WCHA to continue negotiations with Omaha

Here is the latest development in the WCHA's pursuit of UNO as a 12th member of the WCHA. It looks like there will be some on going negotiations and discussions before the WCHA will be able to convince the UNO Mavericks to move to the WCHA. UNO holds the cards they already have a conference so the WCHA is going to have to give more. Personally I think UNO is a better fit travel wise and the league should try to make this happen.

Following a conference call between Western Collegiate Hockey Association
athletic directors and league commissioner Bruce McLeod Wednesday, negotiations regarding the admittance of the University of Nebraska-Omaha to the WCHA will continue. Bemidji State University athletic director Rick Goeb said McLeod would be going back to UNO to present options that the member schools found acceptable. “He’s going to present options the WCHA agreed on during the conference call,” Goeb said. “The league has now given (McLeod) more direction on what’s acceptable as far as terms of a possible agreement.

“The ball is in UNO’s court now. It’s they’re call if they want to accept
the recommendations.” Contrary to previous media reports, there was no actual “straw poll” Wednesday in which a vote was taken on terms of a possible agreement between Omaha and the WCHA. Instead discussions were held concerning what
terms the league athletic directors felt comfortable in offering. The terms could include such items as league entrance fees, the sharing of postseason revenues and when the team would join the league.
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What appears to be happening now is the typical give and take of any type of business negotiation. McLeod entered into negotiations with UNO and then reported back to league athletic directors. Discussions were held this week on various options and now McLeod will go back to UNO with a more clear directive from league officials. [Bemidji Pioneer]

The latest from Rink and Run. It will be interesting to see what is going to be announced.

The ball is rolling on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association expansion front and could lead to an announcement as soon as Friday, commissioner Bruce McLeod said from his Denver office Thursday afternoon.

McLeod, who met with league athletic directors by phone Wednesday night, said it was premature to discuss any details, but did note that developments had changed since the conference call.