UConn to BE Rumors

[Herman Cain]

Marquette somewhat does. They play acha d2 now.

If Marquette went varsity with Men's and Women's Hockey I think it would be a successful program in a short period of time.

[SaveOD238]

If Marquette went varsity with Men's and Women's Hockey I think it would be a successful program in a short period of time.

I disagree.  There's very little high school hockey locally, so they'd have to draw recruits from a distance.  I just don't think there's an appetite for hockey in this area.  Plus, huge rosters means lots of scholarships.  Very unlikely we'll see Div. 1 hockey at MU.

[Coleman]

I think MU could sponsor hockey and be reasonably successful, but I agree it is unlikely to happen.

If it was going to happen, it probably would have happened instead of adding mens and womens LAX a few years back

[The Sultan]

Marquette somewhat does. They play acha d2 now.

Which isn't a varsity sport.

[Galway Eagle]

I disagree.  There's very little high school hockey locally, so they'd have to draw recruits from a distance.  I just don't think there's an appetite for hockey in this area.  Plus, huge rosters means lots of scholarships.  Very unlikely we'll see Div. 1 hockey at MU.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure I once saw a map that showed WI as one of the biggest hockey states for juniors. Not saying it's MN or MI but that there's definitely a surprising base.

[Herman Cain]

I disagree.  There's very little high school hockey locally, so they'd have to draw recruits from a distance.  I just don't think there's an appetite for hockey in this area.  Plus, huge rosters means lots of scholarships.  Very unlikely we'll see Div. 1 hockey at MU.

College Hockey is done by recruiting from Junior ranks. There is an excess of D1 quality players for a limited group of D1 schools. most kids enter as 21 year old freshman from juniors .MU would be an attractive school compared to the other D1 programs.

Obviously a hockey program would need to be funded so not likely without a big donor to get it started.

[The Sultan]

College Hockey is done by recruiting from Junior ranks. There is an excess of D1 quality players for a limited group of D1 schools. most kids enter as 21 year old freshman from juniors .MU would be an attractive school compared to the other D1 programs.

Obviously a hockey program would need to be funded so not likely without a big donor to get it started.

Would also need to fund a women's program if some sort too.

[Herman Cain]

Would also need to fund a women's program if some sort too.

Would have to be both for sure .

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

If Marquette adds another sport it will be Men's Volleyball and Women's Golf for the scholarships.

Neither of which I think will happen anytime in the next decade.

[asdfasdf]

Does the big east have any schools with varsity men's volleyball? 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Does the big east have any schools with varsity men's volleyball?

Nah, they would likely join the MIVA with the likes of Loyola, Ohio St, and Lewis.

[asdfasdf]

As much as I would love to see men's volleyball become a varsity sport at Marquette, I can't see it happening unless other big east schools did it too.

[MUDPT]

I go to a few UW men's hockey games. They've won multiple national championships, have multiple NHL draft picks (including the Rangers first round in 2018) and barely full half of their seats at the Kohl Center versus their biggest rival.

The only thing I could see appealing to hockey, is most of their games are Friday/ Saturday evenings, giving students something to do in the winter.

[Herman Cain]

I go to a few UW men's hockey games. They've won multiple national championships, have multiple NHL draft picks (including the Rangers first round in 2018) and barely full half of their seats at the Kohl Center versus their biggest rival.

The only thing I could see appealing to hockey, is most of their games are Friday/ Saturday evenings, giving students something to do in the winter.

They used to regularly sell out Dane County Coliseum back in the day.

[The Sultan]

The emergence of the men's basketball team, at the same time the hockey team has slid away from relevance, has really killed the casual fan's interest in Badger hockey.

[Herman Cain]

The emergence of the men's basketball team, at the same time the hockey team has slid away from relevance, has really killed the casual fan's interest in Badger hockey.

Here is a solid research report from last year that supports this notion. Winning always matters .

https://madison.com/wsj/sports/college/hockey/spectator-count-for-wisconsin-badgers-men-s-hockey-home-games/article_8196e185-74c5-58ed-bf83-7ac8a1c11a57.html

[frozena pizza]

I'd love to see Marquette have a hockey team but it's pretty doubtful.  It's a big investment for a university that prides itself on prioritizing basketball.  Equipment, facilities, travel, sports medicine, etc.  And you'd need the women's side too.  Probably a better chance of baseball / softball.

[Galway Eagle]

I'd love to see Marquette have a hockey team but it's pretty doubtful.  It's a big investment for a university that prides itself on prioritizing basketball.  Equipment, facilities, travel, sports medicine, etc.  And you'd need the women's side too.  Probably a better chance of baseball / softball.

Could they get away with women's field hockey rather than ice hockey? Could be a heck of a lot cheaper than ice hockey

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I just got an email notification from the XL Center notifying me of this.

[StillAWarrior]

I just got an email notification from the XL Center notifying me of this.

Kind of funny in light of the fact that absent some agreement with the AAC (which I'm sure will come), they can't actually join the BigEast until the 2022 season.

[Nukem2]

Kind of funny in light of the fact that absent some agreement with the AAC (which I'm sure will come), they can't actually join the BigEast until the 2022 season.

True, but UConn is obviously trying to build a season ticket base while the iron is hot.

[StillAWarrior]

True, but UConn is obviously trying to build a season ticket base while the iron is hot.

Of course.  As they should.

[Benny B]

Could they get away with women's field hockey rather than ice hockey? Could be a heck of a lot cheaper than ice hockey

Women's field hockey typically rosters about 20 players, same as ice hockey.  But the field hockey scholarship limit is 12 while ice is 18.  So probably not.

But add field hockey and women's bowling (limit of 5), and maybe that's close enough?

That said, ice hockey is a massive investment, and it's unlikely that MU would ever consider potentially cannibalizing its only revenue positive sport to - in the best case scenario - break even on hockey.

Keep in mind that the primary reason MU added LAX a few years back was because of the Big East's sport sponsorship minimums.  Adding sports at a private, urban D-I with <25% enrollment of the land grants is a very tall order without significant (and ongoing) financial backing.  And Benny's already committed his dollars to the Thunderdome (which will not be ice-capable).

[Galway Eagle]

Women's field hockey typically rosters about 20 players, same as ice hockey.  But the field hockey scholarship limit is 12 while ice is 18.  So probably not.

But add field hockey and women's bowling (limit of 5), and maybe that's close enough?

That said, ice hockey is a massive investment, and it's unlikely that MU would ever consider potentially cannibalizing its only revenue positive sport to - in the best case scenario - break even on hockey.

Keep in mind that the primary reason MU added LAX a few years back was because of the Big East's sport sponsorship minimums.  Adding sports at a private, urban D-I with <25% enrollment of the land grants is a very tall order without significant (and ongoing) financial backing.  And Benny's already committed his dollars to the Thunderdome (which will not be ice-capable).

How many does golf have? Could do women's golf and women's field hockey. Then have Men's Ice hockey.

I know it won't happen either way. MU would be too scared of it cutting into the basketball fandom and yet they'd need butts in the seats at Hockey games to make it viable.

[#UnleashSean]

I'd love to see Marquette have a hockey team but it's pretty doubtful.  It's a big investment for a university that prides itself on prioritizing basketball.  Equipment, facilities, travel, sports medicine, etc.  And you'd need the women's side too.  Probably a better chance of baseball / softball.

I'd stay away from baseball at the d1 level in Wisconsin