The New Hockey Arena?

[freescooter]

No. Not even this school can be stupid enough to do this. This would be a tragedy.

For whom? In what sense? Basketball already plays most games in Hartford. Women play a good number and hockey obviously does so if it can be arranged such that UConn gets some better financial deal for what it already does, why is that s bad thing?

Personally I wish every team would play every game on campus but that isn’t happening.

 

[Guapo]

For whom? In what sense? Basketball already plays most games in Hartford. Women play a good number and hockey obviously does so if it can be arranged such that UConn gets some better financial deal for what it already does, why is that s bad thing?

Personally I wish every team would play every game on campus but that isn’t happening.

Basketball does not play most games in Hartford. Usually 10/8 split Storrs/Hartford (not sure about this year...)

 

[freescooter]

(This is an honest question, no ill will) do you follow the hockey team?

Anyway, there’s no “probably” about it, they would easily sell 5k for those games and Merrimack could probably get a solid 3-5k too

Serious answer. I’ve followed the hockey team back to d3 days when they played outdoors. Wxcept for the Norwich years I’ve been to at least 1 game/year for 30 years.

 

[Guapo]

Serious answer. I’ve followed the hockey team back to d3 days when they played outdoors. Wxcept for the Norwich years I’ve been to at least 1 game/year for 30 years.

Good! I was serious when I said no ill will

 

[CL82]

From the UConn Hockey Forum:

Booyah. All of sudden it makes more sense.

 

[huskymedic]

UConnBlog: UConn Men’s Hockey Coach Mike Cavanaugh Not Worried About Size of New Ice Rink

 

[uconnbill]

Again I will say it, small time thinking by those in charge. Heck if I hit the lottery I will put in a couple million to expand to 3500-4000 just because.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Booyah. All of sudden it makes more sense.

It still doesn't. Why spend millions to build a top of the line arena that's already too small, despite expandability to a number that would *still* be too small, but still play the best games in Hartford? Either build the top of the line arena on campus, big enough for the program's fan base, and play all games there, or build/renovate a secondary-level arena intended for games against Merrimack.

 

[CL82]

It still doesn't. Why spend millions to build a top of the line arena that's already too small, despite expandability to a number that would *still* be too small, but still play the best games in Hartford? Either build the top of the line arena on campus, big enough for the program's fan base, and play all games there, or build/renovate a secondary-level arena intended for games against Merrimack.

So here's how I read it, with a limited budget, the school is setting using money for the facility rather than seats, but building the rink in such a way that it can be readily expanded. Yeah, I'd rather have a 4000 seat rink built from the get go, but if Cav's okay with it, then I am too.

 

[BRG 1]

15 years ago I went to all the PC games for 4 years at Schneider. Mediocre teams, 1 playoff in 4 years. Sellouts for rival UNH, and BC. Since then PC sells 80% of their seats. Not bad as they compete against the Providence Bruins, which have a 25 year tradition and draw well in a refurbished Dunk. (UConn sells 50% of capacity at XL.)
Since 2011, when PC basically rebuilt Schneider and the '15 championship they have had more sellouts. Students have more apathy since 15 years ago but still go to games, then go pub crawling.
Notes from others: PC is in the middle of a residential neighborhood so traffic before and after can be a hassle. As a hockey fan I would drive from Westfield, MA to XL but not Storrs.
I think it is smart to build an on campus arena. Who knows what the budget and political environment will be in the next 20 years vis a vi Hartford/XL/politics. Having your own arena enables you to control schedule, practice vs. sharing.