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Post by longsuffering on Oct 26, 2020 22:13:26 GMT -5
Any idea who Georgetown is playing OOC besides Brown in the future? A home and away deal with Catholic University, because Georgetown apparently can't attract Div I opponents. Catholic U. is getting tips from the Washington Generals.
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Post by timholycross on Oct 27, 2020 9:15:39 GMT -5
Any idea who Georgetown is playing OOC besides Brown in the future? A home and away deal with Catholic University, because Georgetown apparently can't attract Div I opponents. I'm assuming you are talking about "guarantee games"; for example, vs. Maryland or VA or ODU, the three closest ones. Not FCS schools which GTown should be able to schedule (maybe not a home game, but certainly a game). Is that a ramification of the "no scholarship" policy Georgetown has for football; or do they have enough equivalencies to make up for that? Otherwise, the FBS school would not get credit for the win in terms of bowl eligibility. IIRC, before PL went back to scholarships, Colgate and, possibly, one or two other schools met that requirement and the rest (including HC) did not. Also possible the rules have changed.
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Post by hc2020 on Oct 27, 2020 16:14:07 GMT -5
Just saw a local newscast reporting on the progress being made at the new Polar Park - looks great. I hope HC looks into perhaps having a game there under the lights (assuming it would be feasible given the layout of the field). I would imagine that the Red Sox will be looking to maximize the use of that facility the same way they have been with Fenway Park. Perhaps other local programs (Assumption, WPI, etc.) might do the same. I can also see them installing a hockey rink and bringing in local teams for some outdoor hockey games.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Oct 27, 2020 17:38:27 GMT -5
Playing a football game in a baseball stadium is not ideal from a viewing standpoint. I do not see a need to repeat the Yankee Stadium experience. While the social aspect was unique, if another game is scheduled in a baseball stadium, I will not attend.
With a seating capacity of 9,508, there is no financial incentive that can be achieved by HC moving a game to Polar Park from Fitton Field. The size of the venue would better suit Assumption, WPI or Worcester State as noted above for a football game if they want to move a game off campus.
The Alumni Association will probably sponsor a HC night for a WooSox game at Polar Park on a yearly basis.
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Post by hcgrad94 on Oct 27, 2020 18:10:18 GMT -5
Playing a football game in a baseball stadium is not ideal from a viewing standpoint. I do not see a need to repeat the Yankee Stadium experience. While the social aspect was unique, if another game is scheduled in a baseball stadium, I will not attend. With a seating capacity of 9,508, there is no financial incentive that can be achieved by HC moving a game to Polar Park from Fitton Field. The size of the venue would better suit Assumption WP or Worcester State as noted above for a football game if they want to move a game off campus. The Alumni Association will probably sponsor a HC night for a WooSox game at Polar Park on a yearly basis. Couldn’t disagree more. Playing a football game at Polar Park will be in event that will bring back folks and create energy. I know for one that I have roommates scattered all over the country and we are already planning to gather if a game happens at the park next fall.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Oct 27, 2020 18:19:19 GMT -5
I doubt HC would pay to rent Polar Park.
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Post by purplehaze on Oct 27, 2020 18:26:34 GMT -5
The appeal of a night game in September would be worth the expense (provided it was reasonable) - the AA season ends in early sep I believe, so the stadium is otherwise idle
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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Oct 27, 2020 18:32:35 GMT -5
Who says HC would have to pay rent? Arrangements like this are made many ways. And furthermore the Worc Sox may very well need HC's help if minor league season starts on time.
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Post by DFW HOYA on Oct 27, 2020 18:43:52 GMT -5
Polar Park will be too small and, as noted above, it's not designed for football. I think neutral site games have an excitement factor to them but minor league baseball isn't it.
Holy Cross is one of two, maybe three PL schools that have enough of a brand to attract good guarantee games (Colgate and Fordham are in this group; but try as they might, Lehigh isn't that kind of name.) The fact that Colgate could swing a deal with Stanford is the biggest scheduling news from the PL in more than 20 years. While HC takes a very conservative approach to non-conference scheduling (New England and rarely beyond it), it would not be inconceivable for HC to attract interest from a Tulane, Rice, or Air Force for a really high profile opener. AFA signed Robert Morris for 2023, so that's not out of the consideration set. Northwestern would be a reach, but down the road it might work.
The earlier post above complaining about Georgetown's declining schedules is also a function of FCS non-conference scheduling. Georgetown lacks the equivalencies to count as a bowl eligible opponent by a considerable number, and so they aren't considered by any I-A teams, period. And for the first three weeks of the season, much of the rest of FCS is looking for guarantee games, so there's zero reason to schedule a Georgetown when a guarantee game pops up. This was the case with Howard, which cancelled a game late with Georgetown in 2019 to pick up $325,000 to bus to Maryland and get eviscerated, 79-0. After week three, add in the declining interest by Ivy schools to play Georgetown, and there's becoming even less to choose from. I'm only half-kidding about scheduling PSAC games in the future, but other than Marist (a game Sgarlata likes to schedule because he 's from Nyack), I don't know of many interested schools going forward.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Oct 27, 2020 19:01:42 GMT -5
Polar Park will be too small and, as noted above, it's not designed for football. I think neutral site games have an excitement factor to them but minor league baseball isn't it. If Cooper Field can host football games, can’t Polar Park? (Sorry, DFW, that was a layup).
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Post by DFW HOYA on Oct 27, 2020 19:09:15 GMT -5
If Cooper Field can host football games, can’t Polar Park? (Sorry, DFW, that was a layup). I would offer that Georgetown should consider moving home games games off campus to Audi Field. The institutional vision is not there, however. audifielddc.com/
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Post by hc2020 on Oct 27, 2020 19:11:41 GMT -5
Playing a football game in a baseball stadium is not ideal from a viewing standpoint. I do not see a need to repeat the Yankee Stadium experience. While the social aspect was unique, if another game is scheduled in a baseball stadium, I will not attend. With a seating capacity of 9,508, there is no financial incentive that can be achieved by HC moving a game to Polar Park from Fitton Field. The size of the venue would better suit Assumption WP or Worcester State as noted above for a football game if they want to move a game off campus. The Alumni Association will probably sponsor a HC night for a WooSox game at Polar Park on a yearly basis. I agree that a baseball stadium is not ideal for viewing a football game. I attended the BC/ND game at Fenway and the sight lines were poor unless you were sitting along the first base line grandstands and upper deck. However, it was an enjoyable experience as a whole and watching a game at Fenway was very unique. I think it might be an attractive venue for a special event, but whether it became an annual experience is a different story. I would think Polar Park would be willing to work with the host school to make it financially appealing to both entities, especially when Polar Park is trying to create some buzz around its new venue.
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Post by sader1970 on Oct 27, 2020 19:16:22 GMT -5
Having had personal discussions with Tom Gilmore, I know he did not like playing west coast games and made sure not to continue them. I think he wasn't a big fan of playing FCS schools (exceptions being UConn, perhaps UMass and BC if he was forced into it because of tradition). Have not had a similar discussion with Bob Chesney but knowing the need for financial supplements to the program and the fact he's got the program heading in the right direction with wins, a championship and very strong recruiting, I strongly suspect he'd be much more willing to play more challenging (and lucrative games). While Dick Regan got the first BC game scheduled, Nate Pine doubled down expanding those "guarantee" games. Anyone know what Marcus Blossom's philosophy is?
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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Oct 27, 2020 19:37:49 GMT -5
Chesney does not like the get paid to be a tomato can games at all, but understands the kids want them, as does HC's bottom line. I do not know how Blossom feels on the matter.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Oct 27, 2020 21:08:41 GMT -5
Playing a football game in a baseball stadium is not ideal from a viewing standpoint. I do not see a need to repeat the Yankee Stadium experience. While the social aspect was unique, if another game is scheduled in a baseball stadium, I will not attend. With a seating capacity of 9,508, there is no financial incentive that can be achieved by HC moving a game to Polar Park from Fitton Field. The size of the venue would better suit Assumption WP or Worcester State as noted above for a football game if they want to move a game off campus. The Alumni Association will probably sponsor a HC night for a WooSox game at Polar Park on a yearly basis. The incentive for HC is that you create a buzz around the local area and hopefully draw thousands of locals who otherwise would not have attended a HC game against virtually every 1-AA team at Fitton Field. Put an exciting product on the field for these locals, and then get them to start making it a habit to attend games at Fitton as well.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Oct 27, 2020 21:09:21 GMT -5
Having had personal discussions with Tom Gilmore, I know he did not like playing west coast games and made sure not to continue them. I think he wasn't a big fan of playing FCS schools (exceptions being UConn, perhaps UMass and BC if he was forced into it because of tradition). Have not had a similar discussion with Bob Chesney but knowing the need for financial supplements to the program and the fact he's got the program heading in the right direction with wins, a championship and very strong recruiting, I strongly suspect he'd be much more willing to play more challenging (and lucrative games). While Dick Regan got the first BC game scheduled, Nate Pine doubled down expanding those "guarantee" games. Anyone know what Marcus Blossom's philosophy is? Gilmore was specifically not a fan of scheduling service academy games because of the incremental injuries incurred in these games due to the cut-blocking schemes utilized. Not sure about his feelings about playing FBS opponents in genera but I know TG was a big fan of "scheduling up", hence 1-2 games annually against the CAA. Some of the UMASS, UNH and Delaware teams we played during the Gilmore era were certainly better than a number of FBS teams.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Oct 27, 2020 21:22:43 GMT -5
Playing a football game in a baseball stadium is not ideal from a viewing standpoint. I do not see a need to repeat the Yankee Stadium experience. While the social aspect was unique, if another game is scheduled in a baseball stadium, I will not attend. With a seating capacity of 9,508, there is no financial incentive that can be achieved by HC moving a game to Polar Park from Fitton Field. The size of the venue would better suit Assumption WP or Worcester State as noted above for a football game if they want to move a game off campus. The Alumni Association will probably sponsor a HC night for a WooSox game at Polar Park on a yearly basis. The incentive for HC is that you create a buzz around the local area and hopefully draw thousands of locals who otherwise would not have attended a HC game against virtually every 1-AA team at Fitton Field. Put an exciting product on the field for these locals, and then get them to start making it a habit to attend games at Fitton as well. As DFW Hoya mentioned in his long post, my thought is that perhaps there wouldn't be that much incremental "buzz" about playing at a minor league stadium. Playing Dartmouth at Fenway? Sure, that will get a lot of alumni excited. I know that I wouldn't be any more excited to drive up from NY for a game at Polar than I would be to see a game in Fitton. IMO, playing Brown at Polar Park would be no different than playing, say, Northeastern at the DCU Center in basketball. There's no extra "buzz" generated when we play hoops there specifically because of the downtown venue location -- the reason to schedule occasional games there is to get a home game against a big-name school that wouldn't otherwise come to Worcester (ex. BC, UMASS, URI, Dayton, UConn women, etc.) This scenario isn't happening in football -- no team that wouldn't already agree to come to Fitton is going to agree to play at Polar. I will give proponents of the idea this -- if we do play a football game there, do it while the iron is hot. When the stadium is brand new, you will get some locals who wouldn't otherwise come to Fitton, only because they want to see the new park. 5 years from now, HC playing an FCS football game there will be no more exciting than Marist playing football at Dutchess County Stadium or Wagner playing in Richmond County Ballpark (home of the SI Yankees). Or how about a Sacred Heart game at the Atlantic League park in Bridgeport? One FCS school that it would make sense to play a game in a minor league park would be Maine -- if anything just to play one home game a year in Portland rather than Orono.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Oct 27, 2020 21:24:15 GMT -5
Has anyone seen a rendering for football seating at Polar Park? The link below provides a view for the seating configuration for baseball. With the baseball seating being listed approx 9,500, what would be the capacity for football seating? Would the capacity be sufficient to host a HC game vs the same playing the same visiting team at Fitton? I don’t see a benefit to HC Football playing at Polar. www.polarparkseating.com/seating-bowl
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Oct 27, 2020 21:50:49 GMT -5
We have a perfectly good football stadium and I see no need to play home games elsewhere. I do see the appeal of playing in an historic venue (Yankee Stadium) or for novelty (Fenway—and historic to boot) but I don’t see the appeal of playing in a minor league baseball field. Wouldn’t we want to draw more than Polar’s capacity as others have suggested?
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Post by hchoops on Oct 27, 2020 22:13:25 GMT -5
Only the name of the new Yank.. Stadium is historic.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 27, 2020 23:47:17 GMT -5
Just saw a local newscast reporting on the progress being made at the new Polar Park - looks great. I hope HC looks into perhaps having a game there under the lights (assuming it would be feasible given the layout of the field). I would imagine that the Red Sox will be looking to maximize the use of that facility the same way they have been with Fenway Park. Perhaps other local programs (Assumption, WPI, etc.) might do the same. I can also see them installing a hockey rink and bringing in local teams for some outdoor hockey games. The PawSox offered restaurant dining on socially distanced tables on the baseball diamond at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket this summer when Minor league baseball was cancelled. It went over very well as many long time fans expressed their enjoyment at getting a chance to go to the ballpark one more time before the team moves to Worcester. I assume the Dr. Charles Steinberg led team will have everything from Shakespeare in the Park to professional frisbee to make up for a year's lost revenue. Dr. Charles previous MLB gigs have been in promotions and PR. I can see Holy Cross Hockey being a better fit than football. It would make sense for the WooSox to put in a temporary rink the first winter and have all the college and high school teams play there as well as the Railers while the rink is up.
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Post by hcgrad94 on Oct 28, 2020 5:51:43 GMT -5
We have a perfectly good football stadium and I see no need to play home games elsewhere. I do see the appeal of playing in an historic venue (Yankee Stadium) or for novelty (Fenway—and historic to boot) but I don’t see the appeal of playing in a minor league baseball field. Wouldn’t we want to draw more than Polar’s capacity as others have suggested? Don’t overlook an evening kickoff and the ability of families to get to that game. And there is also something to be said for a full stadium and a little competition for tickets.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Oct 28, 2020 6:49:51 GMT -5
We have a perfectly good football stadium and I see no need to play home games elsewhere. I do see the appeal of playing in an historic venue (Yankee Stadium) or for novelty (Fenway—and historic to boot) but I don’t see the appeal of playing in a minor league baseball field. Wouldn’t we want to draw more than Polar’s capacity as others have suggested? Don’t overlook an evening kickoff and the ability of families to get to that game. And there is also something to be said for a full stadium and a little competition for tickets. Is temporary lighting for an annual night game no longer an option? To tell you the truth, a 9,000 seat stadium may well be perfect for a school like Holy Cross. University of Richmond moved from cavernous City Stadium to a cozy on campus 8,000 seat field and sell out half their home games now. But if downsizing to a smaller stadium is considered that important and assuming you're correct that Polar is indeed easier for families to get to (don't think it would be), at that point just scrap Fitton and play all our games downtown. Sign me up for one game at Polar the first fall that it's open. Aside from that, let's enjoy Fitton Field and maybe play a night game at home at least every other year.
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Post by sader1970 on Oct 28, 2020 6:50:03 GMT -5
94, perhaps you are too young to know that Holy Cross is not in the entertainment business.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Oct 28, 2020 6:53:59 GMT -5
Fenway Park for football Polar Park seating. The configuration is why Polar Park is unsuitable for football. There are basically zero seats on the 50 yard line.
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