Nationals Tix?

[Rzorbck]

Do you have to purchase tickets for the Nationals or are the games free to watch? If you have to purchase tickets, how much are they and can you buy a pass for the week, or maybe just for evening sessions, weekend, playoffs, etc.?

[jsp047]

Unless things have changed....its free to the public

[fo5]

I don't know what your talking about jsp047. I was told that you had to make your checks payable to "uci roller hockey" in order to get in.

[missionhockey33]

I don't know what your talking about jsp047. I was told that you had to make your checks payable to "uci roller hockey" in order to get in.

they must be pulling one on you because its free to get in. why would you write checks out to UCI when you your paying the NCRHA to enter? If there is any Ncrha official can you notify us?

[InlineMBA]

I don't even think I have to assume, I'm sure that fo5 with his "payable to UCI roller hockey" line, was only kidding around.

Steve Inge - ROXBURY 8

[NCRHA]

This year, and most likely all years after this, we will be charging admission to the event.

Here are the ticket prices:

Event Pass
Adult - $20
Adult w/ College ID - $15
High School and younger - $10

Day Pass
Adult - $5
Adult w/ College ID - $4
High School and younger - $3

**All players and coaches are free of charge. You will receive instructions at the captain's meeting on how to differentiate yourself from non-players/coaches.

[BLowe7]

Not a bad idea to charge, I like rzorbck's idea about an evening pass though for someone who lives in the Colorado Springs area and can only come at night after work or something, I dont know how feasable that would be though..

[tsuG0alie]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous to charge parents to come watch games at nationals. I know that Truman isn't the only school that doesn't get much funding from the school (this year we got 2000 for the whole year), and the parents are the ones that wind up helping foot the bill. And to ask them to pay for watching games is ludicrous. If you want to charge the general public, fine. But the teams should get complementary tickets for family members to the games.

It's just another way for the league to make a buck, and doesn't make it any more "legit" in my mind. Unless they decide to put it towards a scholarship award, or maybe a separate fund that any NCRHA team could apply for if they needed help paying for the tourney. Maybe base it on overall team scholarship and financial need. That's one of the very few justifications for charging admission in my mind.

-------------------------------------
John Pecher - #30
Truman State University

[ISFN]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous to charge parents to come watch games at nationals. I know that Truman isn't the only school that doesn't get much funding from the school (this year we got 2000 for the whole year), and the parents are the ones that wind up helping foot the bill. And to ask them to pay for watching games is ludicrous. If you want to charge the general public, fine. But the teams should get complementary tickets for family members to the games.

It's just another way for the league to make a buck, and doesn't make it any more "legit" in my mind. Unless they decide to put it towards a scholarship award, or maybe a separate fund that any NCRHA team could apply for if they needed help paying for the tourney. Maybe base it on overall team scholarship and financial need. That's one of the very few justifications for charging admission in my mind.

-------------------------------------
John Pecher - #30
Truman State University



Well said and very true. The leagues making a huge mistake charging parents to watch.

[MBurke]

It's just another way for the league to make a buck, and doesn't make it any more "legit" in my mind. Unless they decide to put it towards a scholarship award, or maybe a separate fund that any NCRHA team could apply for if they needed help paying for the tourney. Maybe base it on overall team scholarship and financial need. That's one of the very few justifications for charging admission in my mind.

Not that I agree with charging admission (I think it's really just paying things in a circle considering the fan base), but do you really think that the league uses this (or anything) to 'make a buck'? Even if indirectly, it will go to help subsidize the cost of the tournament.

If college roller hockey were actually profitable or even had a chance of being profitable without putting all but a handful of teams into financial ruin, one of the big tournament series or a major player like AAU/USAHIL would have bought it up by now, don'tcha think? That's why NCRHA and all of the regions operate as not for profit organizations. Look at what you pay for a tournament series event vs. what you pay to play college and it's pretty evident that no one's running away to the bank with a big paycheck.

Typically you pay ~$600 for three games (2x12 stop time - 72 minutes) at a tournament series. A four-game guarantee (3RR + Elimination round) at nationals costs $750 for 144 minutes. 100% more game time for 25% more cost. There are a heck of a lot more areas where tournament series can use economies of sale that NCRHA doesn't have access to, too.

[Respek]

To me, a parent, I think it's bull**** we have to pay to watch out son play hockey. We are paying a lot of money to come out to Colorado to watch our son play and now we have to pay to get in?? It should be a free event since it's just a club sport. Not only do we have to pay for tuition we are making the effort to go out to Colorado and now we have to pay to see him play? That is so stupid in my opinion but if it helps the league grow or something then so be it. But I agree with the other people, making the parents and others pay is a huge mistake to help make roller hockey a real college sport. Do you honeslty think people other then parents will come to see roller hockey if you have to pay money? The answer is NO and it should be free. Bad idea

[tsuG0alie]

Not that I agree with charging admission (I think it's really just paying things in a circle considering the fan base), but do you really think that the league uses this (or anything) to 'make a buck'? Even if indirectly, it will go to help subsidize the cost of the tournament.

If college roller hockey were actually profitable or even had a chance of being profitable without putting all but a handful of teams into financial ruin, one of the big tournament series or a major player like AAU/USAHIL would have bought it up by now, don'tcha think? That's why NCRHA and all of the regions operate as not for profit organizations. Look at what you pay for a tournament series event vs. what you pay to play college and it's pretty evident that no one's running away to the bank with a big paycheck.

Typically you pay ~$600 for three games (2x12 stop time - 72 minutes) at a tournament series. A four-game guarantee (3RR + Elimination round) at nationals costs $750 for 144 minutes. 100% more game time for 25% more cost. There are a heck of a lot more areas where tournament series can use economies of sale that NCRHA doesn't have access to, too.

I agree that the league needs to be able to make money back. and if they want to do that at the expense of the general public, go for it. I'm sure Colorado Springs yields a pretty decent hockey community.

I'm just saying teams should get complementary tickets for parents. If they need to make more money to cover the cost of the tournament - include it in the cost of the tournament.

------------------------
John Pecher - #30
Truman State University

[JLambertUMSL]

Twenty bucks isn't that much money, guys.

[PSUd09]

I'm not gonna say I agree with it, but it's not like this is something uncommon. Burke made it clear that this is not like a scheme to make some quick cash for the league. Playing high school ice hockey for 4 years I know that there was a price to get into the games and all the parents had to pay it to watch their kids play. It's not like theyre giving money to Ticketmaster or w/e...the cost of admission is ultimately going right back to the league or organization to help with costs, etc.

[InlineMBA]

Paying an admission price to watch my son play roller hockey is nothing new.

For many years, my son played in the AAU Disney Nationals which were held over the Memorial Day Weekend at the Milk House in Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. They too charged an admission fee to spectators.

Going way.............. back, I remember having to pay an admission fee to watch a USARS Regional Qualifier held at the Deptford Skating Center (Home of The Tour Jaguars) in Deptford, NJ. The rink was owned by Charlie Kirshner. I don't know how many of you remember this place - but it had a wood floor (faster then hell, but you burnt your pants if you slid on the floor) and cinderblock "boards". I'm sure that a lot of you guys don't remember games you played when you were 10. However, if you got a penalty, you had to sit (and hang on for dear life) on the cinderblock wall across from the benches, which made the experience unforgettable.

So, all in all, based on prior experience, I don't have a problem paying an admission fee. I'm just surprised there's no discounted rate for Senior Citizens. My son's 82 years young Grandfather (aka Lukie) is making the trip and yua think he'd get in for nothin. But, that's me talking. He'd pay a $100 admission fee, that's how much he loves watching, win or lose, his Grandson play.

But enough already, drop the damn puck on the Rutgers vs Lindenwood game. Let's get it on ! ! !

Steve Inge - ROXBURY 8

ps - SIDE NOTE Grandma Peggy passed on in 2000 and ever since then we invite Lukie to join us at NARCh Finals (he loves NARCh), State Wars and TORHS. When I told him about the NCRHA Nationals, without a blink of the eye, he handed me his American Express card and said "I'm in", even though he misses one of the most important days of the year for him - opening day at his Golf Club. Yeah, at 82 he still plays golf, and he plays at least 3 times a week. He's damn good too. At 82, he's the Official Senior Statesman of the ISCA Grizzlies. To know him - Is to love him.

[BLowe7]

Twenty bucks isn't that much money, guys.

agreed...

if you dont charge parents and family members though, whats the point in charging admission really...sure there will be some others that come to watch, but the vast majority of people coming to watch games at nationals are parents and players from other teams

[Rzorbck]

Do you honeslty think people other then parents will come to see roller hockey if you have to pay money? The answer is NO and it should be free. Bad idea

Well I don't have a kid playing in this tournament and I'm planning on buying an Event Pass for both me and my son so I guess you're wrong. I'm looking forward to this and I've never even seen a college inline game, but I'm going to pay to watch. Twenty bucks is nothing in my opinion to watch some good hockey. It will be good won't it?

I have two high school age sons both of whom play various sports in school. Unfortunately neither of them have ever played the same sport so I can't go watch both at the same time for one price. Granted I can buy a pass to watch all the home events, except ice hockey, but I have to pay to watch them play their away games. I don't have a problem with that even though I know only a bit of it goes to pay for the facility. The rest goes back into the athletic fund to help support all the sports, not just the ones my kids play in. No big deal - every kid should be able to play sports in high school and the money has to come from somewhere.

That's my opinion for now when my kids are in high school. Maybe next year when I'm paying tuition I will change my mind, but I doubt it.

[JLambertUMSL]

Well I don't have a kid playing in this tournament and I'm planning on buying an Event Pass for both me and my son so I guess you're wrong. I'm looking forward to this and I've never even seen a college inline game, but I'm going to pay to watch.

That is awesome!

Twenty bucks is nothing in my opinion to watch some good hockey. It will be good won't it?


Yes, it will be good. Promise!

[RichardGraham]

Hey Steve,

Great post. My Dad'll be 81 in October and he golfs at least three times a week, taking money off the rest of his foursome 90% of the time. One of his buddies pays his debts in $2 bills. lol. I look forward to meeting your family, and especially Lukie, at the tournament!

[BLIZARD_HOCKEY]

I agree with charging admission. Do you think that the NCAA gives tickets to the parents of players that make the frozen four. They don't, only a discount. They end up paying $20 a game to see their son play, and thats still 75% off a ticket. Roller Hockey parents complaining about paying $20 to see the entier tournament, please.

[ISFN]

I agree with charging admission. Do you think that the NCAA gives tickets to the parents of players that make the frozen four. They don't, only a discount. They end up paying $20 a game to see their son play, and thats still 75% off a ticket. Roller Hockey parents complaining about paying $20 to see the entier tournament, please.

Your comparsion holds no truth in this arguement.

Any NCAA D1 player is given a scholarship thus doesn't have to (or parents don't have to) pay for their college education. So a 20$ ticket to a parent who has had to pay nothing thus far in their kids college career is nothing.

99.9% of the NCRHA players are paying (most of the parents end up with the bills) for their college education so to tack on another ramdom 20 bucks is a big deal.

[BLIZARD_HOCKEY]

Good point, I didn't take that into account.

[tommy]

It also wouldn't be as much "bang for your buck" because of the shortness of the roller games (if you were to do it on a per-game scale). You end up being at the rink a lot longer for a NCAA ice hockey game with intermissions, stop-time, longer periods, etc. than you do at a NCRHA game...

[islanderfan]

I personally don't have a problem with the NCRHA collecting an admission charge for nationals, however, if my team were going, we would have a big problem. Our SGA (student government) specifically denies funding for any event that is not free and open to all K-State students.

Here's a quote from their website:

"Other - Funds cannot be used for name tags, Royal Purple pictures, t-shirts (with the exception of uniforms for sports clubs), giveaways, or for any
event that is not free and open to all K-State Students. "

I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to take my team to nationals if this policy continues ? Although SGA only supplies 10-20% of our funding, I don't think we can afford to maintain a team without their funding. Are there any other schools with similar restrictions on spending?

Jerry Remsbecker
KSU Roller Hockey Club
Faculty Adviser & Coach

[missionhockey33]

when can you begin purchasing tickets?

[5280]

Here's my take as a parent.

For a club sport tournament, the entire cost of the activity is going to be funded by the participants (or their sponsors, such as parents, student governments, etc.). One way or another, the costs have to be covered, with something left to fund and build the organization.

You can fund through tournament fees, membership fees, tickets to the tourney, or whatever mechanism you want, but the fees need to be paid.

BUT, there is an element of 'nickel and diming the participants to death' in this. That's the part that leaves a bad taste. With very few exceptions, the attendees will be family and friends. So, the same people who would be funding it through higher tournament fees are the ones who are paying it anyway. If it costs $900 per team to make an event viable, I'd rather know that up front, instead of having the event charge $600 in entry fees and $300in ticket fees at the gate.

Just my $.02.

[NCRHA]

Tickets will be on sale at the door only. No internet pre-sale.

We surely hope that this doesn't make anyone feel that they are nickled and dimed to death. Hopefully we can learn from this experience, and if all experiences are poor and it doesn't make sense, we will decide not to do this in the future.

[MBurke]

With very few exceptions, the attendees will be family and friends. So, the same people who would be funding it through higher tournament fees are the ones who are paying it anyway. If it costs $900 per team to make an event viable, I'd rather know that up front, instead of having the event charge $600 in entry fees and $300in ticket fees at the gate.

That would be true only under the assumption that parents are the only ones paying league, travel and tournament fees for every player in the country.

I know of many club sports programs who support their clubs and help with the tournament entry fee or travel costs as well as many players who are working jobs and paying out of their own pockets. It can be argued that those parents helping their children with tuition are indirectly paying the club sports program, but I think that's stretching it a little.

[RichardGraham]

Hi 5280,

Parents are legally obligated to go into debt to pay for their kids' sports. This is in the new Constitution that is being written, as we speak, somewhere in a basement at the bottom of the Department of Defense.

I'm surprised you didn't know this. ;)

[luhockey1]

I personally think this is the next logical step for the NCRHA at the National Tournament. I have nothing wrong with them charging at the door, but now we have to ask why are teams having to pay an entry fee to the National Tournament. It is just a matter of time before teams will start asking where is all of this money going....

As for the Frozen Four parents having to buy tickets, yes they do have to buy tickets but North Dakota, Michigan, Boston College and Notre Dame will not be paying an entry fee into the Frozen Four....

Good luck to all in the tournament....

[NCRHA]

but now we have to ask why are teams having to pay an entry fee to the National Tournament. It is just a matter of time before teams will start asking where is all of this money going....

We could easily charge $900-1000 instead of the $350-$550 for the NCRHA Team Registration Fee (yearly dues) and spread the cost among all NCRHA schools, not just the ones in attendance. But that really doesn't seem fair to the schools that never make the post-season.

Or maybe I am missing the point. Please elaborate if that is the case.

[MBurke]

I personally think this is the next logical step for the NCRHA at the National Tournament. I have nothing wrong with them charging at the door, but now we have to ask why are teams having to pay an entry fee to the National Tournament. It is just a matter of time before teams will start asking where is all of this money going....


The NCRHA's operating budget is available to ALL member clubs. All you need to do is ask. As for why teams have to pay an entry fee, the alternative is to add money to every team's yearly NCRHA dues and have 2/3 of the teams in the country subsidize the cost of entry to the 1/3 who are given bids to nationals.

Ballpark math:

146 games at Nationals x ~$200 per game (that's what ECRHA average is for 2 refs, TK and the rink time) = $29,200.

$750/team entry fee x 59 teams = $44,250

That leaves ~$15,000 to:

- pay all of the staff for the event (6 days)
- book flights, hotels and rental cars for staff and officials for the duration of the event
- ship the trophies, supplies and all other merchandise to the event
- ship things out after the event

It's clearly not a heavily padded budget.

As for the Frozen Four parents having to buy tickets, yes they do have to buy tickets but North Dakota, Michigan, Boston College and Notre Dame will not be paying an entry fee into the Frozen Four....

NCRHA teams probably wouldn't have to pay an entry fee either if NCRHA were charging ~$100 for tickets and could fill 15,000 seats. NCRHA also has major network sponsorship revenue, concessions for four games, and usually has a very good deal with the local chamber of commerce due to the fact that they're bringing a major following (and thus tourism money) into the area for the better part of the week.

As pointed out above - rink time, officials, timekeepers, staffing and hotels all cost money and the people running NCRHA make less per year than the guy that last handed you your fries at your favorite fast food restaurant. It is completely your right to ask where your money is going though and I encourage you to do so!

[5280]

Hi 5280,

Parents are legally obligated to go into debt to pay for their kids' sports. This is in the new Constitution that is being written, as we speak, somewhere in a basement at the bottom of the Department of Defense.

I'm surprised you didn't know this. ;)

I've got to tell you, the one time I got the closest to strangling my kid was when we were on the last leg of a trip, driving from Chicago back to Denver. This was a two week, Junior Olympics/State Wars trip. That was at the tail end of a season of a NARCh regional in St. Louis, and WinterNationals in California.

Anyhow, with about 6 hours to go back to Denver, my kid says, "Hey, how come we never go on vacations anywhere?"

It took some composure to not whack him, but it was instructive. We cut back on the travel tournaments (just State Wars, last year), and took an actual un-hockey related vacation.

Now, the youngest girl is getting ready to start competitive travel soccer. From what I hear, I'm going to look back on the hockey travel as the bargain times.

[5280]

That would be true only under the assumption that parents are the only ones paying league, travel and tournament fees for every player in the country.

I know of many club sports programs who support their clubs and help with the tournament entry fee or travel costs as well as many players who are working jobs and paying out of their own pockets. It can be argued that those parents helping their children with tuition are indirectly paying the club sports program, but I think that's stretching it a little.

I was thinking about this overnight, and I changed my mind. I agree with you. I was thinking as a youth parent, not a college parent. I really have no problem with entry tickets as a funding mechanism for college, or even high school programs. For youth programs, I think it would be tacky, to say the least, but appropriate for adult level tourneys.

[RichardGraham]

Hey Mike,

In the following paragraph, I think the third mention of NCRHA should actually be "the Final Four"...

>> NCRHA teams probably wouldn't have to pay an entry fee either if NCRHA were charging ~$100 for tickets and could fill 15,000 seats. NCRHA also has major network sponsorship revenue, concessions for four games, and usually has a very good deal with the local chamber of commerce due to the fact that they're bringing a major following (and thus tourism money) into the area for the better part of the week. <<

[PGHhockey]

For youth programs, I think it would be tacky, to say the least, but appropriate for adult level tourneys.

I guess I haven't been to enough adult tournaments around the country - but how many people (besides wives, kids, girlfriends, and other teams) actually come to watch an adult tournament?

Very few, if any, from what I gather.

And somebody brought up scholarships at the D-1 level (sorry far too lazy to go back and quote it) - but how many D-1 college players are actually on scholarship? I'm sure the percentage is much higher on the "name" teams (BC, Michigan, ND, etc.) - but for most D-1 schools, I can't see there being much budget for hockey scholarships.

[ISFN]

I guess I haven't been to enough adult tournaments around the country - but how many people (besides wives, kids, girlfriends, and other teams) actually come to watch an adult tournament?

Very few, if any, from what I gather.

And somebody brought up scholarships at the D-1 level (sorry far too lazy to go back and quote it) - but how many D-1 college players are actually on scholarship? I'm sure the percentage is much higher on the "name" teams (BC, Michigan, ND, etc.) - but for most D-1 schools, I can't see there being much budget for hockey scholarships.

The topic was about D1 ice hockey teams and actually every kid on any of the D1 teams are on a full ride. You're allowed so many scholarships per year I believe its around 12 and I can garuntee every D1 school uses thoes all.

Now thats not to say some walk ons don't make it because I'm sure they do, but after that first year of them walking on they are then given a scholarship.