ECHL Scheduling Stupidity

Everyone in hockey circles knows that the ECHL is struggling to remain a solvent entity. The Dayton Bombers and Mississippi Sea Wolves are already suspending operations next season; while the Phoenix Roadrunners are ceasing operations altogether. At least those teams waited until the offseason though: things were so bad for the Fresno Falcons, they closed up shop in the middle of the season this year!

Part of it is the economy; part of it is just the reality of minor league sports. The league wide attendance last season was just over 4200 people per game. But part of it is ridiculous decisions like the playoff schedule the league came up with that shows how low of a priority the league has become. Take a look at the upcoming schedule for the Stockton Thunder vs. Las Vegas Wranglers 2nd round playoff series. Bear in mind, Las Vegas actually has the home ice advantage in this series.

Home ice "advantage" is taking on a whole new meaning in the ECHL

I think they’re using the term “advantage” pretty loosely here. That would be like the Lakers having home court over the Jazz, but 3 of the first 4 games would be in Utah. Can you imagine if the Bruins had to play Game 1, 3 and 4 in Montreal against the Canadiens? Even if the team was OK with it, the entire hockey watching public of the New England region would revolt! Apparently, people in those parts like to revolt.

Wait, it’s much worse that it even looks on that schedule. The 3 final games that are in Las Vegas (the IF NECESSARY games), are all on consecutive nights. I don’t care where the games are played, back-to-back-to-back in the playoffs isn’t an advantage for anyone.

As bad as this set-up is for the Wranglers in the 1st round, the ECHL is probably breathing a sigh of relief.  Look at how the series would have been set up if the Ontario Reign beat the Thunder in their 1st round matchup. If it was Ontario vs. Las Vegas, here’s how the series was to be played out (Ontario would have had home ice):

 Do you see that? The Ontario Reign would have fought all season for home ice advantage in the playoffs, only to have to play a potential Game 6 AND Game 7 on the road. If Ontario didn’t win 4 of the first 5 games in the series, THAT is the situation they would be facing!

As you can see, any series with the Wranglers was going to pose a problem. It turns out that even though they have gone deep in the ECHL playoffs each of the last few seasons, there’s a scheduling conflict with the Orleans Arena. Instead of the playoff hockey team that calls the arena home for 7 months of the season, it looks as though MOTOCROSS has taken priority in the arena!

When arenas and the league show such blatant disregard for the important playoffs, why should the fans invest time, money and emotion? Maybe they should just follow motocross instead. At least they know when and where it will be—it surely won’t be bumped!