Nope, it was built brand new. They might've added a few of those luxury seats up in the corner at a later date, but there was no significant addition and there couldn't be without breaking through the concrete exterior walls. In fact, there isn't a single Hockey East arena that could be meaningfully expanded (not renovated like at Lowell, adding some boxes, or adding some extra chairs/SRO here and there) without breaking through an exterior wall.
Acknowledging CT's construction and related costs likely significantly exceed those in Omaha, luckily UConn can potentially keep Freitas, only build an arena roughly half the size of UNO's main arena, and wouldn't need the UNO complex's extra ice surface used for practice and community purposes.
Up top, for standing room + some bigger donor luxury boxes.
The proposal states a minimum of 3,500. However HE says minimum 4,000. I'm just confused why UConn wouldn't request a bid for the HE minimum of 4,000.
If you read it closely it says a minimum of 3500 seats BUT also states that it must meet all Hockey East and NCAA hockey requirements.
Only 8 Men's games a year... seems a bit steep for only 8 games a year.
Women will also play every home game there, plus any HE playoff games...not just a men's hockey facility. Same with the practice facility. If they are smart they will also allow the CIAC to play the state HS finals there as well...they used to play them at the Civic Center.
The idea does kind of grow on you, doesn't it? IIRC the roof was high enough. Still have parking and locker room issues. But if you are gutting it, you should be able to do the locker room and you could use the garage across from Gampel. You'd also have to update the HVAC. But the location would be perfect.
The idea does kind of grow on you, doesn't it? IIRC the roof was high enough. Still have parking and locker room issues. But if you are gutting it, you should be able to do the locker room and you could use the garage across from Gampel. You'd also have to update the HVAC. But the location would be perfect.
You should email AD Dave with idea. It's worth considering it.
Here's Quinny's arena. It's a little small for our needs.
If the roof line isn't high enough BUT they can go down without any issue problem is solved. Watched may a men's game there as a young lad...would be a cool place that's for sure. They may have to replace the facility though with something for track and the other sports that utilize that space.
Feel the same way. It would be very cool to walk through the same doors to see a hockey game.
Agree. 4k seating with standing room is the minimum, in my opinion. I'd like to see us not repeat the same mistake we made with Gampel and add a concourse.
