This was posted on Brad's blog today. Nothing like stacking the deck in the Gophers favor. I can just imagine we will hear some silly statements about how the Xcel energy center isn't a home game for the Gophers. Yeah OK... The Xcel energy center is is a nice arena and a great venue for the Sioux to stomp the Gophers yet again.
Maybe the NCAA will send the Sioux out east. I see some nice venues out east as well. I can imagine we will hear complaining from some fans about teams holding regionals on their home arenas. The Xcel energy center will drawl well and will be a great place to watch a regional and the regional will sell a lot of tickets if the Gophers make the regional.
Xcel Center to host 2010 regional
The Xcel Energy Center and Minnesota have been awarded the 2010 West Regional, the school announced today. That means the Gophers will host the next two West Regionals. This season's is at Mariucci.
Future sites:
2009
Northeast: Manchester, N.H.
East: Bridgeport, Conn.
West: Minneapolis (Mariucci)
Midwest: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Frozen Four: Washington, D.C.
2010
Northeast: Worcester, Mass.
East: Albany, N.Y.
West: St. Paul (Xcel)
Midwest: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Frozen Four: Detroit (Ford Field)
2011
Northeast: Manchester, N.H.
East: Bridgeport, Conn.
West: TBA.
Midwest: TBA.
Frozen Four: St. Paul (Xcel Center)
2012
Frozen Four: Tampa
According to USCHO forums you can fill Green Bay and St. Louis for 2011, midwest and west respectively.
ReplyDeleteI think its kinda BS that minnesota gets 3 sites back to back to back, w/ Mariucci next year and then back to back Xcel dates, one being the FF. No one else in the "midwest" or "west" wanted to host a regional in 2010?
The Host team getting to play at home rule makes some sense if you're moving the tournament around.
ReplyDeleteBut if you're going to favor one time over and over again it isn't.
They should at least consider St Clown or Mankato as Host schools in order to not favor the goophers so much.