's the head of each section - but like the thought process. Timing wouldn't work for all 8 - but Section, 2,3, 4, 5, 6 - all could be there and UST once built. Was a really good environment last night.

O-townClown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 9:14 am Ridder was perfect last night.

How was attendance?

ryguyMN wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 11:03 am The MSHSL should just rent out Ridder for all metro-based section finals. I can't imagine there being a ton of empty seats. Yeah, it's a commute for some, but if you're going to be playing at the X at state, there's going to be a commute anyway.

The undersized section final venues for the metro just gives the appearance that there is large demand, when in fact, it's more about lower supply and turning people away.

Ridder cannot accommodate the demand for tickets to Section 4AA. Neither can Aldrich, but at least fewer get turned away.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 12:20 pm

O-townClown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 9:14 am Ridder was perfect last night.

How was attendance?

When I looked into getting tickets online yesterday about 5pm it said it was sold out.