UND takes on dual role as participant, host at Frozen Four
· Yahoo Sports
Apr. 7—GRAND FORKS — UND fans traveling to Las Vegas next week might notice a few familiar game day procedures at T-Mobile Arena.
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That's because the Fighting Hawks aren't just participants in the Frozen Four. They'll also serve as the host institution, a first for the program.
"We couldn't be more excited about it," UND athletic director Bill Chaves said. "For the NCAA and the NCAA committee to take a chance on a new venue, a new place, and to have the faith in the University of North Dakota to assist Las Vegas Events in putting on a great Frozen Four, we are so grateful, and we are excited about it."
The Hawks are running the event in conjunction with the NCAA and the local organizing committee.
UND, Las Vegas Events, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and T-Mobile Arena form the local organizing committee that won the bid to host nearly seven years ago.
The NCAA's role is more big-picture logistical matters, such as putting together the bracket, creating practice schedules and ensuring compliance with policy procedures.
The host institution and local organizing committee are focused on the more boots-on-the-ground tasks.
Initial duties will be preparing the hotel and arena for the participating teams. When players and staff begin arriving, the Hawks hosting staff will act as concierges of sorts.
"We want to make sure that the student-athletes don't just come into a hotel, and it looks like they don't know what's going on," UND deputy athletic director Erik Martinson said. "We want the student-athletes and the fans to feel like this is the biggest show in town."
UND will also provide equipment and medical staff.
During the games, the athletic staff will run the statistics in tandem with the NCAA. The game timekeeper will also be from UND.
"If you really pay attention, we'll have some UND touches to the game day," Martinson said.
A group of UND athletic staff members arrived on Sunday to begin the hosting duties.
Martinson, assistant athletics director of communications Alec Stocker Johnson, coordinator of game presentation and partnership activation Jarrett Mescher, Dr. Steve Westereng, chair of the Department of Sports Medicine, and equipment manager Keaton Walock are some of the core members who arrived in Las Vegas early.
Many staff members will wear multiple hats at the event, transitioning from host to participant as the week progresses.
"I've learned to enjoy everything through the chaos," Martinson said. "That's just what we do. It's an awesome responsibility to be having this and to be putting this opportunity through the University of North Dakota and I think a lot of people believe in us to do a good job, and I take that very seriously. So I think it's really, really cool to be doing something like this. My 12-year-old self would think it's just the absolute coolest thing in the world."
Though this will be UND's first time hosting the Frozen Four, the athletic staff has plenty of experience in the NCAA regionals.
The Hawks have been the host institution for seven NCAA regionals since 2015.
"Having a host institution — particularly North Dakota, as good as (Martinson) is — to have those folks who have that hockey experience and know the drill and know how to run a good tournament, that just enhances it across the board," NCAA championship director Chad Tolliver said. "With a group like North Dakota, I know that we've talked about what they need to do, I know they know what they need to do. And I've got complete trust in doing it because they've been great for so long in running events. They've got the hockey experience. It's just less that, from a champs manager, I have to worry about because I know I've got folks who I've seen do it before and have done a great job, and I know I can count on them."
There are multiple benefits that come from hosting an event like the Frozen Four.
As a participant, UND will enter the tournament with a greater knowledge base of logistical questions — times, locations, where to go, things of that nature.
"When we submitted this almost back in 2020, this is what we wanted to happen," Martinson said. "We wanted our team to be playing in Vegas, the city that Ralph built, while we're hosting. That's the best-case scenario. Not that there's a competitive advantage for us, but it's just awesome that we'll know what's going on, and have our hands all over everything."
Increased brand recognition and relationship management are additional bonuses.
"The ability to have the University of North Dakota attached to a national championship, and one of this magnitude in the arena and in the city that it's going to be, was incredibly attractive for us," Chaves said. "We always want to put our team in the best situation possible, and that's why we always want to try to host regionals if we can."
There is also a financial component.
The NCAA is guaranteed $2.7 million from the event. The association then allocates revenue toward covering expenses.
After the guaranteed amount and expenses are subtracted, the remaining net revenue is split between the NCAA and the Local Organizing Committee, which is Las Vegas Events, MGM, T-Mobile and UND.
The NCAA receives 80% and the Local Organizing Committee receives 20%, according to Tolliver.
Ticket sales are the primary driver of that revenue. That means the amount of money the Local Organizing Committee will receive is not set in stone and will depend on the Frozen Four attendance.
The Hawks will have their hosting expenses covered by the NCAA.
"I just think it's a really cool, unique opportunity for us," Martinson said. "It's going to be one heck of a show, and I couldn't be more excited. To get messages from the other teams that are saying, 'Hey, we're glad you're hosting, this is awesome, we know we're going to have a great experience,' that means the world. To be able to provide an experience for our team and know that it's going to be a high-end experience for them is really important to me."