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Post by bfoley82 on Oct 19, 2022 14:07:33 GMT -5
Holy Cross gym is a glorified high school gym.... I think you and I have very different definitions of glorified high school gym. Last season I went to a game at Lowell (not Tsongas) . That was a glorified high school gym. It was the old gym from their D-III days and it showed. I'm not snobbishly picking on Lowell because they have a fine option in Tsongas. The things that make me say that was a glorified high school gym -very low capacity. I would guess under 1000 - zero chair back seats - basically non existent concessions Others here would probably throw in video screens( but I don't care about those). Still those are casual observations of a gym that are more consistent with high school than D-I college Hart has a reasonable capacity for low D-I. I know they reduced it with hand railings and purple molded plastic on bleachers, but still close to 4000 I think Hart has very low percentage of chairbacks - but they do have some (normally not full). I haven't seen that in a high school gym I might complain about Hart concessions, but I can get a hot dog, lousy pizza and a soda out of the concession stand I will admit that the Mullins Center looks more like the Centrum than Hart, but having been to most of the D-I college gyms in New England, Hart, while not at the top, certainly isn't lacking either. I am curious what characteristics of Hart make you describe it as a glorified high school gym Costello (Lowell's gym) holds 2,000 according to their website. Hart Center holds 3,536 has basically zero concessions (a soda or reheated pizza isn't a concession stand), Lack of chairbacks, luxury boxes, etc. You consider Bryant a college gym because they have video boards (even for their volleyball team), chair backs, etc? I don't.. Mullany Gym as Providence is much nicer than HC and holds 1,854 people. And that is a gym not an arena. I consider any facility where all fans enter the facility ON COURT with the players entrances a "high school" gym.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 19, 2022 14:31:14 GMT -5
They do at Allen Fieldhouse (enter on floor level). At least they did in 2002.
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Post by bfoley82 on Oct 19, 2022 14:38:27 GMT -5
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Post by Tom on Oct 19, 2022 15:58:06 GMT -5
I think you and I have very different definitions of glorified high school gym. Last season I went to a game at Lowell (not Tsongas) . That was a glorified high school gym. It was the old gym from their D-III days and it showed. I'm not snobbishly picking on Lowell because they have a fine option in Tsongas. The things that make me say that was a glorified high school gym -very low capacity. I would guess under 1000 - zero chair back seats - basically non existent concessions Others here would probably throw in video screens( but I don't care about those). Still those are casual observations of a gym that are more consistent with high school than D-I college Hart has a reasonable capacity for low D-I. I know they reduced it with hand railings and purple molded plastic on bleachers, but still close to 4000 I think Hart has very low percentage of chairbacks - but they do have some (normally not full). I haven't seen that in a high school gym I might complain about Hart concessions, but I can get a hot dog, lousy pizza and a soda out of the concession stand I will admit that the Mullins Center looks more like the Centrum than Hart, but having been to most of the D-I college gyms in New England, Hart, while not at the top, certainly isn't lacking either. I am curious what characteristics of Hart make you describe it as a glorified high school gym Costello (Lowell's gym) holds 2,000 according to their website. Hart Center holds 3,536 has basically zero concessions (a soda or reheated pizza isn't a concession stand), Lack of chairbacks, luxury boxes, etc. You consider Bryant a college gym because they have video boards (even for their volleyball team), chair backs, etc? I don't.. Mullany Gym as Providence is much nicer than HC and holds 1,854 people. And that is a gym not an arena. I consider any facility where all fans enter the facility ON COURT with the players entrances a "high school" gym. Fair enough. I have never been to Bryant. Also never been to Mullany but that isn't particularly relevant because they don't use it (at least not for men's hoops). Your bar is much higher than mine. If luxury boxes are a requirement, I'd say that B.C. and maybe Quinnipiac fit the bill. I don't think UMass has luxury boxes. But that would be about it and every other place I've been to in New England would be a glorified high school gym. I don't enough about concourses to say who does and who does not have them, but if that is the criteria even without luxury boxes, I think most New England D-I would get the glorified high school gym label That does not alter the fact that these schools that want to jump up to D-I would need to upgrade their facilities to be roughly compatible with the other New England D-I schools - even if that level is labeled a glorified high school gym
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Post by bfoley82 on Oct 19, 2022 20:14:13 GMT -5
Costello (Lowell's gym) holds 2,000 according to their website. Hart Center holds 3,536 has basically zero concessions (a soda or reheated pizza isn't a concession stand), Lack of chairbacks, luxury boxes, etc. You consider Bryant a college gym because they have video boards (even for their volleyball team), chair backs, etc? I don't.. Mullany Gym as Providence is much nicer than HC and holds 1,854 people. And that is a gym not an arena. I consider any facility where all fans enter the facility ON COURT with the players entrances a "high school" gym. Fair enough. I have never been to Bryant. Also never been to Mullany but that isn't particularly relevant because they don't use it (at least not for men's hoops). Your bar is much higher than mine. If luxury boxes are a requirement, I'd say that B.C. and maybe Quinnipiac fit the bill. I don't think UMass has luxury boxes. But that would be about it and every other place I've been to in New England would be a glorified high school gym. I don't enough about concourses to say who does and who does not have them, but if that is the criteria even without luxury boxes, I think most New England D-I would get the glorified high school gym label That does not alter the fact that these schools that want to jump up to D-I would need to upgrade their facilities to be roughly compatible with the other New England D-I schools - even if that level is labeled a glorified high school gym Fairfield has a new building opening this year and Bryant is breaking ground soon on a new one.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 20, 2022 1:18:19 GMT -5
I don't think HC has sold out the Hart since RP Jr and Jack the Shot's numbers went up on the wall. If demand ever exceeds capacity the DCU Center is a mile away. Worrying about which side of the glorified high school gym bubble the Hart Center falls on is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Keep powder dry to upgrade the hockey arena before doing anything to the basketball arena.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 20, 2022 2:46:18 GMT -5
Really? I did not know that.....and to think I walked up to my seat at the very top of the gym from the floor.....boy am I dumb.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 20, 2022 4:56:38 GMT -5
This thread has taken such a silly turn, but I'm in a weird mood this morning, so I'll play along. Maybe we can get it up to 20 pages.
With sporting venues, certainly beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Priorities kind of matter too. If you just have to fill your face with quality food, um......don't come to the Hart. If you want to watch the game in a comfy cushioned recliner, hob knobbing with the hoi polloi, um......don't come to the Hart. If walking into the venue at floor level is too beneath you., um.........don't come to the Hart.
If you are most interested in watching a basketball game, with a seating structure that gives you a great view of the game.........come on down, there are plenty of great seats at the Hart.
I would MUCH rather watch a game at the Hart vs the DCU Center.
I've watched several games at Lehigh's Stabler Arena, with all their chairbacks, and their much larger capacity......doesn't come close to the Hart for actually WATCHING A GAME. Nothing like having a fence in front of you; gives off such an intimate feeling.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on Oct 20, 2022 5:23:09 GMT -5
I don't think HC has sold out the Hart since RP Jr and Jack the Shot's numbers went up on the wall. If demand ever exceeds capacity the DCU Center is a mile away. Worrying about which side of the glorified high school gym bubble the Hart Center falls on is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Keep powder dry to upgrade the hockey arena before doing anything to the basketball arena. Which game was that? Last sellout I remember for sure was Winter Homecoming against BU the year after we won the Patriot League tourney. So I guess that would've been January 2017.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 20, 2022 11:27:56 GMT -5
That's encouraging. I think the second jersey retirement would have been in the Milan Brown era. I know the first one with Cousy, Kaftan, Heihnson and Palazzi was in the Willard era and was a sellout and as I remember they were all alive and present.
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Post by bfoley82 on Oct 20, 2022 12:27:41 GMT -5
I would MUCH rather watch a game at the Hart vs the DCU Center. The DCU Center is a horrible facility to watch any sport from the seats.
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Post by rgs318 on Oct 20, 2022 12:35:01 GMT -5
from? Do they play outside the DCU and fans watch "from" within?
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Post by Wormtown Railers Fan on Oct 20, 2022 16:06:38 GMT -5
I would MUCH rather watch a game at the Hart vs the DCU Center. The DCU Center is a horrible facility to watch any sport from the seats. Completely and totally disagree. Get your eyes checked.
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Post by sader1970 on Oct 20, 2022 16:09:34 GMT -5
Are his photos all out of focus?
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Post by Tom on Oct 21, 2022 8:03:16 GMT -5
Depends what you're looking for Last time I saw HC play there (UMass a few years ago), I didn't like it and Hart would have been much better. On the other hand I watched NCAA hockey tournament there last March from the second row of the 200 level and it was fine. Also, it has a concourse
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Post by sader1970 on Oct 21, 2022 8:27:27 GMT -5
Just to throw gasoline on this ridiculous "fire," here's my "contribution," using the term in it's loosest sense: Clarifies everything, right? P.S. Did I ever tell you about the great Hogan cafe debate between two classmates on "It's not a camel, it's a dromedary"? P.P.S. You are all making me regret that I started this thread about Nichols looking to upgrade from D-3.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 21, 2022 8:30:01 GMT -5
The Celtics used to play at the DCU...until they got rained out. HVAC system didn't work and condensation on the floor caused everybody to flop whether they were looking for a foul or not. The Celtics walked off the floor mid pre-season game and (never?) came back as I recall.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 21, 2022 11:04:01 GMT -5
I'm thinking we have a great idea for a poll that will take a year to complete - each day we vote on whether a D-1 facility is either a gym or arena. 363 to vote on I believe!
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Post by Crucis#1 on Oct 21, 2022 11:23:17 GMT -5
From my perspective, an Arena has seating on four sides, with an interior concourse that can be circumnavigated. A Gym will not have seating on all four sides of the competition venue, and is without a concourse. Ergo…..The Hart Basketball venue is an Arena. The Hart Ice Rink is not. 🤣 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 21, 2022 14:05:07 GMT -5
From my perspective, an Arena has seating on four sides, with an interior concourse that can be circumnavigated. A Gym will not have seating on all four sides of the competition venue, and is without a concourse. Ergo…..The Hart Basketball venue is an Arena. The Hart Ice Rink is not. 🤣 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArenaSo The Hart hockey venue is rinky dink? 🤣
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Post by WCHC Sports on Oct 21, 2022 14:18:38 GMT -5
The Celtics used to play at the DCU...until they got rained out. HVAC system didn't work and condensation on the floor caused everybody to flop whether they were looking for a foul or not. The Celtics walked off the floor mid pre-season game and (never?) came back as I recall. I think I was at that game.
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 21, 2022 18:18:09 GMT -5
I'm thinking we have a great idea for a poll that will take a year to complete - each day we vote on whether a D-1 facility is either a gym or arena. 363 to vote on I believe! Without even looking I'll say Stonehill has a gym.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Oct 21, 2022 19:16:33 GMT -5
Sounds good. Will it start with each HC opponent in order, then alphabetical for the remaining teams not on the schedule this year?
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Oct 22, 2022 4:18:15 GMT -5
Wait - you guys actually want me to do this? I was counting one of you retirees taking on the task. I will try to do my part to start by giving you the home of Stonehill College hoops: www.stonehillskyhawks.com/facilities/merkertGym or arena? Discuss
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Post by Tom on Oct 22, 2022 12:02:55 GMT -5
The gym/arena question started with some schools being labeled as having glorified high school gyms. The more relevant question is does it meet a reasonable standard for D-I hoops. The Palestra is one of the better D-I venues in the country, but probably is more of a gym than an arena
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