UVM New Arena Thread

[WWII]

Originally Posted by VT Cats Fan

Love that movie!

Unfortunately, the state can't afford the price tag either....we need a sugar daddy!

A Maple Sugar Daddy??

[charliemike]

Originally Posted by umainealum

What if you approached Tidy Cat or Fresh Step or any other company that makes kitty litter...you could nickname the new arena "the Litter Box". I kinda like it...imagine the publicity.

Cats, litter box ... That's funny. Well played

[VT Cats Fan]

Originally Posted by charliemike

Cats, litter box ... That's funny. Well played

I like it!

Along the same lines, Alfond should be renamed, "The Woods".

[UVM Hoop Cat]

If the Hockey team absolutely sucking can be the driving force behind a new arena, then hopefully they are 6-30 every year until one gets built:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...team-s-decline


And an arena?
Essentially, UVM has been a .500 team during its Division I days with peaks usually followed by valleys. One possible avenue to greater consistency could be the construction of a new multi-purpose arena.

Corran said UVM offers much to student-athlete recruits, including the quality of education, the campus, the setting, the community and the coaching staff, but noted, “They’re not the ‘wow’ factor but the foundation.” That ‘wow’ factor of more modern facilities can be critical in recruiting battles.

“The coaches (of all sports) do a great job recruiting and we’ve got to do all that we can to create that ‘wow’ factor,” said Corran, who said he is more optimistic that such an arena will move up UVM’s priority list.

“We’ll get the talent here,” said Sneddon. “What a (new) arena does is make sure that you probably won’t have this cyclical effect.”

[UVM7680]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

“... make sure that you probably won’t have ...”

ah, coach-speak.

[Seth]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

If the Hockey team absolutely sucking can be the driving force behind a new arena, then hopefully they are 6-30 every year until one gets built:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...team-s-decline


And an arena?
Essentially, UVM has been a .500 team during its Division I days with peaks usually followed by valleys. One possible avenue to greater consistency could be the construction of a new multi-purpose arena.

Corran said UVM offers much to student-athlete recruits, including the quality of education, the campus, the setting, the community and the coaching staff, but noted, “They’re not the ‘wow’ factor but the foundation.” That ‘wow’ factor of more modern facilities can be critical in recruiting battles.

“The coaches (of all sports) do a great job recruiting and we’ve got to do all that we can to create that ‘wow’ factor,” said Corran, who said he is more optimistic that such an arena will move up UVM’s priority list.

“We’ll get the talent here,” said Sneddon. “What a (new) arena does is make sure that you probably won’t have this cyclical effect.”

Many folks credit Agganis Arena as a significant factor in the rise of the 2009 BU NCAA Championship squad. The difference between the space in Walter Brown and Agganis is startling, particularly when you consider the improved training and dressing rooms. As more new facilities enter the landscape, those with older facilities will suffer.

I'm definitely crossing my fingers for UVM...I thin the fans have earned a nice house!

[oldvmter]

if this gets going, it seems it will have to be alums that do the planning and raise the money.
the local community, the state and the university do not seem to be in the position to even start planning such a project.

[THE802]

Okay,Cats get to thier 5th NCAA appearence. Not kidding ourselves that it is a 1 and done trip. They have established a decade of success thru 3 different coaches. It is reported they have the best ROAD record of any D1 team over the last three years. We have players who come here because we have a legit shot to get to the NCAA every year ( Four Mcglynn stated that early in the season ). UVM, the city of Burlington, the state of Vt, and all UVM alum's owe it to themselves,the players and the fans to step up and build a new facility.

[ball_of_rubber]

Originally Posted by THE802

Okay,Cats get to thier 5th NCAA appearence. Not kidding ourselves that it is a 1 and done trip. They have established a decade of success thru 3 different coaches. It is reported they have the best ROAD record of any D1 team over the last three years. We have players who come here because we have a legit shot to get to the NCAA every year ( Four Mcglynn stated that early in the season ). UVM, the city of Burlington, the state of Vt, and all UVM alum's owe it to themselves,the players and the fans to step up and build a new facility.

I'm going to play devil's advocate for a minute.

Why should they? Everything you've mentioned is true, and the people of Burlington and the rest of Vermont are happy. Things have been going so good for fans basketball-wise with a gymnasium, not an arena, as the home of their basketball team. It seems to the taxpayers, treasurers and potential donors that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", and it doesn't look broke to them.

/devil's advocate

Yes, the people who make this decision are spoiled, but they're most thinking that they shouldn't really owe the team an arena. Sad thing is, UVM basketball is not a professional team and can't threaten to move to another city. If UVM wants help from donors, the city or the state for funds for a new arena, they need to really convince everyone why they should.

And clearly 5 championships in 10 years aren't enough convincing.

[Vermonster]

Originally Posted by ball_of_rubber

I'm going to play devil's advocate for a minute.

Why should they? Everything you've mentioned is true, and the people of Burlington and the rest of Vermont are happy. Things have been going so good for fans basketball-wise with a gymnasium, not an arena, as the home of their basketball team. It seems to the taxpayers, treasurers and potential donors that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", and it doesn't look broke to them.

/devil's advocate

Yes, the people who make this decision are spoiled, but they're most thinking that they shouldn't really owe the team an arena. Sad thing is, UVM basketball is not a professional team and can't threaten to move to another city. If UVM wants help from donors, the city or the state for funds for a new arena, they need to really convince everyone why they should.

And clearly 5 championships in 10 years aren't enough convincing.

That's the problem. It is broke. Big teams refuse to play us at home because of our facilities. If we had a new arena, it would attract new teams to help advance our program. Also, and more importantly, it would attract new recruits. We get good recruits already because we are a good team, but we would attract many more with a new arena. In hockey, and Basketball. We need this built!

[ball_of_rubber]

Originally Posted by Vermonster

That's the problem. It is broke. Big teams refuse to play us at home because of our facilities. If we had a new arena, it would attract new teams to help advance our program. Also, and more importantly, it would attract new recruits. We get good recruits already because we are a good team, but we would attract many more with a new arena. In hockey, and Basketball. We need this built!

I'm not saying it's not broke. I'm just saying that to the state/local/Burlington governments, to any donors that can front the money, it's not broke. Five championships in ten years isn't broke to them. UVM's biggest obstacle is convincing those money decision makers that it is broke.

[RadioRobUVM]

Originally Posted by Vermonster

That's the problem. It is broke. Big teams refuse to play us at home because of our facilities. If we had a new arena, it would attract new teams to help advance our program. Also, and more importantly, it would attract new recruits. We get good recruits already because we are a good team, but we would attract many more with a new arena. In hockey, and Basketball. We need this built!

Gonna disagree with this point.... Big teams refuse to play us (or Harvard, or Drexel, or Iona) because there is ZERO UPSIDE to playing us. Home, or road. Again, it is NOT a coincidence that UCONN waited till after Blakely graduated, to even agree to (and not chicken out) of playing UVM.

Until people pressure the NCAA to stop putting in mediocre big/BCS programs, they're going to continue to refuse playing dangerous mid-majors. It has nothing to do with facilites. If UVM builds a 4500 seat arena, Uconn, Syracuse, Temple or anyone in a power conference, still are NOT COMING HERE TO PLAY A 20 WIN VERMONT TEAM. The loss, for them is crippling, and the WIN is expected (and not that good.)

Facilities help recruiting the players that UVM already gets. The main reason for the state of Vermont to build an arena, is to make the money back on things NOT RELATED to UVM athletics. Concerts. Circuses. Blue Man Group.... whatever. It's the only state in the union without a major indoor facility. While it wouldn't HURT UVM athletics, it's not as helpful as we all think. 5 titles in 10 years, with Patrick, and 2 Frozen Fours and countless NHL'ers in 20 years kinda undermines that argument.

[THE802]

B][/B]

Originally Posted by ball_of_rubber

I'm going to play devil's advocate for a minute.

Why should they? Everything you've mentioned is true, and the people of Burlington and the rest of Vermont are happy. Things have been going so good for fans basketball-wise with a gymnasium, not an arena, as the home of their basketball team. It seems to the taxpayers, treasurers and potential donors that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", and it doesn't look broke to them.

/devil's advocate

Yes, the people who make this decision are spoiled, but they're most thinking that they shouldn't really owe the team an arena. Sad thing is, UVM basketball is not a professional team and can't threaten to move to another city. If UVM wants help from donors, the city or the state for funds for a new arena, they need to really convince everyone why they should.

And clearly 5 championships in 10 years aren't enough convincing.

No the fans are not. This is a very good fan base and support the team passionitaly. The accomadations at Patrick are 40 years old. The seats are wooden bleachers. To exit that place in an emergency is a disaster waiting to happen. From a safety standpoint alone it is time to correct. Concessions is a joke. Bathrooms are a joke. Having ESPN,NESN and or CBSSports there is difficult and cramped for them. RadioRob can chime in here. I take 2 aspirin before the game in order to spare my back from nearly 2 hours of sitting in my backless seat. I am very not alone here. We put 3000 fans ,give or take and it is great to watch this program. I know a 4500 hoop setup and 6700 for hockey would be fine. As for all the other non- sports related functions that this would be used for and generating even more $$$ - well that list is too long to get in to.

[Blakely4Prez]

Originally Posted by THE802

B][/B]

No the fans are not. This is a very good fan base and support the team passionitaly. The accomadations at Patrick are 40 years old. The seats are wooden bleachers. To exit that place in an emergency is a disaster waiting to happen. From a safety standpoint alone it is time to correct. Concessions is a joke. Bathrooms are a joke. Having ESPN,NESN and or CBSSports there is difficult and cramped for them. RadioRob can chime in here. I take 2 aspirin before the game in order to spare my back from nearly 2 hours of sitting in my backless seat. I am very not alone here. We put 3000 fans ,give or take and it is great to watch this program. I know a 4500 hoop setup and 6700 for hockey would be fine. As for all the other non- sports related functions that this would be used for and generating even more $$$ - well that list is too long to get in to.

Many of you have brought this concept up in this thread and others. I don't think this is possible, ice rinks are larger than basketball courts...so essentially thoughts that we'd have a set up with more hockey seats is not quite accurate.

[UVMSection4]

Another thing the new arena could be used for is the America East Tournament. You think Hartford had a home court advantage? Imagine Vermont hosting the tournament. There would be some major crying then... The talk I've heard is about 6500 for the size. The crappy part is, even if you put 4000 in a 6500 seat arena, it looks empty. You can ask BU about that. Agannis is amazing, but with 2500 in there, it looks sad...