ECAC knows Atlantic City bit of gamble

ALBANY — On Friday night, Times Union Arena public address announcer Kierre Daniels attempted several times to read an announcement giving ticket information for next year's ECAC Hockey final four in Atlantic City, N.J.

As soon as the crowd of slightly more than 5,000 heard the words, "Atlantic City," the booing grew so loud that nobody could hear the rest of Daniels's announcement.

"I'm not surprised by it," said ECAC Hockey commissioner Steve Hagwell. "It shows that the people who are here, whether they are local or outside the area, care about where it goes. They have the right to voice their opinion and displeasure."

This is the last year the ECAC Hockey Tournament will conclude in Albany, where it has been since the 2003 tournament. The championship weekend was held in Boston from 1962-92 and spent 10 years in Lake Placid before moving to Albany.

Next year's event will be held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the former home of the Miss America pageant and the site of the 1964 Democratic National Convention.

"The bottom line is you have to pay the bills," said St. Lawrence University coach Joe Marsh. "Atlantic City is, from a purist's standpoint, a bit of a walk on the wild side, to say the least. It's a three-year trial thing. They've probably been able to muster up some fairly significant financial backing."

St. Lawrence made it to the championship weekend in Albany three times, but lost each year in the semifinal game. Clarkson made two appearances in Albany, reaching the championship game in 2004 and winning the championship in 2007.

"The transition from Lake Placid to here was a hard one for the north country and our fans," said SLU athletic director Margie Strait. "We've gotten comfortable here and we've been able to be here as a team, which is good. We'll have to see how the next chapter, for travel for (fans) is. From my experience last year going to the Sweet 16 for basketball (near Atlantic City), it's a long bus ride. It's not a difficult trip. It's just a long trip."

Hagwell knows the league is moving its marquee event much farther away from many of the colleges' fan bases.

"It's a long way for Clarkson and St. Lawrence to go to Atlantic City," Hagwell said. "By the same token, it was just the same scenario when Princeton was going to Lake Placid. We talked about all those issues when we were considering a move. We know that some people, because of (travel), won't attend. There's excitement and enthusiasm on the move, but there's also a little apprehension because it's the unknown."

There are some advantages to Atlantic City that Albany does not have. The city is near two large media markets in Philadelphia and New York City, and both cities have significant alumni from ECAC Hockey schools.

"I think the process of moving sites is always difficult and challenging for the league as well as the fans, players and everyone," Strait said. "I think the process the ECAC followed was fair. Not everybody was really excited about the possible opportunities, but we'll have to wait and see. It's a promising site from some different angles."