Hockey Arena Groundbreaking/Progress

[SinBin]

I'm hoping I'm wrong, but is the camera facing the parking lot to not show that they are behind schedule?

 

[huskymedic]

I'm hoping I'm wrong, but is the camera facing the parking lot to not show that they are behind schedule?

Unless it changed recently - there was an exterior camera view and an interior camera view.

 

[SinBin]

Unless it changed recently - there was an exterior camera view and an interior camera view.

Unless I missed something, when I checked this morning the camera was aimed at the parking lot.

 

[UC15]

Unless I missed something, when I checked this morning the camera was aimed at the parking lot.

Good pick up you're right. The camera faces the parking now on the website. They definitely saw the pictures from the Sacred Heart rink and are feeling the pressure. Since both rinks are set to open on the 14th.
I mean looking at the calendar there are 39 days until Jan 14 so time is certainly not on their side right now. And that's not even factoring in Xmas & NYE.

 

[Palatine]

Good pick up you're right. The camera faces the parking now on the website. They definitely saw the pictures from the Sacred Heart rink and are feeling the pressure. Since both rinks are set to open on the 14th.
I mean looking at the calendar there are 39 days until Jan 14 so time is certainly not on their side right now. And that's not even factoring in Xmas & NYE.

One is being built at at a private school. One is being built at a government school. The former is larger, cheaper and on time. Don't worry, we'll get there.

 

[DblCrossbar]

One is being built at at a private school. One is being built at a government school. The former is larger, cheaper and on time. Don't worry, we'll get there.

Good point - Interestingly we have the perfect comparative study of Public vs Private development because the costs for Martire Family Arema at SHU turned out to be the same - $70 million and was developed under the same economic conditions in the same state. Martire contains 1000 seats more and supposedly supports figure skating too (though the rink is 200x85 hockey spec. There is certainly a difference in construction procedures with respect to public vs private based projects, but with the equivalent $ spent I also wonder if there may be certain amenities present at Toscano FIF that are absent at Martire FA? I mean other than fire pits.

 

[CL82]

I mean other than fire pits

I mean, what would you rather have 1000 more seats or an outdoor fire pit?

 

[Viet Vet]

Good point - Interestingly we have the perfect comparative study of Public vs Private development because the costs for Martire Family Arema at SHU turned out to be the same - $70 million and was developed under the same economic conditions in the same state. Martire contains 1000 seats more and supposedly supports figure skating too (though the rink is 200x85 hockey spec. There is certainly a difference in construction procedures with respect to public vs private based projects, but with the equivalent $ spent I also wonder if there may be certain amenities present at Toscano FIF that are absent at Martire FA? I mean other than fire pits.

Having spent the past 37 years as a self-employed, commissioned salesperson, my comments regarding private vs public sector spending will remain silent. I don't wish to be tossed from the BY.

 

[UC15]

Having spent the past 37 years as a self-employed, commissioned salesperson, my comments regarding private vs public sector spending will remain silent. I don't wish to be tossed from the BY.

Question for you Viet Vet will you be buying season tix to both venues? XL only?

 

[DblCrossbar]

I mean, what would you rather have 1000 more seats or an outdoor fire pit?

If I actually have the opportunity to hold season tickets there - the fire pits, no brainer - I mean I only occupy one seat at a time, but yeah otherwise, the seats and more opportunity to be in one. Also traffic to and from Storrs is a consideration as compared to a much more accessible XL Center.

Actually I'll say this. I'll see a game at both the SHU and UConn hockey venues and compare notes from the perspective of an average fan, so I'll reserve judgment for now. I've enjoyed some games at the (freshly named) M&T Bank Arena at Quinnipiac, though find their policies surrounding beer to be understandable yet inconvenient (only served in the adjacent venue - basketball - away from the game. That facility is in between in size so a good middle of the road baseline.

Also from a piece in USCHO...

UConn’s new crown jewel of an arena set to prove that bigger isn’t always better​

"Instead, this arena will feature a little more than 2,600 seats with a standing-room capacity that will push 3,000. "

Standing room is a consideration - I mean that's exactly how Ingalls also boosts their crowds - IMHO in an awkward manner with the slope of the walkways.

 

[Viet Vet]

Question for you Viet Vet will you be buying season tix to both venues? XL only?

Both if eligible for tix at Toscano. XL for sure.

 

[huskymedic]

Hockey/Rink discussion begins @ 20:10 mark:

 

[Bomber36]

Hockey/Rink discussion begins @ 20:10 mark:

Benedict saying it’s going to be “one of the toughest tickets to get in town” kinda irks me. I have supported this team for the last 7 years and it sounds like I’ll be lucky to see a game there. UConn asking me for donations was a non starter. I had kids in college for most of the pre Toscano period, so donating to our athletic teams (beyond all the tickets I’ve purchased over the years) was not a priority. Besides, I’ve been a Connecticut taxpayer all of my adult life, so they get some of my money by default. The more I think about, the more it upsets me. They are holding people hostage to having to donate big bucks if they want to see a game there. I get that it’s business, but it rubs me the wrong way. Someone talk me off the ledge please.

 

[UC15]

Hockey/Rink discussion begins @ 20:10 mark:

Benedict saying it’s going to be “one of the toughest tickets to get in town” kinda irks me. I have supported this team for the last 7 years and it sounds like I’ll be lucky to see a game there. UConn asking me for donations was a non starter. I had kids in college for most of the pre Toscano period, so donating to our athletic tems was not a priority. Besides, I’ve been a Connecticut taxpayer all of my adult life, so they get some of my money by default. The more I think about, the more it upsets me. They are holding people hostage to having to donate big bucks if they want to see a game there. I get that it’s business, but it rubs me the wrong way. Someone talk me off the ledge please.

You're 100% right. It's ridiculous and him trying to say there is value in creating this demand is so wrong. Maybe you do create some value but it's the wrong type of value, you want the value driven by the play on the ice and the success of the team. You're alienating a fanbase that is very passionate about their team and especially about this sport. In order to make a couple more $$ while diluting the fanbase because the hardcore won't go anywhere but the fringe fans might turn their nose because they can't go. But the rationale will be oh you can go to the games in Hartford. All around it's brutal.

 

[Viet Vet]

Benedict saying it’s going to be “one of the toughest tickets to get in town” kinda irks me. I have supported this team for the last 7 years and it sounds like I’ll be lucky to see a game there. UConn asking me for donations was a non starter. I had kids in college for most of the pre Toscano period, so donating to our athletic teams (beyond all the tickets I’ve purchased over the years) was not a priority. Besides, I’ve been a Connecticut taxpayer all of my adult life, so they get some of my money by default. The more I think about, the more it upsets me. They are holding people hostage to having to donate big bucks if they want to see a game there. I get that it’s business, but it rubs me the wrong way. Someone talk me off the ledge please.

Bomber36, you know I'm with you on this........................100%.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Benedict saying it’s going to be “one of the toughest tickets to get in town” kinda irks me. I have supported this team for the last 7 years and it sounds like I’ll be lucky to see a game there. UConn asking me for donations was a non starter. I had kids in college for most of the pre Toscano period, so donating to our athletic teams (beyond all the tickets I’ve purchased over the years) was not a priority. Besides, I’ve been a Connecticut taxpayer all of my adult life, so they get some of my money by default. The more I think about, the more it upsets me. They are holding people hostage to having to donate big bucks if they want to see a game there. I get that it’s business, but it rubs me the wrong way. Someone talk me off the ledge please.

Once the newness of the building wears off you will be able to get tickets to the new arena. Maybe not this season, but next season shouldn’t be a problem to catch a game.

 

[Bomber36]

Once the newness of the building wears off you will be able to get tickets to the new arena. Maybe not this season, but next season shouldn’t be a problem to catch a game.

Yeah, but I want them this season. It’s already been a historic year and will probably get better. But I have to watch every second half home game on TV? That sucks. I do hear you though, but if it’s a great year next year won’t be any easier.

 

[kibblesnbits]

Rink capacity for the four major D1 programs in CT:

Sacred Heart (new) - 3,600
Yale - 3.500
QU - 3,386
UConn (on campus, new) - 2,600

How embarrassing that the state's flagship university, with far and away the largest student enrollment among the four schools, has the "rinky dink" rink.

I doubt that Sacred Heart really has 3,600 seats. The pictures show a rink with 9 rows around the bowl (versus 11 at Quinnipiac and 8-9 for most of the bowl at UConn). Like UConn and QU there is a small club area with a few rows of seats upstairs (SHU's looks a little bigger than the others but still can't have more than a few hundred seats). If capacity at SHU is 3,600 that would have to include standing room and that still seems like a stretch.

 

[UCMB88]

I doubt that Sacred Heart really has 3,600 seats. The pictures show a rink with 9 rows around the bowl (versus 11 at Quinnipiac and 8-9 for most of the bowl at UConn). Like UConn and QU there is a small club area with a few rows of seats upstairs (SHU's looks a little bigger than the others but still can't have more than a few hundred seats). If capacity at SHU is 3,600 that would have to include standing room and that still seems like a stretch.

It's a legit 3,600.

 

[The Viking]

Is it Benedicts fault that Sacred Heart gets to build a great arena with 1000 more seats because it's done with seperation from government and /or union costs and timelines?

 

[kibblesnbits]

It's a legit 3,600.

It's not even close. That video just confirms what I said - the seating bowl is much smaller than Quinnipiac's and there are only a few hundred seats upstairs. The only way they can come close to 3,600 is if they are including standing room.

 

[CL82]

Somewhere documents exist that explain how they came up to the 3600 person count. I don’t care enough to actually go look for them. I will say, it’s a very nice barn. Good for them.

Like all of us, I’m not thrilled about the capacity of Toscano, but other than that, it is a first class facility that is going to give our guys a nice home ice advantage. It’s all good.

 

[Austin316]

It might be small but it’s going to be one of the loudest barns in the US. Games will be packed. Place will be loud. Atmosphere it’s going to be awesome!

 

[CL82]

So not intended to be an apples to apples comparison, because we are still under construction, but the big capacity difference seems to be the seats behind the net and the extra rows where we have vendors/club seating. Keep in mind that there is a row of counter height chairs that still need to be installed at the tables behind the last row of seats, which is a nice touch. It feels as if we are steeper than the SHU Arena. I like that because it will feel as if the crowd is right on top of the players. That’s a nice design touch that will give us additional home ice advantage. I have to note that chair backs all the way around the SHU arena is sweet.

 

[huskymedic]

Is it going to be completed on schedule?

I'm hoping I'm wrong, but is the camera facing the parking lot to not show that they are behind schedule?

I mean looking at the calendar there are 39 days until Jan 14 so time is certainly not on their side right now. And that's not even factoring in Xmas & NYE.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Let’s make some ice already!!!!!

 

[WestHartHusk]

It's a legit 3,600.

Nice barn. But damn that music was precious.

 

[DblCrossbar]

View attachment 81932
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So not intended to be an apples to apples comparison, because we are still under construction, but the big capacity difference seems to be the seats behind the net and the extra rows where we have vendors/club seating. Keep in mind that there is a row of counter height chairs that still need to be installed at the tables behind the last row of seats, which is a nice touch. It feels as if we are steeper than the SHU Arena. I like that because it will feel as if the crowd is right on top of the players. That’s a nice design touch that will give us additional home ice advantage. I have to note that chair backs all the way around the SHU arena is sweet.

Another difference: I can't see the opposite end of the SHU rink, but it appears to be chair backs everywhere and in the Toscano pic there appear to be flat benches on the near side. The plan is to experience both - hopefully UConn will be playing SHU next year - or as part of the CT ice tournament - to make that a definite destination.

 

[jho]

They’ve started to make ice.

 

[CL82]

Another difference: I can't see the opposite end of the SHU rink, but it appears to be chair backs everywhere and in the Toscano pic there appear to be flat benches on the near side. The plan is to experience both - hopefully UConn will be playing SHU next year - or as part of the CT ice tournament - to make that a definite destination.

I’m curious to hear your comparison of the two. Both are very nice and seem like great places to see a game. Have you been to Quinnipiac’s rink? That looks nice as well.