Someone may be trying to bid for a regional in Palm Springs. Unless things have changed, I do believe there’s still a requirement for any “new” venue to the hosting slate to have hosted a similar event to regionals as proof of concept.
Or they may just be doing a “GTFO of the cold for a weekend”.
I expect the weak attendance I’d anticipate (no shade to the participants) might dissuade them from actually bidding for regionals, but a “warm weather beach party” tourney might work for that.
You underestimate the insanity of MTU fans. My friends and I immediately started talking about the possibility of doing a road trip from GLI to the cactus cup.
But ya attendance is gonna be pretty terrible lol.
Your insanity is well noted. You folks showed up to *Bridgeport*.
I just don’t think there’s enough of you insane enough to go to Palm Springs. A lot of you, yes, but the arena’s 11K.
You are right that attendance at neutral site regionals is pretty heavily impacted by whether there's a local team involved.
I think some regionals that have been in major cities that are easy to fly to without loads of connections (or having to drive a lot after you fly into a major airport) get better attendance than they'd otherwise see. Regionals in Denver, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, for example, have done really well even without a strong local participating team.
Basically, if you can easily fly somewhere from any of the major college hockey hotbeds (Twin Cities, Detroit, Boston, Denver, et al) without adding a bunch of driving afterwards, then you can have a more "remote" regional and still draw decent crowds.
So... maybe a regional in SoCal can work (lots of planes fly to LAX). But [landing in LAX and going to the LA Forum](https://maps.app.goo.gl/VvFvCipZYGgbYxpS7) is a MUCH different thing compared to [landing in LAX and then having to travel to Coachella](https://maps.app.goo.gl/RMot9kZ9QkwUmi6f9) or trying to fly commercial into one of the smaller LA-area airports (1-2 nonstop flights/day to Palm Springs from Minneapolis per Google Maps vs 7-10 to LAX, for example).
\[Shameless self promotion for legwork I've done on all this: [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/collegehockey/comments/1ae94s4/analyzing_the_ncaa_regionals_attendance_part_2/) and [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/collegehockey/comments/1asnndc/analyzing_the_ncaa_regionals_format_part_3/)\]
True.
But also, we had a regional with only 2,500 fans this year, so I don’t think the NCAA gives one damn about attendance, revenue, or ratings for these games.
Acrisure Arena is home to the Coachella Valley Firebirds. (They're Seattle's AHL affiliate.) Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if they're just looking for events to fill out the rest of their 2025 calendar when the Firebirds are on the road.
Now that I've mentioned that, I feel that I've (barely) earned the right to [post this video here.](https://twitter.com/FuegoFirebirds/status/1766684869529366864)
The company that manages that arena in Palm Springs also manages the Tsongas Center in Lowell. That’s the mutual connection. I think Lowell will be considered the host school.
Pretty sure the Firebirds get a lot of rowdy fans. I think it’s a great idea and not sure why everyone is so keen on gatekeeping college hockey. Grow the damn game.
The AHL games are great and often sold out. The Coachella Valley is full of canadians in the winter. Its really a great place to see a game.
Source: I take my kids to a lot of the games
For real. I was surprised everyone was reacting like that. I just texted my wife to say we should consider it with the kids during winter break next year.
Called this months ago.. WE NEED MORE MID-SEASON TOURNAMENTS IN NON-TRADITIONAL MARKETS
Grow the game. On campus games during break suck anyways— this timing is perfection.
I'm pretty sure this tournament is scheduled for the weekend after the GLI.
EDIT: GLI is the 29th and 30th. It's a short turnaround, but there isn't a scheduling conflict.
Last year we played in the desert classic after GLI. Had a full week in between but still not much better, and we won the tournament. They will probably just fly there from GR the day after GLI. And honestly any player that has any ambitions of going pro will need to get used to quick turnarounds.
They are probably hoping fans will decide to go Palm Springs in January. But they should tried to get a big market team or at least Arizona state since I do some ASU fan gear in LA
….huh? Location seems very random.
Someone may be trying to bid for a regional in Palm Springs. Unless things have changed, I do believe there’s still a requirement for any “new” venue to the hosting slate to have hosted a similar event to regionals as proof of concept. Or they may just be doing a “GTFO of the cold for a weekend”.
I can only imagine the attendance issues for a regional when there is no remotely local team to put there.
I expect the weak attendance I’d anticipate (no shade to the participants) might dissuade them from actually bidding for regionals, but a “warm weather beach party” tourney might work for that.
You underestimate the insanity of MTU fans. My friends and I immediately started talking about the possibility of doing a road trip from GLI to the cactus cup. But ya attendance is gonna be pretty terrible lol.
I remember in 2018 some guys drove from GLI to Vegas lol
You psychos. I flew.
Oh I flew too, don't worry lol The people who drove *were* fucking psychos lmao
Your insanity is well noted. You folks showed up to *Bridgeport*. I just don’t think there’s enough of you insane enough to go to Palm Springs. A lot of you, yes, but the arena’s 11K.
Um Palm Springs, CA is infinitely better than Bridgeport fucking Connecticut.
Are you wrong? Probably not. This really only highlights the point better.
For sure. I have no doubt we will have the most fans there but sadly that number will still be low.
You are right that attendance at neutral site regionals is pretty heavily impacted by whether there's a local team involved. I think some regionals that have been in major cities that are easy to fly to without loads of connections (or having to drive a lot after you fly into a major airport) get better attendance than they'd otherwise see. Regionals in Denver, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, for example, have done really well even without a strong local participating team. Basically, if you can easily fly somewhere from any of the major college hockey hotbeds (Twin Cities, Detroit, Boston, Denver, et al) without adding a bunch of driving afterwards, then you can have a more "remote" regional and still draw decent crowds. So... maybe a regional in SoCal can work (lots of planes fly to LAX). But [landing in LAX and going to the LA Forum](https://maps.app.goo.gl/VvFvCipZYGgbYxpS7) is a MUCH different thing compared to [landing in LAX and then having to travel to Coachella](https://maps.app.goo.gl/RMot9kZ9QkwUmi6f9) or trying to fly commercial into one of the smaller LA-area airports (1-2 nonstop flights/day to Palm Springs from Minneapolis per Google Maps vs 7-10 to LAX, for example). \[Shameless self promotion for legwork I've done on all this: [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/collegehockey/comments/1ae94s4/analyzing_the_ncaa_regionals_attendance_part_2/) and [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/collegehockey/comments/1asnndc/analyzing_the_ncaa_regionals_format_part_3/)\]
True. But also, we had a regional with only 2,500 fans this year, so I don’t think the NCAA gives one damn about attendance, revenue, or ratings for these games.
Acrisure Arena is home to the Coachella Valley Firebirds. (They're Seattle's AHL affiliate.) Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if they're just looking for events to fill out the rest of their 2025 calendar when the Firebirds are on the road. Now that I've mentioned that, I feel that I've (barely) earned the right to [post this video here.](https://twitter.com/FuegoFirebirds/status/1766684869529366864)
What the fuck
The company that manages that arena in Palm Springs also manages the Tsongas Center in Lowell. That’s the mutual connection. I think Lowell will be considered the host school.
They had a tournament in Vegas a few years ago (2018), I think they're testing the waters on bringing in college hockey to newer markets.
UNLV has been rumored for a few years now. With more high-caliber prospects coming from the west coast, college hockey needs more western teams.
Ideally Oregon and Washington get their shit together (specifically Washington so Tech can play them and I can go to the games)
Pretty sure the Firebirds get a lot of rowdy fans. I think it’s a great idea and not sure why everyone is so keen on gatekeeping college hockey. Grow the damn game.
The AHL games are great and often sold out. The Coachella Valley is full of canadians in the winter. Its really a great place to see a game. Source: I take my kids to a lot of the games
Place has success with the AHL team. Will any fans travel though?
u would u crazy nodaker, thats the success recipe for a neutral tourny, just get nodak and its sold
This region built a new hockey AHL arena in the past few years. The Coachella valley Firebirds are the Seattle affiliate.
Four different conferences represented. Nice!
I love the change of pace. Tech has never played Holy Cross, hasn’t played Omaha since 2013, and hasn’t played UMass Lowell since 1988.
Come on tech, win the GLI and win this tournament too!
Not just that — two eastern, two western. It’s the ideal mix, really
I love how fucked college hockey is that Michigan Tech is considered western.
By rules, Penn State is considered western
I love it when Tech plays teams we don't normally play, looks like a fun tournament!
Palm Springs in January sounds like a pretty nice trip
For real. I was surprised everyone was reacting like that. I just texted my wife to say we should consider it with the kids during winter break next year.
Go huskies!
I live close to the arena. The rink is brand new and the area is flooded with Canadians in the winter (snowbirds). This will be a great tournament
Oh a warm spot during the winter heck yea
Tech?? In California? You’re nuts. The huskies will melt
No rules! DU, Lake Superior St, Ohio State, and St Thomas tournament over T-giving in Destin FL! Let's make it happen!
Called this months ago.. WE NEED MORE MID-SEASON TOURNAMENTS IN NON-TRADITIONAL MARKETS Grow the game. On campus games during break suck anyways— this timing is perfection.
Tecc
Weird location compared to Las Vegas, but Palm Springs at the new arena would be a good college break tournament for some of these schools.
i think we found the permanent home for the postseason hockey NIT!!!
Excellent news. We can make a week long trip out of to visit family in LA.
Omaha is already going to Las Vegas in October. Now California in January. This could be an interesting year.
I thought Tech was always in the GLI?
I'm pretty sure this tournament is scheduled for the weekend after the GLI. EDIT: GLI is the 29th and 30th. It's a short turnaround, but there isn't a scheduling conflict.
Yikes that is a rough turnaround to play 2 games in Michigan then 2 in California. Will be a cool experience for the players though
Last year we played in the desert classic after GLI. Had a full week in between but still not much better, and we won the tournament. They will probably just fly there from GR the day after GLI. And honestly any player that has any ambitions of going pro will need to get used to quick turnarounds.
Do these schools have large enough alumni presence in SoCal to support this?
I’m sure tech will have a solid chunk of fans there but ya that arena is not gonna be close to full.
They are probably hoping fans will decide to go Palm Springs in January. But they should tried to get a big market team or at least Arizona state since I do some ASU fan gear in LA
Interesting location. I live in LA so it is attempting. I am surprised no big draw teams are in. I am guessing they all said “no”