UConn Approves Plans For New Ice Hockey Arena | Page 3 | The Boneyard

UConn Approves Plans For New Ice Hockey Arena

Does anyone have figures on how many season ticket holders there are?
 
Seems like Cavanaugh had some input and is willing to sacrifice seats for quality.
 
Husk1881 said:
Seems like Cavanaugh had some input and is willing to sacrifice seats for quality.
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The problem still exists that if they're dropping $$ to build a sparkling facility, why is it being done to only host games against the bottom of the league and crappy OOC games? If the investment is going to be made to build a top-quality facility, the additional seats should be put there in the beginning and the best games should be played there to show off the facility. If they're just going to build a something to have some games on campus, don't spend the extra money on it when all of the best games are going to be played elsewhere. May as well stick some extra bleachers in Freitas and renovate the lobby/locker rooms. This remains a misguided and haphazard plan.
 
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Not happy about the #.
However, It better be the best dang 2,500 seat rink out there.

If you only have so much $, the majority of the budget should go towards player development and recruitment. So max $ to the locker room, classroom, S&C, weights, treatment room, etc.

Sell the positives of both arenas:
On campus: more about the student athlete perks and competing on the recruitment trail. Get the local CT kids

XL: More for the fans/crowds/Atmosphere/capacity

If somehow the athlete perks are reduced because of trying to meet 4k seating capacity, than the on campus idea is pointless. THe XL provide the crowds

TL:DR version:
I’d rather have a great 2,500 rink geared towards the hockey players, than a 4,000 rink geared towards the fans.

However, Fan perspective:
Must have ALL chairback seats.
Great acoustics. Gotta be LOUD
Seat angle and feel close to action
Great concessions. Not just dogs, pretzels, etc. have a switchable vendor spot. I mean really good food

Possible private alumni/donor suite with booze access. (Certain $$$ will get you access). Don’t make it where a normal fan can’t have a chance to get in. ($500+ season donation).

Calling it right now:
1,000 of the seats will have a seat license/donation like the rent.

1,000 x 250 x 4 yrs = an xtra million every student cycle. I’d be willing to pay if they do it right and go all out with the ability to expand.
 
In Schneider's 3030 seat arena all seats are chairbacks. On the east side of the arena there is a suite that overlooks the ice where fans drink beer and wine. Many years ago it was members only. The last 20 + years it has been open to people over 21. Met many opposing fans there. They had a little seating area for Athletic director staff to schmooze donors. The Conte Form has a members only lounge as well.
 
Freitas: good to have 2 ice surfaces for 2 teams (men and women).
Expandable to 4K: wish it would be up to 4,500, but ability to increase to 4K works.
Fire code: @FDNY99 or others: As long as adequate egress and other safety requirements exist, any reason some or all of the student section could not be standing-room only from day 1 to forever? Skip the seat costs; just separate rows and give 'em a padded standing bar to lean on (not a wet bar they'd like yet encourage involvement and allocate limited dinero elsewhere in the arena, training facilities, etc). ;)
 
Da_Aisijimo_Gou said:
Freitas: good to have 2 ice surfaces for 2 teams (men and women).
Expandable to 4K: wish it would be up to 4,500, but ability to increase to 4K works.
Fire code: @FDNY99 or others: As long as adequate egress and other safety requirements exist, any reason some or all of the student section could not be standing-room only from day 1 to forever? Skip the seat costs; just separate rows and give 'em a padded standing bar to lean on (not a wet bar they'd like yet encourage involvement and allocate limited dinero elsewhere in the arena, training facilities, etc). ;)
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Yeah....I'm sure they will make entry/egress to match 4K. I'm also sure that if they make it big enough to hold 4K seating capacity there will be sufficient room for SRO attendance until that's completed.
 
It screams of the usual short sighted approach we've always seen. I've read the explanations and it all comes down to the same thing (a) using UConn to drive XL improvements and once again "save Hartford" and (b) lack of money. Even if they continue to play in a revamped or new XL, it still should be 4,000 capacity. If XL is dead and gone, it needs to be over 5,000.

I'm so glad I don't live in that state anymore. It's hard to imagine a state that has been more mismanaged than Connecticut. Pissing away resources and opportunities.
 
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In an ideal world where money is not a concern and the Mansfield NIMBY crowd disappears, Freitas would be vamped to include two sheets and serve as the training facility for both UConn hockey teams with evening ice time up for rent by the local community to score some brownie points. Regional School District #19 agrees to a land swap and the towns get a bright, shiny, new EO Smith High School with all of the space they ned across the street from the Depot Campus. The old EO Smith is torn down and dual-purpose arena (to save some money) is built there that holds 14,000 for hoops and 6,000 for hockey. All of the money making seats and suites would be in the lower bowl along with the press area and 2,000 student seats in the lower bowl with 2,000 more in second deck. Maybe in time a new arts theater for about 3,000 can be built in S lot, which is next to the Arts campus anyway, replacing Jorgensen. A new garage serving both can go where EO Smith's turf field currently sits. In the Commons, a mid-level hotel is added along with additional bars and restaurants (a movie theater would also be nice) to serve increased foot traffic. That also allows for UConn to add additional engineering/science facilities where Jorgensen sits and I am sure some need can be addressed on the land where Gampel as its in the middle of campus.

I'll have this all done as soon as Bezon turns over ownership of Amazon to me and I sell my stock...
 
BRG 1 said:
In Schneider's 3030 seat arena all seats are chairbacks. On the east side of the arena there is a suite that overlooks the ice where fans drink beer and wine. Many years ago it was members only. The last 20 + years it has been open to people over 21. Met many opposing fans there. They had a little seating area for Athletic director staff to schmooze donors. The Conte Form has a members only lounge as well.
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Brown has some cool antiquated facilities.
 
HuskyHawk said:
It screams of the usual short sighted approach we've always seen. I've read the explanations and it all comes down to the same thing (a) using UConn to drive XL improvements and once again "save Hartford" and (b) lack of money. Even if they continue to play in a revamped or new XL, it still should be 4,000 capacity. If XL is dead and gone, it needs to be over 5,000.

I'm so glad I don't live in that state anymore. It's hard to imagine a state that has been more mismanaged than Connecticut. Pissing away resources and opportunities.
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With all that I see going on in Bridgeport, I cannot see how Connecticut would be let go to waste. Way too much American history here. Hartford will have an arena somehow, as it's proven to be successful in hosting one. This state will find a way to continue to create opportunities, as well.

The salt on the roads in the winter does need to be diluted.
 
Butch said:
Brown has some cool antiquated facilities.
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Meehan Auditorium is definitely antiquated. 15 years ago Brown had a pretty good team, with NFL draft picks. Since then they have had dismal teams.
2 fun things about Meehan: When you walk in the door there was a 6' + Brown Bear standing in a case to startle people, donated by some alum from the class of 1910. Second, the ends of the rink are standing room only, and you can lean over the rail looking over the goalie, which is a great view on a power play.
 
BRG 1 said:
Meehan Auditorium is definitely antiquated. 15 years ago Brown had a pretty good team, with NFL draft picks. Since then they have had dismal teams.
2 fun things about Meehan: When you walk in the door there was a 6' + Brown Bear standing in a case to startle people, donated by some alum from the class of 1910. Second, the ends of the rink are standing room only, and you can lean over the rail looking over the goalie, which is a great view on a power play.
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The bear is still there.
 
I’d understand this if XL was slated to be replaced or fully upgraded. It isn’t. We all hope it will happen, but I wish UConn would add some pressure. They put the school in a very bad position by moving ahead with this plan now.
 
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Whereas Cav going to go? The thing about college hockey is there are a limited number of places you can go and be a head coach. And when you look at success he’s been pretty good but hardly the second coming of Ned Harkness. Could he go to the NHL as an assistant? Sure but I don’t get the sense he want that. So he is looking at the handful of eastern jobs that come open every year and most likely only a couple are equal or better than UConn. This isn’t basketball where a successful coach at UConn might get recruited to Arizona.
 
freescooter said:
Whereas Cav going to go? The thing about college hockey is there are a limited number of places you can go and be a head coach. And when you look at success he’s been pretty good but hardly the second coming of Ned Harkness. Could he go to the NHL as an assistant? Sure but I don’t get the sense he want that. So he is looking at the handful of eastern jobs that come open every year and most likely only a couple are equal or better than UConn. This isn’t basketball where a successful coach at UConn might get recruited to Arizona.
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Jerry York is 73 and his top assistant who was "next in line" just left for the Rangers. When Jerry retires, Cav is 100% going to be in the discussion for that job.
 
Comparatively speaking, it will be smaller than many Hockey East Arenas, though coach Mike Cavanaugh said it will be built for possible expansion to 4,000.

There it is. This is fine.
 
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