Sunday Gravy - Quinnipiac, Holy Cross Hockey East Thoughts | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Sunday Gravy - Quinnipiac, Holy Cross Hockey East Thoughts

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"League commissioner, Joe Bertagna, has acknowledged that even if UConn builds a state-of-the-art arena in Storrs, most home games still will be played at the XL Center."

That doesn't sound like someone concerned with a 2017 deadline to me.
 
ct06111 said:
New ice making equipment , new dasher boards and new glass (hopefully seamless) is not a band-aid. It's major work that will benefit the men's hockey program.
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While these are good and necessary steps, it basically brings XL on par with every other HE rink in these categories, and not at all ahead. It was the only remaining rink without seamless glass and new(er) boards, and many have installed or reinstalled ice-making equipment recently. Northeastern, Merrimack, UMass, and even Maine have all made these improvements recently, in addition to the teams with already new facilities. If you're UConn and you want to be recruiting against the top of the league, your facilities have to go above and beyond the norm of the conference.

My attendance arguments aren't lies, they're based on my own two eyes from the games I've attended at XL as well as information I've gotten through the grapevine about how some other HE schools feel about UConn's attendance claims. But that's not an argument relevant to this thread or this topic.
 
brasssbonanzaa said:
While these are good and necessary steps, it basically brings XL on par with every other HE rink in these categories, and not at all ahead. It was the only remaining rink without seamless glass and new(er) boards, and many have installed or reinstalled ice-making equipment recently. Northeastern, Merrimack, UMass, and even Maine have all made these improvements recently, in addition to the teams with already new facilities. If you're UConn and you want to be recruiting against the top of the league, your facilities have to go above and beyond the norm of the conference.

My attendance arguments aren't lies, they're based on my own two eyes from the games I've attended at XL as well as information I've gotten through the grapevine about how some other HE schools feel about UConn's attendance claims. But that's not an argument relevant to this thread or this topic.
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I've been to hundreds of hockey games at the XL and do not share that same sentiment. I think I would have a better feel for that than you or anybody else for that matter.

You probably don't even know how much the lower bowl seats but yet are capable on making a determination on whether or not crowds match attendance figures?

Honestly get lost guy.
 
And it sure is relevant because you had to point out that you don't root against UConn yet you disparage them when you're not on here.
 
It sounds like those "other unnamed HE schools" are just jealous that UConn is doing numbers at the XLC with a crap team and crap schedule imagine what we'll draw when our team is good and our schedule continues to be like the 2016-17 one. We will be head and shoulders above the rest of HE, so I don't blame them I guess.
 
TheDoggPound said:
I've been to hundreds of hockey games at the XL and do not share that same sentiment. I think I would have a better feel for that than you or anybody else for that matter.

You probably don't even know how much the lower bowl seats but yet are capable on making a determination on whether or not crowds match attendance figures?
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Cool, I've been to XL hundreds of times as well, for hockey, basketball, and other events. Lower bowl capacity is roughly 5,600. As for your other points, I'm not here to argue I'm only offering my opinion and what I've heard elsewhere. This is still not relevant to this thread or the discussion of adding Holy Cross or potentially booting one HE school.
 
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brasssbonanzaa said:
Cool, I've been to XL hundreds of times as well, for hockey, basketball, and other events. Lower bowl capacity is roughly 5,600. As for your other points, I'm not here to argue I'm only offering my opinion and what I've heard elsewhere. This is still not relevant to this thread or the discussion of adding Holy Cross or potentially booting one HE school.
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The league is not going to shed itself of it's top draw so it is actually relevant to this discussion guy.
 
TheDoggPound said:
The league is not going to shed itself of it's top draw so it is actually relevant to this discussion guy.
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I already agreed with the point that UConn would not be kicked out. Merrimack would be the one booted if anyone was, and I strongly doubt anyone will.
 
I really don't mean to get uptight but I'm a stickler for attendance numbers (For instance NHL's are a joke and I call them out on it all the time) but I honestly, honestly think UConn's #'s are genuine, I know the arena well, I know what crowds look like in there and know if the figure matches. So that's why I'm perceiving your opinion as a slight because it's too easy for someone to just throw that claim around especially not naming any schools who feel that way in a lame attempt to tarnish and discredit our #'s.

Getting back on topic agreed no one goes, but seems like 11 member league will be here for foreseeable future.
 
TheDoggPound said:
"League commissioner, Joe Bertagna, has acknowledged that even if UConn builds a state-of-the-art arena in Storrs, most home games still will be played at the XL Center."

That doesn't sound like someone concerned with a 2017 deadline to me.
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Thanks for sharing...post the link so I can read the rest of the article. There isn't much college hockey news in the metro NYC area except for when my copies of The Hockey News, NE Hockey Journal & NY Hockey Journal arrive in the mail. As for giving it a rest...not a chance. As a life long UCONN fan and a long time season ticket holder for football and now season ticket holder for hockey I've been to that dump in Hartford more times than I can remember. A new on-campus arena would add at least 45 minutes to my ride for games, but to me a deal is a deal. Maybe they have already submitted plans to HE that are approved..maybe not you never know. I will tell you this..MSG isn't far from my firehouse , we lived in there while that place was renovated..Dolan had unlimited funds..the state won't. So they better have somewhere to play when they start the XL refurb because there is no way that project is done on schedule without going over budget.
 
The scope of the 2 projects are not even close to the same, XLC vs. MSG. If you think you're comparing apples-apples you're not.
 
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Please note in the article that Bertagna doesn't really have a clue wth he's talking about because again the circus comes to Hartford every MAY. I'm truly not understanding why it is so hard for people to grasp that. The ONLY time it EVER impacts the XL Center or one of it's tenants is when the Wolf Pack advanced to the 2nd round of the AHL playoffs. That's it. Hopefully this is the last time this is erroneously cited.
 
At least for me, I used the circus as a sarcastic placeholder to represent lower-tier events being scheduled on weekends at XL in the past that bumped UConn hockey to midweek or otherwise weird times. Some examples:

Tuesday 11/18/14 vs. RPI because Disney Live was at XL the previous Saturday
Wednesday 2/4/15 vs. PC because Monster Jam was at XL the subsequent weekend
Tuesday 10/27/15 vs. BU - I can't find what was at XL the Friday before when UConn's home game in the series would have been. No Wolf Pack game or concert I can find.
Tuesday 11/17/15 vs. QU or Tuesday 11/24/15 vs. BC because Disney Live was at XL on the weekend of 11/20. Not sure which of the two games was bumped as a result.
Tuesday 2/2/16 vs. Brown because Monster Jam was at XL the subsequent weekend

The point is UConn shouldn't have to be dealing with this stuff. If they're going to be roped into putting the majority of the basketball and all of the hockey games at XL, they need to have first priority on the totem pole for ALL events. Of course basketball goes first, but hockey must come after them, before the Wolf Pack, before Monster Jam, before Disney on Ice, etc. Hockey and basketball rarely would conflict as BB is almost never played on Friday nights, and BB can play a day game and hockey can play a night game on a Saturday. This is how the scheduling should work, this is how UConn should be pushing for scheduling to work, and it does seem from this year's schedule that they're making progress with it. The only game I can see that got bumped to a mid-week game inexplicably is the February game against PC. BC on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving is a popular night for hockey, Maine on a Thursday before Fenway is because of Maine's travel schedule, and that seems to be it.

I think we can both agree on the overarching point that UConn now being in a power conference playing big-name opponents in a revenue sport, they need to have the first pick of scheduling time slots. No other team in Hockey East, or any major hockey program in the country, has to fight for scheduling time slots with Monster Jam. It makes the program look second-rate, makes it harder to recruit, makes it less advantageous competitively due to short turnaround times and odd practice scheduling - it's a terrible idea all around. UConn's with the big boys now in the world of hockey, Hartford and XL need to treat them as such.
 
TheDoggPound said:
The scope of the 2 projects are not even close to the same, XLC vs. MSG. If you think you're comparing apples-apples you're not.
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I'm comparing Apples to Apples in the time line laid out by Freimuth for construction estimations and no loss of event time. Scope of project..no way..MSG has 3 high profile major league teams...the XL Center doesn't.
 
TheDoggPound said:
You could have just copy pasted the quote into Google but here ya go: UConn's Success At XL Puts On-Campus Arena Focus On Freitas Upgrade .
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Click on this link Nos put up on the football board and fast forward to 36:02....That will give you an idea on where HE stands about playing on-campus.
Nostical said:
Try this. If it works I'll be the most surprised. I had to wait for the download so be patient. Good luck.

http://download.podcast.play.it/media/d0/d0/d1/dC/d8/dU/dO/1C8UO_3.MP3?show=Joe+D+and+Gresh&category=Sports+&+Recreation&callsign=WTICAM&market=Connecticut&awCollectionId=1294&awEpisodeId=657998
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dream arena is an on campus 15000 seat for both basketball and hockey. just block upper bowl for hockey games with a curtain
 
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FDNY99 said:
Click on this link Nos put up on the football board and fast forward to 36:02....That will give you an idea on where HE stands about playing on-campus.
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Not only does that interview give the idea on where Hockey East stands on playing on-campus, but I also like that the UConn Athletics recognizes the value of having some games on campus so as to help develop a following for the team among the student body.
 
brasssbonanzaa said:
At least for me, I used the circus as a sarcastic placeholder to represent lower-tier events being scheduled on weekends at XL in the past that bumped UConn hockey to midweek or otherwise weird times. Some examples:

Tuesday 11/18/14 vs. RPI because Disney Live was at XL the previous Saturday
Wednesday 2/4/15 vs. PC because Monster Jam was at XL the subsequent weekend
Tuesday 10/27/15 vs. BU - I can't find what was at XL the Friday before when UConn's home game in the series would have been. No Wolf Pack game or concert I can find.
Tuesday 11/17/15 vs. QU or Tuesday 11/24/15 vs. BC because Disney Live was at XL on the weekend of 11/20. Not sure which of the two games was bumped as a result.
Tuesday 2/2/16 vs. Brown because Monster Jam was at XL the subsequent weekend

The point is UConn shouldn't have to be dealing with this stuff. If they're going to be roped into putting the majority of the basketball and all of the hockey games at XL, they need to have first priority on the totem pole for ALL events. Of course basketball goes first, but hockey must come after them, before the Wolf Pack, before Monster Jam, before Disney on Ice, etc. Hockey and basketball rarely would conflict as BB is almost never played on Friday nights, and BB can play a day game and hockey can play a night game on a Saturday. This is how the scheduling should work, this is how UConn should be pushing for scheduling to work, and it does seem from this year's schedule that they're making progress with it. The only game I can see that got bumped to a mid-week game inexplicably is the February game against PC. BC on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving is a popular night for hockey, Maine on a Thursday before Fenway is because of Maine's travel schedule, and that seems to be it.

I think we can both agree on the overarching point that UConn now being in a power conference playing big-name opponents in a revenue sport, they need to have the first pick of scheduling time slots. No other team in Hockey East, or any major hockey program in the country, has to fight for scheduling time slots with Monster Jam. It makes the program look second-rate, makes it harder to recruit, makes it less advantageous competitively due to short turnaround times and odd practice scheduling - it's a terrible idea all around. UConn's with the big boys now in the world of hockey, Hartford and XL need to treat them as such.
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I agree with the principal but I think you might be overstating things a bit. There are a few games like BC which I think UConn wants to be separate. makes them special. You can Agee or not with the strategy but they would prefer not to have certain games back to back.

If you look at the upcoming schedule most league games are the more typical Fri-Sat model. So it doesn't look to be an issue now. Year 1 and to a degree last year was really an "experiment" with top level hockey. Now that it works, they seem to have a pretty "normal" schedule and likely will in the future. Though they will continue to play occasional midweek games out of conference or for purposes of creating an event type feeling.
 
brasssbonanzaa said:
My attendance arguments aren't lies, they're based on my own two eyes from the games I've attended at XL as well as information I've gotten through the grapevine about how some other HE schools feel about UConn's attendance claims. But that's not an argument relevant to this thread or this topic.
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Which schools are upset about UConn's attendance numbers?
 
Btw I think the PC game is midweek because UConn wants that one that way too. I don't have the numbers but of the games I saw last year PC was probably the 2nd biggest draw and crowd "intensity". You are right about Maine (scheduling) and they will forever try to make a few big games mid week events if they can. They will also play a few non-conference mid week games. The downtown business and after work crowd like them.
 
The Viking said:
Which schools are upset about UConn's attendance numbers?
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I hate to sound like one of those idiot conference realignment "insiders" but I do have friends and people I've come upon throughout my years following the sport who work in the athletic departments of multiple HE schools, not just BU. I've been told through the grapevine, and actually not from my friends at BU, that they believed UConn inflated their home attendance numbers at many home games in the first year in an effort to ensure they'd lead the conference in attendance. The line of thinking on the other school's part was this wasn't necessary as the league was so happy with how UConn's attendance was doing in their first year just based on the eye test that even if they hadn't placed first they far exceeded the expectations of the league. Whether these beliefs about inflated numbers are true or to what extent, that's not material, UConn has had excellent attendance. But to answer your question, that's what others in the league had perceived based on their own experiences at XL as well as pictures from games and other reports. Again, really not the most important thing in the world and nothing to lose sleep over.

It's also worth noting that UConn is not the only school that's been mentioned on this topic. Lowell has repeatedly found ways to magically shove 7,000+ people into an arena that sat 6,500 BEFORE they removed a bunch of seats for renovations. I've actually been told by those with direct knowledge that Lowell has purposefully oversold high profile games hoping people with tickets wouldn't show up so they could increase their attendance number for that game. BU being one of those times it occurred, I can tell you with absolute certainty there were nowhere near 7K people in that arena.
 
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Bb
I didn't go to every home game but I made quite a few and I actually was surprised that the number of people in the building seemed like more than the announced crowd a few times. But I think a building like the civic center it's really tough to estimate the crowd especially when it is on the smaller side because it is so spread out. And for good or ill at the XL UConn draws a lot of suits so it's less raucous than say UMaine! Makes even a good crowd seem smaller. Not saying I don't believe what your friends are saying but that might be partly perception on their part too. The crowds have definitely been very good the last two years in any case. Better than I think anyone expected honestly.
 
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brasssbonanzaa said:
I hate to sound like one of those idiot conference realignment "insiders" but I do have friends and people I've come upon throughout my years following the sport who work in the athletic departments of multiple HE schools, not just BU. I've been told through the grapevine, and actually not from my friends at BU, that they believed UConn inflated their home attendance numbers at many home games in the first year in an effort to ensure they'd lead the conference in attendance.
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Your sources are the voices in your head.
 
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