McEwan: Scottish trips are big pain
TEAM owner Bobby McEwan believes Hull Stingrays' harsh travelling schedule has undermined their chances of success this season.
Under the Elite League format introduced for 2012-13, Stingrays are in the Gardiner Conference, alongside Scottish sides Braehead, Dundee, Edinburgh and Fife.
They play that quartet eight times each – four home and four away – plus the five teams in the Erhardt Conference twice at home and twice away in a 52-game schedule.
"The travelling is killing us," said Glasgow-born McEwan, whose Rapid Solicitors Stingrays sit bottom of the overall standings and second-bottom in the Conference.
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"We've had a couple of Scottish double away headers, otherwise it would be 16 visits a season. For Conference games between two Scottish teams the longest journey is about 90 minutes from Braehead to Dundee.
"Dundee can play in Braehead on a Saturday and be home by 11.30 to midnight, so they are fully prepared and ready for the next day.
"We'll face off in Braehead this Saturday at 7pm, get back to Hull at 4 or 5am and the players have to be back at the rink for 4pm ready to face off at 6pm. It's taken its toll on the players this season."
To that end, McEwan says he is pondering changing some home matches from Saturday and Sunday to a Friday next season – if he can gain permission from the City Council who own Hull Arena.
"We might try and change the day of our home games, perhaps to a Friday, but I'll have to speak to the Council about that. That will give us a day's rest before travelling up to Scotland," he said.
The closeness of this year's competition means the league structure is set to remain unchanged next season.
Only one point separates all five teams in the Gardiner Conference as the season draws to a conclusion.
The quintet are separated by seven points in the overall standings when their results against the Erhardt Conference are added into the equation.
Travelling issues not withstanding, McEwan is happy with the status quo.
He explained: "I think there was general agreement that the format should remain unchanged for next season, because it shows how close the competition can be.
"That makes the structure of the league work better.
"We've proved we can consistently compete against any team in Hull, but I thought we should've won a few more up in Scotland."
The Challenge Cup groups and import levels are also expected to stay unchanged, while the league will again operate without a wage cap.
STINGRAYS are hosting a fans' forum at Hull Arena tonight (7.30pm) when they will unveil season ticket prices and the first two returnees for 2013-14.
6 Comments
by kivo1889
Thursday, February 28 2013, 9:07PM
“I'm a Steeler, and I must say that Hull is my favourite away trip.
We must have had 200+ Fife fans at the Arena a few weeks back. This was because it was a Saturday nighter, and they were playing the Panthers Sunday, so it was a weekend city break for the Fifers. Maybe the league could try and do a few Hull Sat/Sheff or Nottm Sunday (or vice versa) to cut the travelling costs for Scottish away fans?”
by Jcb2705
Thursday, February 28 2013, 8:48PM
“That said, the conference set up allows for closer games and going forward the team can build on the solid foundations being laid by Bobby & Clouts”
by Jcb2705
Thursday, February 28 2013, 7:38PM
“It must also have an impact on revenue as travel time and costs must prevent away fans travelling from Scotland to Hull especially on a Sunday and midweek games, therefore reducing ticket sales from away fans adversely in comparison to the other teams within the Gardiner conference.
Likewise Stingrays lose out on support at games in Scotland due to the cost and travel time incurred.”
by chrisih2010
Thursday, February 28 2013, 11:06AM
“Bobby it aint rocket science about the difficulty you put the team under by going in that conference. Belfast would have been the more obvious choice for that Conference but then again it was about keeping the big arena teams together in one and the paupers in the other.
I said before the season started the Rays will struggle with the amount of travelling and the usual late face off times the Scottish teams prefer.
As much as the teams are fairly evenly matched the Rays can not compete due to the lopsided travel faced by one team in the Conference when Fife, Braehead, Edinburgh & Dundee are all within less than 100 miles of each other.”
by VoiceNreason
Thursday, February 28 2013, 10:51AM
“Stingrays fans already know that Ben Bowns and Jeremy Tendler will be back as they are on 2 year contracts.
I would hope nthat Mr Box Office Ryan Hand is one of them as he allows our nplayers to play.
Nobody messes with the Hand.
Looking forward to seeing and finally meeting Ryans Dads Jim who flies over this day. Had enough cyber chat with the man. He will taste proper beer ovfer here. Lol. Welcome to Hull Jim,”
by ice_warrior
Thursday, February 28 2013, 9:33AM
“Bobby could have told you at the start of the season the travelling would get to the team, friday night is a good idea though.”