Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston: Tampa Bay's Time - The Frozen Four Returns!

By Joey Johnston

Tampa is officially on the clock to prepare for the 2023 Frozen Four, the premier event for NCAA college hockey. When the sport’s legions of loyal fans descend upon Amalie Arena for the games next April 6 and 8 — delighting in packing sunscreen, shorts and flip-flops along with their hockey sweaters — Tampa will get its third shot at hosting after highly successful runs in 2012 and 2016.

“As far as I’m concerned, Tampa should host the Frozen Four as often as possible,’’ said Brian Riley, the Army head coach and a former member of the NCAA ice hockey committee. “I was blown away by the experience. I understand that there are old-school traditionalists who equate hockey tournaments with snow and ice and freezing cold outside. But when you consider what Tampa does with the fan experience, the student-athlete experience and how the city rallies around the event, there’s no better place to hold the Frozen Four in my view.’’

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission will again partner with the University of Wisconsin as the event’s host institution after working together in 2016 (Alabama-Huntsville was the host school in 2012). TBSC executive director Rob Higgins, along with other officials from Tampa and Amalie Arena, just returned from a fact-finding trip to the Frozen Four in Boston, where they inspected everything from how the airport received fans to game operations and surrounding events.

“We think 2016 was an elevated experience from our first time hosting and we’re eager to raise the bar even higher in 2023,’’ Higgins said. “Everybody understands what a great opportunity this is for our community and we want to make sure it goes off without a hitch.

“The really special aspects of the Frozen Four are the people. The fans are amazing. You’re constantly running into fans who make it an annual event or you’re meeting someone who is there for the 30th straight year. It’s like a badge of honor to be there. The passion and enthusiasm are off the charts. Hosting those fans is a true honor and we don’t take it lightly.’’

Tampa has never taken lightly the opportunity to host a Frozen Four. It was 2005 — the year after the Tampa Bay Lightning’s first Stanley Cup championship — when the non-traditional site of Tampa was awarded the 2012 Frozen Four. That meant the event would come to the Southeast for the first time in its 63-year history. At first, there was an outcry, both from longtime fans and hockey insiders. Tampa? Really?

Higgins finds it ironic that some of the biggest skeptics are now some of the most vocal advocates for returning the Frozen Four to Tampa.

“Obviously, there were people who just thought it was a bad idea,’’ Higgins said. “But once they came and experienced what we had to offer, those folks quickly converted. That has been really rewarding.’’

When Tampa was awarded its third Frozen Four during a 2020 announcement, the decision was widely praised.

Nate Wells, a freelance sports reporter who writes a college hockey blog that centers around the University of Minnesota’s program, said what everyone else was thinking with his Twitter post:

There are two types of people in the world: 1). Those who wonder why Tampa would host a Frozen Four. 2). Those who have been to a Tampa-hosted Frozen Four.

“The skeptics are gone!’’ said Steve Metcalf, commissioner of the Hockey East Association. “Tampa is a great place to visit. Tampa showed such incredible hospitality for both the teams and the fans. Everyone had an enjoyable time.’’

“I am one of those people who were skeptical when Tampa was first awarded the Frozen Four, but Tampa just won me over,’’ said Adam Woton, managing editor of the College Hockey News. “The Tampa Bay Sports Commission just did an outstanding job of making everyone feel welcome and putting on the event. I always considered far-flung places to be a gimmick, but Tampa did a great job. They had everything working like a well-oiled machine. The games were well-attended and with the Lightning being so good lately, Tampa has turned into a hockey-loving town.’’

Higgins said he won’t forget Tampa’s first Frozen Four in 2012. After the championship game, when Boston College defeated Ferris State 4-1, Higgins lingered in the media room to hear interviews from the players and coaches. Afterward, he was approached by several Ferris State players, who thanked him for all the experiences offered by the host city. At first, Higgins thought it was a kind gesture from a small school, perhaps reveling in a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

About 10 minutes later, Higgins was approached by players from BC, a Frozen Four regular with experience in nearly every host city. The Eagles, too, thanked Higgins and praised Tampa’s performance as the host city.

“Hearing that from both teams separately, it was one of the coolest moments of my career,’’ Higgins said.

The TBSC built on that experience in 2016, when North Dakota defeated Quinnipiac 5-1 in the final before 19,358 fans and downtown Tampa establishments were awash with green-clad Fighting Hawks supporters in record-setting numbers.

“Tampa is a great Frozen Four host and we look forward to going back,’’ said Chad Tolliver, the NCAA’s associate director of championships, alliances and operations. “Our fans love coming down to get some sunshine and it’s a massively growing hockey town. But the thing that really sets it apart is the Tampa Bay Sports Commission’s willingness to go above and beyond.’’

Higgins praised the partnership with the Vinik Sports Group and Amalie Arena, which allows the TBSC to establish a firm base of support. From there, it’s all about finding new ideas and creative methods to make it a memorable experience for fans and student-athletes.

“The thing I love about Tampa’s approach is they take nothing for granted,’’ said Sean Frazier, the Northern Illinois University Vice President/Director of Athletics and Recreation who was chair of the NCAA’s ice hockey committee when Tampa was awarded its first Frozen Four.

“The Frozen Four is about the people who come annually. It’s part of the culture. The Tampa Bay Sports Commission understood that, did their homework and put their own branding behind that, along with a little sunshine. Tampa has experience hosting the College Football Playoff, the Women’s Final Four and other college events. They know how to do things in a big-time way.

“I’m so impressed with the energy and commitment that Tampa has shown for the Frozen Four. In all of our surveys, the fans loved it. Tampa truly understands how important the fans are to this event and it shows. I have a feeling that Rob Higgins and his people have studied this and they’re going to come up with something even bigger and better. Tampa is constantly trying to one-up itself with the Frozen Four. It’s awesome. Bringing the Frozen Four to Tampa is one of the best decisions we have ever made.’’