UCONN vs. Wolfpack

[rich1122]

Just curious what you think about this sort of co-existence. Hurts or helps Wolfpack??

On one hand it may take attendance away, on the other it has generated lot's of interest in hockey throughout the state.

My opinion people who would not normally go to Hartford for an event, and have embraced UCONN Hockey, may in fact end up at a few WPack games. A rising hockey tide lifts all boats?

Should be interesting today. UCONN/BU 3:30PM; Wolfpack 7:30PM.

 

[IceBus]

Pretty irrelevant IMO. The demographics are different for each of them. The Wolf Pack gets young families and minor league diehards, UConn gets the demographics that would've been supporting the Whalers.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

UCONN gets the demographics that would've been supporting the Whalers.

What were, or supposedly are, those demographics?

 

[FartMan69]

What were, or supposedly are, those demographics?

Non Ranger fans IMO. People forget the Whalers had one of the largest season ticket bases in the NHL at the time and now a lot of fans who were children or teens have families of their own. The only pro sport that could realistically happen in CT is hockey because not only was their already an existing fan base but the Boston/NY hockey teams don't have nearly as much pull on this state as the baseball, football or bball teams do. I'm not saying it will happen, but realistically it could with a new arena/owner. END WHALER RANT.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Extremely doubtful the NHL has any concrete, good reason to return to Hartford. Hartford's the same or smaller in population, previously large corporate supporters have shrunk or moved away, and the city and state economies are in the crapper. If dealing in reality, it's highly unlikely a new arena is built in Hartford any time soon and similarly unlikely any profit focused owner would see the attraction. No different than when the Whalers existed, most of CT's hockey hot beds still remains in New Haven and Fairfield county towns where people are less likely to unlikely to support a Hartford team.

UCONN's different, as the state university with strong statewide-support from alumni, students, and other fans. Perhaps there's some overlap in the family demographic, but the obstacles in the first paragraph are a rather large hurdle to overcome for any NHL dreams.

 

[IceBus]

The alumni have had very little if anything to do with UConn hockey suddenly becoming a huge college hockey draw. The program was elevated by Governor Malloy, a BC grad who saw the market for hockey was completely untapped in this area and the central CT fans responded immediately. Considering college hockey gets only a tiny fraction of the coverage the NHL gets, it's safe to say the NHL would draw several times better than UConn hockey, making Hartford unquestionably a good NHL market if a team was brought here.

 

[FartMan69]

There is an upside and a downside to this hockey market. Pros and cons that have been discussed repeatedly. I know that the state has hired an architectural firm to assess the feasibility of a new arena which with or without the NHL is sorely needed. I have doubts about our state officials but as a fan base there is no doubt it can be revived and succeed like it did in the early to mid 80's.

 

[Waquoit]

I don't think it helps.

 

[IceBus]

What will probably happen is the Wolf Pack will move closer to New York City where the NY Rangers fan base is, and UConn men's ice hockey will play all their games in Hartford when that happens, possibly next season or the season after that. Unless an NHL team comes, UConn will be Hartford's hockey team.

 

[IMind]

If Hartford never had a pro team then I think the Wolf Pack would do pretty well.. but the fan base just doesn't seem to want to support a minor league team there. Unless you consider the 4000-5000k official attendance that the Wolf Pack get support.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

The alumni have had very little if anything to do with UConn hockey suddenly becoming a huge college hockey draw. The program was elevated by Governor Malloy, a BC grad who saw the market for hockey was completely untapped in this area and the central CT fans responded immediately. Considering college hockey gets only a tiny fraction of the coverage the NHL gets, it's safe to say the NHL would draw several times better than UConn hockey, making Hartford unquestionably a good NHL market if a team was brought here.

No, it's not safe to extrapolate support for UCONN will extend to an NHL invitation, especially with current numbers in Hartford (continued economic maelstrom, lower, small population, Hartford TV market - it won't get New Haven nor Fairfield interest, and a smaller, shrunken corporate base than existed during the prior sublime Whalers' existence). Yes, Malloy leveraged UCONN's long-existing Hockey East invitation and he's a hockey fan from his bcu days. Nothing changes the facts about Hartford, a reasonable minor league city and good opportunity for the Huskies until the Hockey East-required, rent-free on-campus arena is built within the net few years and for key games on an ongoing basis. NHL in Hartford? Yup, right when the Whalers' era, Dream On, Aerosmith, and Brass Bonanza return to the top of the charts.