Badger 2024 Volleyball

[Voyageur]

I sure hope that Sheffield isn't going anywhere, anytime soon. He's only 54 and has 2 relatively young daughters (10 &12). So I hope he and his family want to stick around Madison until his daughters are at least....30.

His current contract is up at the end of Jan. 2028. Of the schools that are required to report coaches salaries, he is ranked as the having the 4th highest salary ($474,445) on NCAA Women's Volleyball. At some point, Chris McIntosh and the Badger brass, might want to bump him up closer to what Cook is making at Nebraska.

While I do love the atmosphere at the always packed Fieldhouse, I think if keeping Kelly happy and in Madison required more money, they could raise enough of it just by shifting some of the bigger matches to the Kohl Center. I have been in both venues, when packed and yes the Fieldhouse is quaint & full of tradition, but a packed Kohl Center, with twice the capacity, is LOUD and just as crazy. As a fan, the Kohl center is also a lot more comfortable than those hard benches that the FH offers, although if its a good match, you're standing as much as you're sitting.

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My first adventures with the Field House goes back into the 50s, attending State basketball tournaments. Then, into the 60s, watching both HS, and the Badgers playing at home. It was acceptable digs in those days, but outdated in today's sports market. But it was cozy, being close to the action, I gotta admit that. I don't think it's too far off they'll be playing all their games in the Kohl to be honest. Like you said, a bigger venue, more attendance, more advertising opportunities, and more money coming in through NIL.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

My first adventures with the Field House goes back into the 50s, attending State basketball tournaments. Then, into the 60s, watching both HS, and the Badgers playing at home. It was acceptable digs in those days, but outdated in today's sports market. But it was cozy, being close to the action, I gotta admit that. I don't think it's too far off they'll be playing all their games in the Kohl to be honest. Like you said, a bigger venue, more attendance, more advertising opportunities, and more money coming in through NIL.

I spent a lot of time in that fieldhouse in my days. Quaint and kind of historic, but the Kohl center seats twice as many, is way more comfortable and is bigger, and closer to student dorms and housing. Not that Camp Randall or the FH are that far, but in the winter time, that trek can make some want to stay home.

I wish they would move women's hockey into the Kohl center, at least for the WCHA games. Their games are typically sold out at The LaBahn Arena and that only seats 2,273. The Kohl Center Seats 17,071. While they might not 100% sell out the Kohl Center for all the WCHA games, I think they easily triple what they are doing at the LaBahn.

I can see it being a tough call for programs like Volleyball and Hockey. Both teams have had a ton of success and part of that success might be packing their "smallish" venues. Changing that formula and playing in front of more people, but in only "half a building full venues", might not feel the same.

With the way the Men's hockey team was playing a few years ago, I almost half expected THEM to swap facilities with the women. Last year they improved a ton, but so far this season, seems they went back to not playing well enough to win games.

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