Summit Expansion?

[HerdBot]

Just saw a tweet that could make sense; what if Augie added hockey? That would actually make a ton of sense and could make D1 more viable for them. Discuss. (Assuming non-scholie football.) This is also provided they could work out a deal with the city for the Premier Center.

If they could in in the Premier Center, that might make sense. Hockey is a huge cash drain for most teams but they wouldn't have to worry about having a good facility. For football they need to double the size

[MrAugustana]

You clear know more about Augie than I do, but how in the devil could they go D1 without financing it largely on the back of students? That is what I don't follow.

I wish I knew more than I do. I honestly have no idea how it'll work. It seems like a lot of money would need to be raised, so my only hope is that, if they are going to do it, they'll have everything in place before making that decision. I don't want to be one of those D1s that has to consider moving back down in 15 years because they couldn't pull everything together. It needs to be done right.

I will say I'm glad I'm not in charge of figuring out the how of it.

[Honeybooboo]

No way Augustana gets into the MVFC, Summit yes probably but they will have to go without FB, Summit may even be a stretch as i highly Doubt SDSU and USD want them, and being Private have no real State influence to protect

But with the way the MVC is ran they may be a direct candidate there if they dump FB...dont laugh

[THEsocalledfan]

If they could in in the Premier Center, that might make sense. Hockey is a huge cash drain for most teams but they wouldn't have to worry about having a good facility. For football they need to double the size

Plus, they are in perfect size market and I'd think the WCHA would be very interested quickly. I think they'd make good money on hockey considering the unique situation. It would really, really hurt the USHL franchise......makes way, way more sense than the hockey at NDSU stuff......heck, they could even stay D2 and play D1 teh hockies.

[Yote 53]

Actually, if Augustana wants D1 cred then starting a D1 hockey program and playing out of the Premier Center while staying D2 in all other sports would be a great idea that would give them the best of both worlds. It would much more financially feasible to maintain 1 team in D1 rather than an entire program. I wouldn't imagine Augie would do that though because some of their booster's sights are set on one weekend in Sioux Falls at the Summit Basketball tournament. That's what this is all about, being on that stage for that one weekend, which is a horrible reason to go D1 and will probably result in sucktitude at best and a complete failure that could bring down the entire school at worst.

[El_Chapo]

Actually, if Augustana wants D1 cred then starting a D1 hockey program and playing out of the Premier Center while staying D2 in all other sports would be a great idea that would give them the best of both worlds. It would much more financially feasible to maintain 1 team in D1 rather than an entire program. I wouldn't imagine Augie would do that though because some of their booster's sights are set on one weekend in Sioux Falls at the Summit Basketball tournament. That's what this is all about, being on that stage for that one weekend, which is a horrible reason to go D1 and will probably result in sucktitude at best and a complete failure that could bring down the entire school at worst.

Ill take Sioux Falls over Vermillion & Brookings all day.. in fact, Ill make a bold prediction. in 10 years Augie Passes both of those podunk colleges.

[NDSUstudent]

DI hockey while being D2 makes a lot of sense for Augie (they can have their own niche in that market) but if they add hockey and want to go completely DI, my desire for them in the Summit dwindles to basically Chicago State levels. They can't afford it all, if they are going DI I want them to have a small stable of sports and have them pumping money into hoops.

[HerdBot]

DI hockey while being D2 makes a lot of sense for Augie (they can have their own niche in that market) but if they add hockey and want to go completely DI, my desire for them in the Summit dwindles to basically Chicago State levels. They can't afford it all, if they are going DI I want them to have a small stable of sports and have them pumping money into hoops.

Hockey is a cash drain but also a possible revenue source but some of the money they spent of football scholarships would be shifted to hockey. Certainly it would benefit the MVFC teams since its flat out less football players getting a scholarship. Teams like Sioux Falls, USD, and SDSU would love it.

[THEsocalledfan]

Hockey is a cash drain but also a possible revenue source but some of the money they spent of football scholarships would be shifted to hockey. Certainly it would benefit the MVFC teams since its flat out less football players getting a scholarship. Teams like Sioux Falls, USD, and SDSU would love it.

Check out Stampede attendance for anyone who wonders why I like this idea. (Stampede would hate it im sure.)

[HerdBot]

Check out Stampede attendance for anyone who wonders why I like this idea. (Stampede would hate it im sure.)

6,741 fans per-game
And that's a step below college hockey. Would have been the 4th best in D1 Hockey

the Stampede set a USHL attendance record by drawing 191,280 fans in 30 home games and finished in the top 10 in attendance among minor league hockey teams.

NCAA Average Attendance Leaders:

Rk. School GP Average

North Dakota 21 11,408
Wisconsin 18 10,436
Minnesota 16 8,725
Omaha 18 6,118
Penn State 19 5,906
Minnesota Duluth 20 5,811
Denver 21 5,665
Michigan 19 5,399
Ohio State 20 5,337
Michigan State 16 5,157