NCAA hockey good for everyone

National sports tournaments don't make their way to Green Bay every year, so when one does it's worth pausing to reflect on the positives for everyone. The 2011 NCAA Division 1 Men's Ice Hockey Midwest Regional will be at the Resch Center this weekend - Saturday & Sunday, March 26 & 27. The winner of this regional goes on to compete in the Frozen Four in St. Paul, MN in a couple of weeks.

Obviously it's good for the Green Bay area as the tournament will utilize 8 hotels for the NCAA, teams, officials and staff for Michigan Tech - the host school. That doesn't include the hotel rooms that will be used by the fans that will travel from North Dakota or Western Michigan. The games will be nationally televised by ESPN or one of its affiliate stations. It puts Green Bay on the map again in connection with a championship. We hosted the tournament in 2006 and were lucky enough to have Wisconsin in our bracket. Needless to say every game was sold out that the Badgers played in. Wisconsin didn't make the tournament this year so from a business standpoint that will hurt us a little because the games this weekend likely won't be sellouts.

The NCAA takes over the building as of Friday. Many things have to be done to prepare for the tournament including outfitting the Zamboni with the proper sign as you see in the picture above. All other signs are covered and the ice looks nothing like you'd see at a Gamblers game. It has the look of a national tournament all with NCAA signs and logos.

The quality of hockey will be excellent. If you've been to a Gamblers game this will be probably be a step up as the Gamblers players aspire to be a Division 1 player. Some of the great Division 1 players are too far from playing in the NHL. So give it a shot, see some great hockey this weekend and support a Green Bay area national sports tournament. It's good for everyone!

Event 100 years in the making

I've been a part of hundreds of events since I started this job 10 years ago. But there's one I've never been a part of and probably not many of you have either. That would be a birthday party for your 100-year-old grandmother. My mom has been planning for this just like we'd plan for an event at any one of our venues. She needed a venue, she needed (wanted) a band and she needed patrons - in this case guests. Let me tell you, everyone wants to be part of a party for someone who turns 100. About 200 people came to the party this past weekend in Door County. It was awesome and my grandma is awesome. You'd think I would take a picture of her on her milestone day, but no, I got out my fancy smart phone and took a picture of the dessert table - all home made. I knew others had pictures of granny, but the folks at work - they HAD to see all of this good stuff!

Everyone wanted to get their picture taken with Grandma Josie. It's like she was a rock star. I saw cousins I barely know and old friends and neighbors I haven't seen in many years. Her mind is great, her walk is pretty good and her hearing is only okay. She knew everyone and ate a little bit of everything I think (just like me). It was a special day that doesn't come around too often for most of us. When the party was over and the band played its last song, grandma clapped her hands above her head, waved and blew kisses to the crowd. Just like a rock star.