http://blogs.burlingtonfreepress.co...s-a-new-arena-not-world-class-hockey-players/
The drumbeat for a new UVM arena began so long ago that the need for an updated, expanded athletic complex has become accepted wisdom: The ‘60s-vintagePatrick Gym and Gutterson Field House are embarrassingly obsolete and undersized in the world of intercollegiate athletics.
The recent decision by USA Hockey to hold the April 2012 World Women’s Ice Hockey Championship at UVM raises an obvious question, however. If Gutterson is so substandard, how come it qualifies as a venue for an international tournament? Or to put it another way: If UVM’s facilities are good enough to host a global competition, does the university really need a new arena after all?
We put those questions to UVM athletic director Bob Corran, but before we get to his answers, here’s a quick update on where the campaign to build a new UVM arena stands:
In November, UVM put out a Request for Information inviting proposals from consultants on how a new multipurpose arena – which would likely cost around $100 million – could be built, financed and operated. UVM has no funding in sight, having curtailed capital borrowing during the recession, and in the absence of a rich alumnus willing to foot the bill, is willing to consider private partnership arrangements that would meet the university’s needs.
Nine proposals were received by the Jan. 21 deadline. UVM won’t say who made the submissions or what they proposed, other than that some proposals came from Vermont. (We know of a firm in Williston that was offering the prospect of a minor-league sports tie-in.) Tom Gustafson, vice president for student and campus life, said it will probably be mid-March before administrators decides on which proposal to go with, if any. Once a consultant is selected, he said, all the proposals will be made public.
Presumably the proposals all draw from the work of UVM’s Campus Life Task Force II, which conducted a comprehensive study of university facilities in 2008 and put out a two-volume report that ranked a multipurpose arena high on the wish-list. The report included detailed descriptions of the superior athletic complexes at peer institutions, from UNH to Miami of Ohio, with which UVM competes for students. As for UVM’s own athletic facilities, the report noted that many of them do not meet conference or NCAA standards, that locker rooms and press facilities are inadequate, and that “Patrick Gym and Gutterson Field House exclude the university from hosting any postseason conference tournaments.”
We asked Corran what it is about Gutterson that excludes UVM from holding tournaments. In an e-mail, he mentioned standards for men’s collegiate hockey that include seating capacity (Gutterson seats 4,035), insufficient number and size of locker rooms and support areas, size and quality of hospitality areas, media work areas, and so on.
OK, so if Gutterson doesn’t measure up for postseason college tournaments, how can it be good enough for the international women’s tournament? Corran’s reply:
Cairns Arena in South Burlington is also a tournament site and will host approximately half of the tournament games. Seating capacity at Cairns is approximately 1,200. USA Hockey was interested in hosting this tournament in a smaller city to avoid being ‘lost’ among the multiple sport and entertainment options available in larger cities. Also, one of their goals is to have the games well-attended, thereby creating a more vibrant atmosphere for players and fans alike. This tournament has not been well-attended historically other than when it is played in Canada. … Burlington’s proximity to Canada and a rabid fan base for international women’s hockey was also a major factor in selecting Burlington/UVM…. Since Gutterson will be hosting only 4 teams (Cairns will also host 4), and both our men’s and women’s teams will have completed their seasons leaving their locker rooms available for use by the women’s tournament teams, we can accommodate teams’ basic needs.”
The rationale for a new arena is a strong as ever, Corran concluded:
University needs extend beyond a hockey venue. There is also a significant need for a new venue for men’s and women’s basketball games ad a venue to gather the campus community together for events such as graduation, convocation, major speakers, student concerts, etc. …
Hosting this event in Gutterson and Cairns Arena does not diminish the significant need for a multipurpose events center on campus.”
Tags: basketball, Gutterson Field House, hockey, intercollegiate athletics, multipurpose arena, Patrick Gym, UVM
4 Responses to “Who needs a new arena? Not world-class hockey players”
UVM Alum in the West says:
January 28, 2011 at 3:22 pm
I think the fact that the tourney is being hosted in Vermont doesn’t necessarily say that the arena is adequate, but rather, that Women’s Hockey isn’t going to produce a big enough draw where they need something superior to the Gut. Not taking anything away from the women’s game, but the fact is, people don’t go watch it. I hope it sells out every game, but in a bigger arena, it wouldn’t. As for the current building: Gutterson was a dump when John LeClair played there in the 80’s, it was a dump when I watched Tim Thomas and Marty play there in the 90’s, it was a dump when I was a student there in the last decade. Fact is, Vermont needs to catch up with the times. How do they expect to recruit top athletes to play at UVM? What will they tout? “It gets really freakin cold here, and you get to play in a drafty old barn or gym?” Take a look at the Whit at UNH, or Agganis at BU. Could we get those players with a nice arena? Yes. Is there a benefit to the university and the state in recruiting top athletes? Yes. What many are looking at as a financial burden will eventually increase profits in extraordinary amounts. If you build it, they will come.
George Milo says:
January 28, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Now UVM is finally coming out of its shell: Billie Jean King World Class Tennis pro wikll give the Commencemet address and now an NCAA world class Hocky arena. Now all the University has to accomplish is: Live up to this Alums expectations of a World Class University . I hate to say this but one that has been to the Mecca of world class academic institutuions UVM is going to need different leadership to accomplish that goal. UVM doesn’t even know where its academic strengths are located at UVM -Now how is a Universty going to achieve that goal when it doesn’t even recognize where or how to take its first step? This could be labeled an academic conundrum.
George Milo says:
January 29, 2011 at 7:25 am
To:”UVM alum in the West “and others that support the construction of a new Arena on the UVM Campus for a “World Class hockey team” at a “World Class University” -WOW you talk about distortion. Last year you couldn’t spell it and today we are one! WORLD CLASS! Next build it and theywill come? Maybe! Maybe not! Hockey at most Academic institutions in the United States is a club sport not a pro sport or a College major sport?. So maybe they will come and maybe they won’t ? Vt has 621,000 real prop taxpayers Montreal and Boston the two nearest major cities have professional hockey and over 4 million population numbersthat could pay for a new arena not Vt’ers have them pay for the constrction of the arena. Why do you think the Boston hockey team changed their name from Boston to New England hockey team-YUP-lack of draw. I rather doubt that a Univerity commtment to spending$’s to build a new arena will draw. Sorry
Philip says:
January 31, 2011 at 1:02 pm
It’s time the Cats had the opportunity to host their conference tournaments. Local businesses are really missing out when these events can’t come to Burlington. I’d like to say it’s time for a new arena but it was time for a new arena about 20 years ago. I hope they are able to get creative enough in their fund raising to get this thing done.