Update on Potential Major Renovation of Rink

My thought too.

Smart to have such a meeting in the fancy new SHU barn. “This is what a school like SHU is doing. Are you rich people going to sit idly by or are you going to pony up so we can get ahead in this arms race?”

ADKH indirectly indicated a new rink is too expensive.  IIRC, he explicitly said HC would not be paying what UConn is paying for its new rink:  $70 million.

You still had spectator bans at different times in 2021-22, so here's the figures that make the most sense to look at, in my opinion:

www.uscho.com/stats/attendance/division-i-men/2019-2020/

I can see from this chart why AIC's seating diagram at Mass Mutual doesn't include the upper level.

A head coach that will go to the end of the Earth to find the best recruits (that they have a legit chance at committing).
All through an Admissions Office that really only has 1 requirement:  a heart beat.
And clearly a school and Athletic Dept that supports the above as a driver of school brand, reputation, and potential growth.

We had that for 19 years.  The guy won 3 league titles, 2 NCAA appearances including the biggest upset in D1 Hockey history in 2006.  At a school that makes you sell your soul to get through the Admissions process.

All of the above wasn't enough for the school to give the guy a decent rink.
He's now at Cushing Academy -- they are 13-1-3 currently.

Go figure.

AIC is a one trick pony. One sport, men’s ice hockey, playing D1, without a comparable women’s team being sponsored on a varsity level. In two games this season, HC split the wins in Springfield. Review the AIC athletic facilities for their other programs, Apples to Oranges regarding institutional support.

When the CBA decision was made in 2014-2015, regarding the Luth Complex, building the IPF benefits 10 varsity teams in their practices and workouts during inclement weather. Building new or an extensive renovation of the ice rink benefits only two teams. I fully support continued updating of all of our facilities, academic, athletic and student services such as housing and recreation, rationale prioritization is necessary. Next on the docket regarding athletics is upper field complex. Field Hockey and Track was upgraded last summer, which benefits 5 sponsored programs. An updated Smith Stadium with sprint turf will benefit 4 sponsored programs, M/W Soccer and Lacrosse, and the additional seating will benefit Field Hockey and Track. A new softball complex is well past due, and mist be completed in the next five years. Meanwhile upgraded housing is immediately necessary to accommodate our now larger class size and to attract highly qualified students across the academic and athletic spectrum.

I hear the frustration of Hockey Alums regarding the facility, and agree that a full renovation is needed. I enjoy hockey, and spent time while in school watching our team play, taking a trip with the team up to Colby, (which provided a catalyst for the Hart design with a two venue facility) and a less than fun evening seeing HC play MIT in an outdoor rink in Cambridge in late January. Wind was whipping off the Charles, and there were no seats. My toes still feel the bitter cold 50 years later. At the time, HC played in the Worcester Arena that had chicken wire instead of plexiglass above the boards, but at least it was an indoor facility.

Too bad cooler heads did not prevail with the previous coach regarding the divide. I found him personable and friendly when our paths crossed.

Looking at the Theodore Iorio Rink at Cushing, it certainly is not an upgrade physically or aesthetically than the current Hart Rink, which I would not expect it to be considering it is at a Prep School. Maybe if he had stayed, HC would be further down the path in completing the funding of a renovated Hart Rink and the Hockey program would not have taken a nose dive with the coach that succeeded him.

The Kingswood Oxford Prep School Rink on campus in Connecticut no longer serves as an ice rink, the school gave up sport, and converted the building to an indoor track and tennis center. HC played several games in that building against Trinity College when both were D3 programs.

Last time I was there, I sat at center ice up pretty high. There is only one level now. 

AIC drew about 200 a game at the Olympia before they got good.

Quality NCAA hockey arenas are not judged very much on attendance, especially in the AHA where attendance is typically lower than any other league.
However, arenas are judged heavily on all the ancillary services and design elements that benefit the student-athletes and coaches.  (eg. locker rooms, video, kitchens, lounges, offices, weight rooms, sports medicine, puck shooting rooms.

Hence, why AIC since the move to the downtown arena is never brought up in the discussions of terrible arenas -- but why Holy Cross is seemingly everyday.

There's also Buffone Rink near the Lake, which is neither good nor bad, but the facilities are decent. I played there quite a bit during the summers while I was at HC. The Hart always took out the ice in the Spring, but Buffone (the Railers did not exist at the time) still had ice. I filled in at goalie for a senior hockey league called the "Rusty Blades." The ice was soft in the summer but I never played there in the winter time.