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Post by 78purple on Dec 13, 2023 22:06:03 GMT -5
Agreed! Football and Commencement belong at Fitton. While we’re on the subject, why is the ceremony that marks the END of a class’s time at a school called a “commencement”? I think part of the migration of graduation ceremonies away from Fitton to DCU was fueled by complaints from elderly grandparents/relatives relative to the heat....with the predictable first 90 degree day of the year with no wind on the 4th Friday of May in the bowl that is Fitton....the AC inside DCU is more important than tradition.....now, if the city fathers would be similarly cooperative/flexible in allowing our basketball and hockey programs to schedule some big-time opponents in that arena so we can begin to elevate those teams to a national stage.....It shouldn't be that difficult... And, another vote to play home football games on your home field....I don't get the PP attraction |
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Post by longsuffering on Dec 13, 2023 23:27:43 GMT -5
The PP game was losing it's charm anyway and then the Harvard loss killed it. Play in the Fitton sunshine.
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Post by Tom on Dec 14, 2023 8:15:58 GMT -5
Commencement at the Centrum started during the renovation of Hart. The old tradition was graduate on the field and move to Hart in case of rain. When you own both buildings, it can be a last minute decision. When Hart was unavailable during the Luth renovation, they needed a back up plan. However, if you're going to rent the Centrum, you actually have to rent it. You can't reserve the date and only pay if it rains, so they moved Commencement.
Not sure the motivation of keeping it there. Perhaps there were criticisms from Grandma about heat. Perhaps TPTB liked the fact that Uncle Charley got to watch live instead of getting bumped to the hockey rink to see it streamed because of limited rainy day seating
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Post by midwestsader05 on Dec 14, 2023 8:26:19 GMT -5
Perhaps in attempt to rescue this thread, the next 6 days will obviously be massive not just for 2024 but for years ahead. We not only host several verbal commits in an attempt to keep them on track to sign next Wed, but several important recruits as well.
I think most us believe an announcement on HC could be made as early as Friday or next Monday/Tuesday.
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Post by Ignutz on Dec 14, 2023 8:37:15 GMT -5
Commencement at the Centrum started during the renovation of Hart. The old tradition was graduate on the field and move to Hart in case of rain. When you own both buildings, it can be a last minute decision. When Hart was unavailable during the Luth renovation, they needed a back up plan. However, if you're going to rent the Centrum, you actually have to rent it. You can't reserve the date and only pay if it rains, so they moved Commencement. Not sure the motivation of keeping it there. Perhaps there were criticisms from Grandma about heat. Perhaps TPTB liked the fact that Uncle Charley got to watch live instead of getting bumped to the hockey rink to see it streamed because of limited rainy day seating That’s my understanding as well, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. I graduated on a beautiful sunny day on Fitton Field, and had the same for two of my kids. For my step-daughter, we were inside the DCU Center - on a beautiful sunny day. I hope I live long enough to see grandchildren graduate from college, and I hope that I get to see one/some receive a Holy Cross diploma. If that should come to fruition, I may be a rickety old man who is happy for the DCU comforts. (I’ll keep you posted.) |
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Post by timholycross on Dec 14, 2023 9:05:23 GMT -5
Oh, I do pray that HC won’t have the Homecoming game at Polar Park, you know, just to prove Worcester is “home” to the Crusaders! 😳 Bad enough Family Day was there one year. Any chance it gets skipped in 2024? Having Homecoming at Polar makes no sense on several levels, hope it's not true. Most notably, when's the last time save for a bad weather day that Homecoming didn't draw more than Polar's capacity? Secondly, part of HC for the recent grads is reconnecting with the students that are still there. With those students on vacation, that can't happen. |
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Post by steken on Dec 14, 2023 14:29:07 GMT -5
Give the players and coaches truth serum and ask them whether they enjoyed playing in front of bigger crowds at PP, BC or Army, or at Fitton where the big crowds are spending the game on the BB and freshman fields…. Hmmm
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Post by hc1996 on Dec 14, 2023 14:48:50 GMT -5
Give the players and coaches truth serum and ask them whether they enjoyed playing in front of bigger crowds at PP, BC or Army, or at Fitton where the big crowds are spending the game on the BB and freshman fields…. Hmmm I've actually heard the players really enjoy the PP game and all the hype around it. |
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Post by hchoops on Dec 14, 2023 14:52:06 GMT -5
Give the players and coaches truth serum and ask them whether they enjoyed playing in front of bigger crowds at PP, BC or Army, or at Fitton where the big crowds are spending the game on the BB and freshman fields…. Hmmm I've actually heard the players really enjoy the PP game and all the hype around it. What is the hype ? |
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Post by steken on Dec 14, 2023 14:54:05 GMT -5
My wife and I enjoy it. Not a great vantage point to see the game although you can walk around and get different views but the energy and environment is fun.
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Post by hc1996 on Dec 14, 2023 14:56:57 GMT -5
I've actually heard the players really enjoy the PP game and all the hype around it. What is the hype ? I guess they do some media stuff with the WooSox and some other stuff. Lots of social media promotion, etc. I don't know...I don't really see it. But, I have enjoyed the two games I've seen there even though one was a tragic loss to the Crimson. Food and beverage experience is so much better than Fitton. The Fitton food and beverage experience is one of the worst. |
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Post by drjack on Dec 14, 2023 15:01:10 GMT -5
Positives to PP (imo):
1) MUCH more family friendly, especially those with little kids/stroller bound babies
2) Under the lights
3) Food and beverage choices
4) Overall atmosphere (I was at the game this year and the place was mobbed, even if it didn't look it on TV)
5) Goodwill with the community (charity work, etc) in conjunction with the WooSox
Negatives to PP:
1) More expensive
2) Smaller capacity
3) Not on campus
As someone with a 14 month old currently, we simply can't take him to Fitton, so I enjoy the PP game if only for the one game a year my entire family can attend together.
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Post by rgs318 on Dec 14, 2023 15:04:58 GMT -5
IMO, if HC's. biggest problem is not being able to seat all of our fans in any sport, then the program is in very good shape.  I see you did not put "improving community ties" in either category. Is that a real thing in HC playing at Polar Park? |
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Post by drjack on Dec 14, 2023 15:07:23 GMT -5
IMO, if HC's. biggest problem is not being able to seat all of our fans in any sport, then the program is in very good shape. I see you did not put "improving community ties" in either category. Is that a rel thing in HC playing at Polar Park? Was just an omission in full honesty. Posted too quickly, but I don't think either list is exhaustive. I'm sure others can find unlisted pros and cons for it, but those were the ones that stuck out in my mind. |
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Post by rgs318 on Dec 14, 2023 15:10:35 GMT -5
...and you have created a good start.  |
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Post by gks on Dec 14, 2023 17:07:45 GMT -5
As someone who lives in the Worcester area to be honest the only people I hear dislike the Polar Park game are the few on this message board.
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Post by timholycross on Dec 14, 2023 17:16:33 GMT -5
I just don't want Homecoming on October 12, regardless of where it is! Polar seems like a good option for that date.
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Post by hc87 on Dec 14, 2023 17:19:13 GMT -5
My biggest gripe with PP is the sightlines.....they are mostly terrible from the spots I checked out the game from this year. Compare that to Fitton which is actually one of the best venues for watching the game due to the closeness of the field/angle of the stands etc
Makes for sort of a weird game substitution-wise too with both teams on the same side-lines.
We have just 5 "home" games next season with a 12 game schedule....do we really want to play only a third of our schedule next year at Fitton?
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Post by longsuffering on Dec 14, 2023 18:42:14 GMT -5
My biggest gripe with PP is the sightlines.....they are mostly terrible from the spots I checked out the game from this year. Compare that to Fitton which is actually one of the best venues for watching the game due to the closeness of the field/angle of the stands etc Makes for sort of a weird game substitution-wise too with both teams on the same side-lines. We have just 5 "home" games next season with a 12 game schedule....do we really want to play only a third of our schedule next year at Fitton? No way. HC playing away at Bryant's postage stamp yard is the tail wagging the dog. Have the EBW game at Fitton and call it Larry Lucchino Appreciation Day at the fourth annual EBW Classic to salute Larry and the Williams family for their long positive relationship and support of Holy Cross. |
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Post by Wormtown Railers Fan on Dec 14, 2023 19:32:12 GMT -5
My biggest gripe with PP is the sightlines.....they are mostly terrible from the spots I checked out the game from this year. Compare that to Fitton which is actually one of the best venues for watching the game due to the closeness of the field/angle of the stands etc Makes for sort of a weird game substitution-wise too with both teams on the same side-lines. We have just 5 "home" games next season with a 12 game schedule....do we really want to play only a third of our schedule next year at Fitton? No way. HC playing away at Bryant's postage stamp yard is the tail wagging the dog. Have the EBW game at Fitton and call it Larry Lucchino Appreciation Day at the fourth annual EBW Classic to salute Larry and the Williams family for their long positive relationship and support of Holy Cross. So, the horrible sacrifice that Holy Cross alumni have to endure by playing a home game a mile down the street is not acceptable. But, expecting Bryant to give up a home game to play in the historic, unbelievably incredible Fitton Field is ok. Got it. |
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Post by longsuffering on Dec 14, 2023 19:56:44 GMT -5
No way. HC playing away at Bryant's postage stamp yard is the tail wagging the dog. Have the EBW game at Fitton and call it Larry Lucchino Appreciation Day at the fourth annual EBW Classic to salute Larry and the Williams family for their long positive relationship and support of Holy Cross. So, the horrible sacrifice that Holy Cross alumni have to endure by playing a home game a mile down the street is not acceptable. But, expecting Bryant to give up a home game to play in the historic, unbelievably incredible Fitton Field is ok. Got it. No, I am thinking of the capacity restrictions at 4400 seat Beirne Stadium. HC has drawn up to 17,000+ at Fitton in good weather over the past couple of years and October 12 can be a picture perfect football day if you can recall beautiful fall weather for outings to apple orchards and country fairs during Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day three day weekends over the years. I also advocate for Bryant to use their home game to host HC at Polar Park because they could charge twice as much per seat on average for more than twice the number of seats and hosting HC at Polar would be far more lucrative for Bryant than hosting Hampton or Monmouth there. Bryant could leverage Holy Cross drawing power to fill the stadium a half hour from their campus. If they sell an extra 5,000 tickets at Polar over Beirne at an average of $20 each, that's an extra $100,000 for the Bryant Athletic Department created by moving a game a half hour away and making an event out of it to bring Bulldog nation together. WOOF WOOF!🙂 |
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Post by 78purple on Dec 14, 2023 20:53:54 GMT -5
So, the horrible sacrifice that Holy Cross alumni have to endure by playing a home game a mile down the street is not acceptable. But, expecting Bryant to give up a home game to play in the historic, unbelievably incredible Fitton Field is ok. Got it. No, I am thinking of the capacity restrictions at 4400 seat Beirne Stadium. HC has drawn up to 17,000+ at Fitton in good weather over the past couple of years and October 12 can be a picture perfect football day if you can recall beautiful fall weather for outings to apple orchards and country fairs during Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day three day weekends over the years. I also advocate for Bryant to use their home game to host HC at Polar Park because they could charge twice as much per seat on average for more than twice the number of seats and hosting HC at Polar would be far more lucrative for Bryant than hosting Hampton or Monmouth there. Bryant could leverage Holy Cross drawing power to fill the stadium a half hour from their campus. If they sell an extra 5,000 tickets at Polar over Beirne at an average of $20 each, that's an extra $100,000 for the Bryant Athletic Department created by moving a game a half hour away and making an event out of it to bring Bulldog nation together. WOOF WOOF!🙂 For a program with designs of a being a perennial player on the national stage, why is Bryant on the schedule anyway ?? On the road no less  |
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Post by steken on Dec 15, 2023 8:48:56 GMT -5
I’m guessing to hopefully get an easy win although not sure how easy it will be. Tough OOC schedule needs some easier ones.
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Post by midwestsader05 on Dec 15, 2023 9:03:24 GMT -5
Bryant will have every opportunity to compete in the northern half of the CAA. They are investing in their program and can grow through the portal (which Albany did very successfully). Some are looking down their nose at them like I’m sure several Sun Belt schools did when JMU joined (really these FCS guys?!)
Things can change very fast now. Bryant could easily be favored against HC next year.
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Post by timholycross on Dec 15, 2023 9:03:26 GMT -5
You can knock Beirne Stadium all you want, but Bryant is in the CAA next year. Maybe they won't be up to speed in that league right off the bat, but you have to assume they will; which makes the game a step UP, not down.
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