NCAA Hockey Expansion Thread

[JMCx4]

... How's Lindenwood doing in Division I?

Well, this season they've beaten Wisconsin & Miami-Ohio & UNO. No blowout losses. So I'd say: They're making progress in Season #2.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

You going to get the “wave” going at games?

 

[Nodak651]

SO following my comment that Simon Fraser's athletic focus has long been on its football program, and that there will be an impetus to restore that program before trying to get a high level hockey team off the ground, you pointed out that their athletic department is a mess (weird, I know, because as I said earlier, they have no AD).

Simon Fraser's football team was more than just a DII team. Around students and alumni, it was an institution. Prominent business types in the lower mainland have made an issue of it. It was a topic of discussion among BC legislators and was on the 6 o'clock news for days. If the school launched an initiative to start an NCAA hockey program after having killed its football program, it would be an enormous problem.

And...... Football at SFU is officially dead. Based on the new Athletics and Recreation Strategy, the door for hockey appears to remain open, imo.

"Highlights of the new strategy include a stronger commitment to recreation programs to benefit all SFU students and efforts to encourage the SFU community to experience varsity games as part of university life.

The plan is publicly accessible and can be downloaded as a PDF file, here.

As part of the strategy review, the university confirmed that the football program will not be returning. It was announced in 2023 that the program was ending, that decision has now been made final."

 

[S E P H]

I read out there that the University of Iowa is cutting a lot of athletic funding, so don't expect a hockey team any time soon even if they have a great arena to play in.

 

[JMCx4]

I read out there that the University of Iowa is cutting a lot of athletic funding, so don't expect a hockey team any time soon even if they have a great arena to play in.

"I read out there" is a lazy man's motto.

Start your learning phase by reading this below ...

University of Iowa ‘very interested’ in athletics paying back $50M loan ‘as quickly as possible’

Pandemic loan must be repaid in 15 years to main campus

Vanessa Miller
Dec. 1, 2024 5:30 am

IOWA CITY — Hawkeye Athletics hasn’t made much of a dent in paying back the $50 million it borrowed from the main University of Iowa campus during the height of the pandemic, leaving $47.6 million outstanding on the 2021 loan — even as contributions from the Big Ten Athletics Conference to its budget continue to climb.

Although UI Athletics paid $3 million back to the main campus in 2022, $1.5 million in 2023 and $1.5 million this year, the loan’s 2.5 percent interest rate has swallowed up most of those payments — shaving just $2.3 million off the principal to date ...

When the main campus agreed to loan UI Athletics $50 million from its cash reserves in early 2021, the department was projecting a $75 million deficit for the budget year from expected pandemic-related losses — which also caused it to cut three men’s sports: tennis, gymnastics, and swimming and diving.

Later that summer, UI Athletics — which calls itself a “self-sustaining auxiliary enterprise” that “receives no general university support” — ended the budget year with a less-severe deficit of $45 million. And the following year in fiscal 2022, the department topped its projected revenue rebound by nearly $10 million — setting a new income record of $126.8 million.

The department has set revenue records every year since thanks, in part, to higher football, wrestling and women’s basketball ticket sales and boosts in conference support — although some of the income increases have been due to “reserve fund transfers” to pay court settlements, legal fees and “staff transition costs.”

UI Athletics’ current fiscal 2025 budget projects another revenue record, reaching $150.5 million thanks to conference contributions topping $75.2 million — a 22 percent increase over last year; 37 percent increase over 2019; and 140 percent increase over the $31.3 million it got from the Big Ten a decade ago in 2015. ...


Read even more at: UI ‘very interested’ in athletics paying back $50M loan ‘as quickly as possible’ | The Gazette

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

If Simon Fraser is able to get its D-I hockey program up and running, that would make the number of independents on the west coast three (Alaska and Alaska Anchorage).

If the three Cal State schools in D-I (Fresno State, San Diego State, San Jose State) were to move into D-I men's ice hockey, they and the other three schools mentioned could form their own conference.

The new conference would have a 30-game conference schedule - 6 games against each opponent.

As I have mentioned before, the four former Pac-12 schools in California if they go to D-I would land in the Big Ten - UCLA and USC as full members, Cal and Stanford as affiliates (Arizona State should also go to the Big Ten for the sport).

D-I ice hockey in California is the natural next step in the increasing popularity of the sport in the state after the Kings won Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. Soon after that, the state's ECHL presence was replaced with an AHL presence.

With the seven FBS schools in California adding NCAA hockey, in-state high school players can now also remain in-state for college.

 

[S E P H]

https://www.si.com/college/unlv/hockey/unlv-hockey-pushing-for-d1-status

The program is operating with a budget of over $700,000 which is more than multiple other sports the school runs that are official NCAA teams. This includes their tennis and golf teams. One of the reasons they been able to be successful both monetarily and on the ice is due to the massive support from the NHL's Las Vegas Golden Knights. They have even provided a home ice for the Rebels at City National Arena in Summerlin, Nevada.

 

[S E P H]

If Simon Fraser is able to get its D-I hockey program up and running, that would make the number of independents on the west coast three (Alaska and Alaska Anchorage).

If the three Cal State schools in D-I (Fresno State, San Diego State, San Jose State) were to move into D-I men's ice hockey, they and the other three schools mentioned could form their own conference.

The new conference would have a 30-game conference schedule - 6 games against each opponent.

As I have mentioned before, the four former Pac-12 schools in California if they go to D-I would land in the Big Ten - UCLA and USC as full members, Cal and Stanford as affiliates (Arizona State should also go to the Big Ten for the sport).

D-I ice hockey in California is the natural next step in the increasing popularity of the sport in the state after the Kings won Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. Soon after that, the state's ECHL presence was replaced with an AHL presence.

With the seven FBS schools in California adding NCAA hockey, in-state high school players can now also remain in-state for college.

For California to eventually get teams, it starts with UCLA and USC being able to join the Big Ten. Then that will be able to raise the other ones like UCal, CalTech, SDSU, SJSU, and FSU. However, the more likely scenario is that when there are more teams coming about from Colorado to the West Coast, that will give teams natural schools that can eventually become a conference. I believe the first step of any potential California division starts with Arizona eventually going DI so you can have ASU and UArizona. Then, UNLV really wants a team which would create a good travel schedule and there were a lot of rumours of Utah Valley University wanting a DI programme a couple years ago. Now that's the potential spine of a new division in Arizona State, Arizona, UNLV, and Utah Valley. Now, the California teams can come into existence as they would have a division they can join, which is a major deterrent for any school besides money for scholarships/ice arena.

 

[BOS358]

https://www.si.com/college/unlv/hockey/unlv-hockey-pushing-for-d1-status

Unfortunately, reality often gets in the way of dreams: UNLV D-I Dreams Still a Ways Away

 

[BOS358]

If Simon Fraser is able to get its D-I hockey program up and running, that would make the number of independents on the west coast three (Alaska and Alaska Anchorage).

That's a pretty big "IF."

If the three Cal State schools in D-I (Fresno State, San Diego State, San Jose State) were to move into D-I men's ice hockey, they and the other three schools mentioned could form their own conference.

That will happen after AIC elevates its entire athletic department to D1 and joins the Patriot League and the Beanpot expands to eight teams.

As I have mentioned before, the four former Pac-12 schools in California if they go to D-I would land in the Big Ten - UCLA and USC as full members, Cal and Stanford as affiliates (Arizona State should also go to the Big Ten for the sport).

You may have mentioned it before, but since it is so detached from reality, few if any have paid attention.

D-I ice hockey in California is the natural next step in the increasing popularity of the sport in the state after the Kings won Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014.

Except that the addition of a varsity hockey program is entirely up to the school, not the NCAA, NHL, USA Hockey, or any other group.

Soon after that, the state's ECHL presence was replaced with an AHL presence.

I mean, technically, that happened, but not for the reasons you think.

With the seven FBS schools in California adding NCAA hockey, in-state high school players can now also remain in-state for college.

In-state high school players have little to no chance at playing D1 hockey. The best ones that remain in-state for 16U and 18U hockey are all playing AAA and will have to leave home for juniors.

Thanks for the nugget of entertainment. It made this cold, rainy, crappy day a little more enjoyable.

 

[S E P H]

Unfortunately, reality often gets in the way of dreams: UNLV D-I Dreams Still a Ways Away

It's honestly up to Bill Foley at this point. Does he want to put more funds into building an on-campus D1-level arena (which is what they should have built in the first place at City National Arena? It's interesting that the school doesn't even want to do a study that would cost for free. I suspect a lot of these A.D. are ones who only came from a very American background of throwball, basketball, and baseball.

You may have mentioned it before, but since it is so detached from reality, few if any have paid attention.

Seeing PAC and SEC division posts the last couple of months has been pretty funny. More likely, we get another wave of secondary Mass schools like Stonehill before getting one PAC or SEC university.

 

[BOS358]

It's honestly up to Bill Foley at this point. Does he want to put more funds into building an on-campus D1-level arena (which is what they should have built in the first place at City National Arena? It's interesting that the school doesn't even want to do a study that would cost for free. I suspect a lot of these A.D. are ones who only came from a very American background of throwball, basketball, and baseball.

It also involves compliance and Title IX factors, which can easily scuttle the idea. I have no inside information, but I think that's the reason why the school hasn't bothered with a feasibility study. But yeah, the main question is "Is there anyone we know who will throw us $50 Million?"

Seeing PAC and SEC division posts the last couple of months has been pretty funny. More likely, we get another wave of secondary Mass schools like Stonehill before getting one PAC or SEC university.

The vast majority of people talking "expansion" are clueless. I'd like to see it happen, but I would also like to see someone who is rich, desperate, and stupid give me 3x the market value of my condo so I can say "F it," quit my job, and leave the country (translation: I'm not holding my breath.)

Personally, I think that some smaller schools currently playing D1 will downgrade or fold their teams and that the re-instatement of a D2 national championship is more likely. I would love to be wrong about this.

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

Somewhat relevant as it is NCAA Division III hockey:

WIAC member Northland College staved off closing at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. They will be unable to do the same in 2024-25: Northland College has 'no sustainable path forward' as school announces closure at end of 2024-25 academic year - College Hockey | USCHO.com

Beloit College located in Beloit, WI announces the addition of men's and women's programs and will take on both of Northland's head coaches along with most of their non-graduating rosters: Beloit adds men’s, women’s NCAA Division III hockey teams for 2025-26 season - College Hockey | USCHO.com

This is a near identical repeat to what happened with Finlandia closing and Dubuque stepping in.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

It also involves compliance and Title IX factors, which can easily scuttle the idea. I have no inside information, but I think that's the reason why the school hasn't bothered with a feasibility study. But yeah, the main question is "Is there anyone we know who will throw us $50 Million?"



The vast majority of people talking "expansion" are clueless. I'd like to see it happen, but I would also like to see someone who is rich, desperate, and stupid give me 3x the market value of my condo so I can say "F it," quit my job, and leave the country (translation: I'm not holding my breath.)

Personally, I think that some smaller schools currently playing D1 will downgrade or fold their teams and that the re-instatement of a D2 national championship is more likely. I would love to be wrong about this.

Yeah, Title IX is the biggest factor that the pie-in-the-sky fart-sniffing expansionist fanbois always forget about, though with the U.S. Department of Education on the chopping block, it's a real question going forward if Title IX will continue to be a significant factor.

Even if it isn't, finances will be. Inflation keeps rising. The cost of energy keeps rising, which pushes up the cost of ice time. Without approximately $1.5 million per year coming in to fund scholarships, coaching staff, ice time, travel, facilities, and equipment, you really can't be a minimally successful Division I program. And that's before you get to NIL money. This is ultimately what will cause smaller schools to rethink competing at the Division I level in men's hockey, and what keeps larger schools from starting a program absent a Pegula-esque donor.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

"I mean, I'm not one to say 'Atodaso,' but atodaso! A-f**kin'-Atodaso!" - Ricky Lafleur

Keep sniffing those farts, expansionists!

 

[CrazyEddie20]

Tennessee State hired a coach, but there is, as of yet, not one real indication that this is going to be anything beyond a club program. I'd bet Duante Abercrombie is gone within 18 months when he figures out that there isn't any real momentum towards a real college hockey program.

I posted that almost exactly nine months ago, and now Duante and the program are literally doing a Go Fund Me because, as I predicted, TSU isn't going to use the very little money it has towards a niche sport when they can barely even keep the lights on.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

Tennessee State Still Confident It Will Start Program Despite Major Funding Challenges

Tennessee State's interesting ride to becoming a Division I hockey program is facing some big hurdles, which is not ideal given that the program hopes to begin play next season. But the program...

www.collegehockeynews.com

Not nearly enough tough questions asked by Mr. Wodon in this piece.

"Nick Guerriero, the program's director of operations, believes the team can make it work with $1 million in donations. It will do so by limiting scholarship money, and making deals for ice time and equipment. All of that is in the works."

They're going to limit scholarship money and trade for ice time and equipment? I guess they don't plan on actually being, you know, competitive...

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

Tennessee State Still Confident It Will Start Program Despite Major Funding Challenges

Tennessee State's interesting ride to becoming a Division I hockey program is facing some big hurdles, which is not ideal given that the program hopes to begin play next season. But the program...

www.collegehockeynews.com

Not nearly enough tough questions asked by Mr. Wodon in this piece.

"Nick Guerriero, the program's director of operations, believes the team can make it work with $1 million in donations. It will do so by limiting scholarship money, and making deals for ice time and equipment. All of that is in the works."

They're going to limit scholarship money and trade for ice time and equipment? I guess they don't plan on actually being, you know, competitive...

He might not be worried considering the school could be closed this fall

 

[CrazyEddie20]

He might not be worried considering the school could be closed this fall

Good point!