Toscano Family Ice Forum Impressions | Page 8 | The Boneyard

Toscano Family Ice Forum Impressions

pepband99 said:
LOL - it's not our fault that the pep band draws from the excellent marching band, unlink most of the rinky-dink ADs we have to play against. You're just used to mediocrity - no thanks.
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I think his post was intended to be a tongue in cheek compliment.

I hate the fact that we, and a lot of other colleges, choose to pump in music rather than use the band more. I think the notion is that canned music makes things seem more like a pro venue, but the thing is if I wanted to go to a pro venue, I would. Part of the charm of a college game is listening to the band. I definitely would much prefer utilizing them more. And that's not just true for hockey. The same could be said for football and basketball.
 
CL82 said:
I think his post was intended to be a tongue in cheek compliment.

I hate the fact that we, and a lot of other colleges, choose to pump in music rather than use the band more. I think the notion is that canned music makes things seem more like a pro venue, but the thing is if I wanted to go to a pro venue, I would. Part of the charm of a college game is listening to the band. I definitely would much prefer utilizing them more. And that's not just true for hockey. The same could be said for football and basketball.
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Completely, categorically, 100% agree.
 
pepband99 said:
LOL - it's not our fault that the pep band draws from the excellent marching band, unlink most of the rinky-dink ADs we have to play against. You're just used to mediocrity - no thanks.
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I really prefer using the band, not the pumped in music. Have them playing much more. My comments on the quality were really related to that. The talent is wasted. I know it was at the XL but the perfect example was at the end of the Maine game on Saturday afternoon. UConn is up. Maine pulls the goalie and calls time out with 1-2 minutes to play. The crowd is pumped. Perfect time for Husky or that other fight song. But no. They pump in YMCA. Example #2. Game ends with UConn upsetting a top 10 opponent. Perfect time for the band to jump in with the fight song. But they pump in Brass Bonanza. I get it. Part of Hartford’s hockey history. But come on. The Whalers have now been gone longer than they were here. Play it if you want but not all the time. We are UConn, not the Whalers. Or if you insist on using it, let the band play it. I bet they could learn it. After all they are good musicians I have been told. :p
 
Sorry if you guys can’t read, but I was clearly responding to the 2nd half of his comment

And a related item, tell them to practice less. Hockey bands should be less “polished” and more tinny sounding. At least that is my view.
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pepband99 said:
Sorry if you guys can’t read, but I was clearly responding to the 2nd half of his comment
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Take another look at it and see if you can tell that what he was saying our band is "polished" and not "tinny sounding", but whatever.
 
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CL82 said:
Take another look at it and see if you can tell that what he was saying our band is "polished" and not "tinny sounding", but whatever.
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Yes, he's saying, essentially, he wants them "worse"
 
pepband99 said:
Yes, he's saying, essentially, he wants them "worse"
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Indiferenca Ok GIF
 
huskymedic said:
I do understand your perspective on missing out on additional “behind the net” chairbacks w/ the student section knocking out that option on the other end of the rink.

I’ve been to both MHOC/WHOC games over the year + and have had a good time each game. I get amenities (or lack there of) are often a personal preference - I’ve tried to move around the rink w/ the WHOC tickets and use the standing room tickets for MHOC (I’m used to watching games standing @ a railing/glass @ rinks over New England - it’s actually my preference since I’m often running solo nowadays).

Will be interested to see if they break out XL/Toscano season ticket packages next year after this year’s experiment.
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BTW, if you want to compare Toscano to Augustana's arena, you will be struggling to see the value in Toscano. For those of you that don't know, Augustana is a small college in South Dakota that just joined the CCHA.

They built a new 3080 capacity arena that looks sweet (no tall tables...) for about $40m. It is just opening now. Toscano appears to be very expensive for what we got...
 
Sea Goat said:
BTW, if you want to compare Toscano to Augustana's arena, you will be struggling to see the value in Toscano. For those of you that don't know, Augustana is a small college in South Dakota that just joined the CCHA.

They built a new 3080 capacity arena that looks sweet (no tall tables...) for about $40m. It is just opening now. Toscano appears to be very expensive for what we got...
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I get it - you don’t like Toscano and no one is going to convince you otherwise.

“SIOUX FALLS, SD – January 30, 2024 – Midco Arena, on the campus of Augustana University (AU), celebrated its grand opening on January 26–27 in Sioux Falls, SD. This weekend marked the Vikings’ first-ever home hockey series on campus, inviting fans inside AU’s new $72 million, 154,000 square-foot arena designed by JLG Architects, in collaboration with Clark Construction Group and Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate.”

… and are we really comparing construction costs btwn South Dakota and Connecticut?
 
huskymedic said:
I get it - you don’t like Toscano and no one is going to convince you otherwise.

“SIOUX FALLS, SD – January 30, 2024 – Midco Arena, on the campus of Augustana University (AU), celebrated its grand opening on January 26–27 in Sioux Falls, SD. This weekend marked the Vikings’ first-ever home hockey series on campus, inviting fans inside AU’s new $72 million, 154,000 square-foot arena designed by JLG Architects, in collaboration with Clark Construction Group and Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate.”

… and are we really comparing construction costs btwn South Dakota and Connecticut?
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True, the other issue is that the athletic department chose to spend much of the money in building areas that are material to the team but not visible to fans in the stands.

Still, I think, with the benefit of hindsight, they made some mistakes that really should've been picked up and cleaned up by the architects. Nonetheless, there are fixes for them that can make Tuscano better. Adding seats is a big part of that.
 
Screenshot 2024-02-02 114407.gif

This is what should piss of fans, celebrating an award that is one meaningless but also preposterous when you factor in how poorly the design of the arena facilitates fanfare
 
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Sea Goat said:
BTW, if you want to compare Toscano to Augustana's arena, you will be struggling to see the value in Toscano. For those of you that don't know, Augustana is a small college in South Dakota that just joined the CCHA.

They built a new 3080 capacity arena that looks sweet (no tall tables...) for about $40m. It is just opening now. Toscano appears to be very expensive for what we got...
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You’re only off by 32 million…
 
As someone who has gone to TFIF a bunch (and headed there tonight):

The biggest whiff, by leaps and bounds, is the "student deck." It's functionally useless, an eyesore to boot, and it just screams that this place was thrown together somewhat haphazardly.

This kills me as a band alumnus, and current parent, but i would think a simple, and cheap, fix would be to incorporate a small riser on that deck, for the band. 3 or 4 rows, and these things aren't even custom - normally made for stages.

Good: it would open behind the net seating for students. It would make the band more audable to more of the rink (not that it's a problem now). It puts currently useless space to some degree of use.

Bad: moves the band away from the action (i.e. as spectators).
 
pepband99 said:
As someone who has gone to TFIF a bunch (and headed there tonight):

The biggest whiff, by leaps and bounds, is the "student deck." It's functionally useless, an eyesore to boot, and it just screams that this place was thrown together somewhat haphazardly.

This kills me as a band alumnus, and current parent, but i would think a simple, and cheap, fix would be to incorporate a small riser on that deck, for the band. 3 or 4 rows, and these things aren't even custom - normally made for stages.

Good: it would open behind the net seating for students. It would make the band more audable to more of the rink (not that it's a problem now). It puts currently useless space to some degree of use.

Bad: moves the band away from the action (i.e. as spectators).
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Agree, although I wonder if it's feasible just to knock it down and put seats there and put there. That would also fix a number of "obstructed view seats."
 
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Bomber36 said:
You’re only off by 32 million…
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Info I used came from College Hockey News (1/25/24). It said $40m - take a look.
I didn't pull it out of thin air. Did you look at the 3000+ seat arena? There is a short video - worth the time.
 
Sea Goat said:
Info I used came from College Hockey News (1/25/24). It said $40m - take a look.
I didn't pull it out of thin air. Did you look at the 3000+ seat arena? There is a short video - worth the time.
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I don’t really care…I’m just growing tired of all the Toscano bashing at this point, and this is not aimed at just you. I’ve been guilty of it as well. I agree with many of the points, but this horse has been thoroughly thrashed. We need to move on. Nobody is taking advice on the subject from us. That’s painfully obvious. Trying to change things at UConn is like steering the Queen Mary. Slow and ponderous. That said, I’m looking forward to seeing us thrash PC tonight. I will be there.
 
Bomber36 said:
I don’t really care…I’m just growing tired of all the Toscano bashing at this point, and this is not aimed at just you. I’ve been guilty of it as well. I agree with many of the points, but this horse has been thoroughly thrashed. We need to move on. Nobody is taking advice on the subject from us. That’s painfully obvious. Trying to change things at UConn is like steering the Queen Mary. Slow and ponderous. That said, I’m looking forward to seeing us thrash PC tonight. I will be there.
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Great - my real pet peeve with Toscano is the tall table lounge. Delete that and get to over 2800 in capacity and get hockey purists the "behind the net" view.
This ain't a linear game!

As far "turning the Queen Mary" - it's better than trying to turn the Titanic!(
 
huskymedic said:
First step in recovery is admitting you have a problem…

It’s the middle of the season - I’ll reserve my discomfort till the off-season when actual work can happen.
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I’d like to hear of some actual plans for specific changes. Hopefully we will, before anyone has to make a decision on season tix. (Just when I thought I was out @huskymedic pulled me back in)
 
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huskymedic said:
First step in recovery is admitting you have a problem…

It’s the middle of the season - I’ll reserve my discomfort till the off-season when actual work can happen.
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Good crowd tonight. Give us something to cheer about.
 
First time at TFIF tonight. No need for the Ice Lounge, lousy seats anyway. They asked students and SRO to fill in the lower bowl at the 10 minute mark in the 2nd period.
 
As much as I’ve criticized this facility- all points correct, of course- I’m almost done doing it for the rest of this year. (See next post)

This team plays such a dreary, depressing, soulless, boring style of hockey that the entire crowd should be off the hook for bad atmosphere.

They don’t even score goals in the !
 
UC15 said:
View attachment 95956
This is what should piss of fans, celebrating an award that is one meaningless but also preposterous when you factor in how poorly the design of the arena facilitates fanfare
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It visually looks great. It’s a wonderful piece of architecture.

Scared Heart and Augustana and Bentley didn’t care about a wonderful piece of architecture. They cared about building a great rink for the team AND THE FANS.

Difference.
 
So, @freescooter , i owe you a small apology.

While sitting through that debacle last night, and listening to the band - i thought of your earlier post. I think i heard what you're referencing, and i loosely agree with it, but i have a different remedy.

They need to move the drums to the top of the band, i.e. above the glass. For the majority of the rink, you can barely hear the drums at all, and it makes the band sound "soft," meaning there isn't a hard beat to drive on. I think it would fix the issue you referenced earlier.

Yet another reason my riser on the deck idea would work, too.
 
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