Union - New Rink

Union drops iconic moniker "Dutchmen" to go with "Garnet Chargers" then moves off campus to play hockey. HC votes to retain "Crusaders" (although the horse died) and play hockey on campus. Which would you prefer?

Schenectady isn't burdened by Polar Park debt and the State of New York just got awarded a $454 million dollar windfall, so this partnership seems to work well where it would be out of the question in Worcester. Union pays $1.25 million per year on average to build plus annual rent I would assume. HC only has to rent municipal facilities on a per game basis as needed.

Moving the EBW Classic to Fitton Field, a place Mr. Williams loved would be a nice tribute to him once Larry Lucchino exits the Woo Sox.

I like the Rotman's idea from an historical preservation viewpoint. It's kind of like the Fenway Park concept where you enter via a century plus old brick facade and open up to a bright new or beautifully maintained playing/skating surface.

The RedcSox looked into a new stadium but the cost in Boston was prohibitive so they upgraded and maintained their existing park.

Might have to open one end of a building, open up all floors of a building, dig a deeper hole in the ground or something. No idea whether it's also a flood plain on the other side of the trickle of water that runs under 290, who owns Rotmans, what the plans are, whether it is a brown field, etc. I just know it should be bigger than the Ho Jo lot, and likely the nearest flat land and it's nice to see old buildings preserved and re-purposed.

What was the thinking behind changing names? I would think Dutchmen pays homage to the founders like Friars does at Providence College but obviously there is another point of view.

The trend has been to buy up homes near the campus, tear them down, build new but not replace that housing stock. I like Dave's idea of restoring something instead of demolishing something.

Mascots that are gender and ethnocentric may not reflect the current demographics of a college or university. Dutchmen at Union and Flying Dutchmen at Hofstra clearly do not reflect the current population. While Union original roots were from the Dutch Reform Church, Chartered in 1795, Union was the first non-denominational institution of higher education in the United States.

Students enrolled at Union College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (29.2%), followed by White Male (18.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (12.8%).

As colleges and universities seek to attract students, mascot identity from an ethnocentric or religious standpoint is often viewed as a barrier in recruitment. For example, Elon University mascot, “The Fighting Christians” was changed to The Phoenix”, as that university decided that they should expand their student population from the southern Bible Belt to throughout the United States looking at students from Christian as well as non Christian denominations and demographics. As we have seen, there are certain exceptions to that viewpoint, namely the University of Notre Dame du Lac.

The enrolled student population at University of Notre Dame is 62.5% White, 11.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.94% Asian, 4.81% Two or More Races, 3.3% Black or African American, 0.183% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.114% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.  At the point in the 21st Century when the demographics have changed regarding the ethnicity at Notre Dame, the mascot and iconography may be under review.

A Holy Cross Sports Museum is strongly being considered and in the preliminary planning stages in the Hart Center as part of the Hall of Fame. I would expect to see it being constructed within the next five years once the money is raised. It will have exhibits as well as interactive displays featuring video such as Purple Reign and highlights of significant victories, thinking the 1988 Princeton game, etc.

That trade school in the midwest, Purdue.

This is in conjunction with a renovated rink, with expanded seating?

No, my understanding, the planned Hall of Fame Sports Museum now under consideration, will be created before a renovated rink will be built. Maybe within the next two to three years.

I hope that there is a completely new rink. Either a complete tear down of the present structure, or the present rink remains as a practice rink or indoor tennis facility, and a new rink is built, maybe across the circular road, around the Luth Athletic Complex.  It is time to look for a large corporate sponsorship with naming rights for a significant contribution. 

Ahead of a new rink or expanded rink being built will be the new softball complex being constructed. Hope to see progress made on both venues within this decade.

I had the same thoughts regarding corporate sponsorship for a new ice facility atop Mt. St. James.