Hockey History Makes Spending Decisions at BGSU Difficult

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:19 am

Bland article from Hack:
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /903200350

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:43 am

Your sig line is AWESOME, I hate people who come to a game, sit there complaining about people cheering and standing up....if you want sit and eat your chips stay at home!

Altoid_storm · Post by **Altoid_storm** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:49 am

Though bland, interesting article. Thanks for posting.

I agree about the sig

bgbill · Post by **bgbill** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:25 am

It would be interesting to have that simple cost breakdown for all sports.

Another point not taken into consideration is the loss of contributions to the Falcon Club and possibly ticket sales of other sports if hockey were terminated. When I started buying season tickets for hockey, it was required that one had to be a Falcon Club member. I don't know if that's the case for other sports, or even hockey now. I'm not the only one who would drastically alter my spending if the ice is melted.

KeyWestParrot · Post by **KeyWestParrot** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:36 am

I would hardly call the article bland from the viewpoint that Hack hit on the major points of problems facing the hockey program.

Anyone who thinks the hockey won't be in the same position next year is crazy. This will be an annual issue every year until either hockey can fully fund itself or the program is eliminated.

One of the hardest things for a devoted fan to do is to look at an issue realistically. BG just doesn't have the resources to fund every sport. Our football program can't underwrite all sports like a Michigan or Ohio State can. Because of this there will be cuts and lots of them in the near future.

I would be happy to see BG keep all the sports it currently has, but the non-revenue generating sports may have to fall on the sword. Only three sports at BG can possibly generate income with those being football, basketball, and hockey.

Maybe it is time for BG to realize and think beyond their nose that some of those other non-revenue generating sports just need to go. I know those who participate in them will object passionately but that is the reality of it.

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:39 am

"Bland" is slang for the Toledo Blade.

Keep up, folks.

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:47 am

Another problem is that Hockey is a men only sport which causes Title IX issues when considering what programs to cut.

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:48 am

I would wager there is more of an emotional connection with the hockey program than with any other program.

bgbill is accurate in his inquiry surrounding the impact of donations should the program be eliminated. Even anecdotal analysis, I imagine, would provide a glaring drop in such monies going into the A.D.

I don't envy Christopher's position.

Lord_Byron · Post by **Lord_Byron** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:30 pm

A question for some of the other old-timers out there. (bgbill?)

When St. Louis dropped their program back in the '70s, didn't we know about it during the season while they were still playing?

We can't lull ourselves into thinking that this decision will be made a the end of next season. We must continue to be vigilant in assisting the university in coming up with solutions to this mess.

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:37 pm

I don't remember all the way back to St. Louis, but I certainly remember playing Kent State and Notre Dame and we knew there programs were going away the next year.

Puckhead · Post by **Puckhead** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:11 pm

St Louis was one of the founding members of the CCHA. '77 -78 they were league champions. ( we beat them in the playoffs and went on to the final four).
I do not know if we knew in '78-79 that St. Louis was eliminating the program after that season.

Re Hackenberg article:
Over the last few years, if the administration ( Ribeau, Carwright and AD ) was planning to eliminate the hockey program, would they do anything differant than what they did. Cut or remain level the hockey budget, limited maintenance on the facility, retain a coach that just was not creating wins, drive down attendence.

I wonder about some of those numbers;
Renenue of $ 250,000? 1250 paying ticket holders @ $10 x 20 home games = $ 250,000. We need to increase attendence.
Operating expenses of $ 250,000?
That includes ice rental, sticks, skates and travel. There were 5 overniters,( not including UAF) . I have never paid for a bus, hotel and food for 25 people for 5 weekends. I have never paid to fly and drive to Salmon Arm,BC; Surrey, Edmonton and Bismark. The driving and over night expenses to Raleigh, Fargo, Toronto and Ottawa have to be astonding.

The administration have choices
eliminating the hockey program will probably save the University $ 100,000 / year. They can eliminate hockey and all the college and community pride. This will also eliminate about $ 2 m cashflow to the City of BG . This decision will also eliminate thousands of dollars to the Falcon Club and football attendence.
or
The administration can think down the road. Allow me to quote one of the Hockey Dad's; "a winning coach will increase attendence, with money all things are possible". Fund raising this summer for the $ 1M that we need for ICE, Lights, Sound and Paint. Commit to an increase in the Falcon Hockey budget. Commit to a 2year capital campaign designed to raise $ 5 million private money and $ 5 million State of Ohio money.
caveat: the alumni and the fans will not donate a penny until there are written guarantees from the Administration.

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:46 pm

"Our football program can't underwrite all sports like a Michigan or Ohio State can."

Especially when they loose money to go to a post season game.

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:05 pm

Bowling Green is a public institution. Everything should be a matter of public record. Where are the numbers for the athletic department? I'm willing to bet basketball and football both lost more money than hockey. I'll continue to believe this, as should everybody else, until proven wrong.

Falcon Fanatic · Post by **Falcon Fanatic** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:26 pm

Lord_Byron wrote: We can't lull ourselves into thinking that this decision will be made a the end of next season. We must continue to be vigilant in assisting the university in coming up with solutions to this mess.

You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!!!!

FalconTurf · Post by **FalconTurf** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:56 pm

pdt1081 wrote:Bowling Green is a public institution. Everything should be a matter of public record. Where are the numbers for the athletic department? I'm willing to bet basketball and football both lost more money than hockey. I'll continue to believe this, as should everybody else, until proven wrong.

Football without a doubt but I would question basketball with fewer scholarships, shorter travel (1 game weekends) and far less equipment to ship and maintain.

I still want to know more about the hockey income. Does the income include ALL the following: season tickets, walk-up tickets, concessions, pro shop sales, PORTION OF STUDENT FEES, portion of Falcon Kids Club membership, advertisement on the boards, and parking fees.

Doesn't $250,000 sound low when all these sources of income are included? And consider with an average of 2,000 spectators attending 21 games totaling 42,000 fans and you average $6 income from each one of them? Your thoughts on these numbers?

**Correct me if I'm wrong with any of my numbers especially average attendance.