The University of Wisconsin Athletic Board met Friday to review plans for the Culver’s Camp Randall Hockey Classic and plans for adding sand volleyball as a new sport in the National College Athletic Association.
Senior Associate Athletic Director for Operations Sean Frazier introduced tentative details on the Classic, scheduled Feb. 6. He said he wanted the day of the games and the days leading up to it to be very focused on hockey.
“We’re basically going to make this a celebration of hockey, both at the college level and the professional level,” Frazier said.
According to Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, UW has sold more than 40,000 tickets to the Classic. Frazier later mentioned the record for attendance at an outdoor hockey game is more than 70,000, held by Michigan State.
“We can’t let Michigan State beat us,” Frazier said.
To boost ticket sales and attendance, many side activities have been planned to make sure attendees always have something to do.
During the games, the indoor portion of Camp Randall will serve as a mini Hockey Hall of Fame museum, with memorabilia from both pro and college hockey, Frazier said.
He added the Stanley Cup will be available for viewing and photographs in Heritage Hall.
A potential concern for Frazier is the possibility of rain or other weather issues the day of the game. He said if the rink is unplayable the day of the classic, the event will have to be moved to the next day –Super Bowl Sunday.
He added the Athletic Department would do as much as it can to keep the rink smooth, but at some point it will be out of its hands.
“The issue of ice surface is pretty critical,” Frazier said.
Athletic Board Chair and UW Law School Associate Dean Walter Dickey praised the efforts of Frazier and others planning the event.
“The amount of effort that goes into administering one of these is unbelievable… and I think they’ve done as well as they can,” Dickey said.
The board also heard plans for adding another sport to the NCAA.
Professor of Veterinary Medicine Sheila McGuirk said the NCAA will give schools the option of adding sand volleyball as a new spring sport starting as soon as spring 2011.
McGuirk said the start date may be pushed back a year due to logistical challenges, such as court space. Schools that do not have good weather throughout the spring may be forced to build indoor courts, she said.
Some members of the board raised objections when McGuirk said schools would be allowed to play the same athletes on their court volleyball teams as on their sand volleyball teams.
Associate Dean for the UW School of Education Adam Gamoran said schools with top-level court teams would likely have a significant recruiting advantage over other schools. He also objected to players getting extra seasons of eligibility that other athletes do not have.
