It has been suggested that a letter writing campaign may help put a stop to the recorded music being played at Lynah that it seems most of us here do not like. Towards that end, I am starting this thread. I hope many of us will write letters, and either share them here, or at least let us know here that you wrote.
I contacted a couple of people I know who are close to the hockey program, to ask who would be best to write to with these thoughts. Apparently the best person really is Nicki Moore, Cornell's Director of Athletics and Physical Education. From what I was told, several people have already written to her about this.
Below is the email message I just sent her a few minutes ago. I hope many of you will join me in writing. As BearLover suggested, perhaps if enough of us write, Cornell will listen.
Thanks!
---
Nicki Moore
Director of Athletics and Physical Education
Cornell University
CornellAD@cornell.edu
Dear Ms. Moore,
With such a fantastic weekend of Cornell Hockey just concluded, I thought this would be a good time to write to you about something that has been bothering me for quite a while. I feel strongly that the piped in (recorded) music being played at Lynah during stoppages in play and between periods is actually detracting from the incredible atmosphere Lynah is famous for. I know many long-time fans feel the same way.
I have been attending games at Lynah Rink since 1982, which was the fall of my freshman year on The Hill. I have had season tickets every year since 1983, with the exception of the four years I was out of Ithaca immediately after I graduated. I moved back to Ithaca in 1990 and have loved spending winter nights at Lynah, supporting the hockey team, every season since then. I have been a Cornell hockey "booster" / Association (CHA) member since 1990, and have even kicked my membership up to the Coach's Club level the last several years. All this to say I think I have spent enough time at Lynah to talk about the incredible atmosphere and what makes Lynah so special.
In my opinion, the recorded music is not helping and should be eliminated. The Cornell pep band (and any visiting bands that still make the trip) are more than capable of providing fun music during the stoppages in play and during the intermissions. The pep band and the voices of the incredible Lynah Faithful are all that is needed. Other sports venues may require the piped in music to create an atmosphere of excitement. Lynah doesn't.
I don't know whether or not you are familiar with the television show, "The West Wing." In one episode, during a time in which President Bartlet was softening his approach to things to try to appeal to a broader audience, his Chief of Staff, Leo McGarry, comes to the realization that that strategy isn't working, and also isn't fair to President Bartlet. It just wasn't who the man was. Leo comes up with a new strategy: "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet." That essentially boiled down to letting President Bartlet be himself, play to his strengths, and if there were a few that didn't like it because it wasn't mainstream enough, so be it. I will steal from "The West Wing" and conclude with, "Let Lynah Be Lynah!"
Thank you.
Disagree with your characterization of that episode of "The West Wing." Softening his approach to appeal to a broader audience was what Toby referred to as the "Uncle Fluffy" problem as they approached Bartlet's reelection campaign a few years in. "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" was more about Bartlet staying true to his liberalism rather than moving to the political center in the hopes of avoiding controversy and remaining popular.
Y'know, 'cause that's the important thing to focus on here.
Quote from: Beeeej on March 16, 2026, 02:38:59 PMDisagree with your characterization of that episode of "The West Wing." Softening his approach to appeal to a broader audience was what Toby referred to as the "Uncle Fluffy" problem as they approached Bartlet's reelection campaign a few years in. "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" was more about Bartlet staying true to his liberalism rather than moving to the political center in the hopes of avoiding controversy and remaining popular.
Y'know, 'cause that's the important thing to focus on here.
I'm sure you're right, Beeeej. It's been a few years since I've re-watched the entire series, so I probably conflated things a bit. Even so, I think this way makes my point better, so consider it poetic license.
Well written. As an "old" (in every sense of the word) editor, drop the last paragraph. End the letter with "Let Lynah be Lynah" and send it. That's what I plan to do - updating the dates of my letter to 1966...I was at Ithaca High School and adjust the dates to have never left Ithaca.
Quote from: andyw2100 on March 16, 2026, 02:42:05 PMQuote from: Beeeej on March 16, 2026, 02:38:59 PMDisagree with your characterization of that episode of "The West Wing." Softening his approach to appeal to a broader audience was what Toby referred to as the "Uncle Fluffy" problem as they approached Bartlet's reelection campaign a few years in. "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" was more about Bartlet staying true to his liberalism rather than moving to the political center in the hopes of avoiding controversy and remaining popular.
Y'know, 'cause that's the important thing to focus on here.
I'm sure you're right, Beeeej. It's been a few years since I've re-watched the entire series, so I probably conflated things a bit. Even so, I think this way makes my point better, so consider it poetic license.
dss28 and I have rewatched it so many times that we literally use "West Winging the sh*t out of [show name]" to refer to binging another show.
Quote from: Larry72 on March 16, 2026, 05:34:05 PMWell written. As an "old" (in every sense of the word) editor, drop the last paragraph. End the letter with "Let Lynah be Lynah" and send it. That's what I plan to do - updating the dates of my letter to 1966...I was at Ithaca High School and adjust the dates to have never left Ithaca.
Thank you, Larry!
I had sent it before posting it here.
I had actually considered leaving out the "Thank you" at the end, so that it would have concluded with "Let Lynah Be Lynah", but I thought that sounded a little demanding and impolite, so I added the "Thank you." You are probably right that it may have been stronger without it.
Pretty apropos for a site that still features John Spencer Is Dead as a topline forum.
Quote from: BMac on March 16, 2026, 06:49:14 PMPretty apropos for a site that still features John Spencer Is Dead as a topline forum.
Damnit, I can't make a "he died before I was born" joke. "He died before Caton Ryan was born" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, sadly.
Quote from: stereax on March 16, 2026, 07:00:53 PMQuote from: BMac on March 16, 2026, 06:49:14 PMPretty apropos for a site that still features John Spencer Is Dead as a topline forum.
Damnit, I can't make a "he died before I was born" joke. "He died before Caton Ryan was born" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, sadly.
Alexis Cournoyer was 3 days old when John Spencer died. If EliteProspects is right. They often aren't.
A few words of advice (from the guy who reads all the marketing shit):
1. It's Doctor Moore.
2. Keep it brief and to the point. She's got a lot on her plate.
3. The only language Cornell understands is $$. Explain the impact their decision will have on your purchase of season tickets, your annual contributions, your bequests to the Athletic Department.
Y'all are the people who wouldn't believe a 10-second video clip online could be seen as "too long."
Times change. Most people get used to the piped-in music as long
as recorded-music playback does not step over the music the pep band plays.
First worry about:
- Why the rink lighting is dim and has varied hot spots and dim spots. And is hard to get color fidelity for those shooting stills. I believe the A.D. is aware of at least the lighting concerns.
- Why the video board is so dim, low-res and obscured by the netting (that may be necessary in its current location) if there's no protective clear shield.
- Why the arena audio is hard to discern. The man at the mic has a golden voice; it's not him.
Y'all have heard me mention before how the camera angles are suboptimal for the video broadcasts and I believe we can improve them. At least versus 5 years ago our video guys are tracking the puck.
[Drifting:] From time to time medical doctors get uppity when academics want to be addressed as Doctor ("Dachtah" if from Long Island) and have to be reminded that the academic honorific came before the medical one.
Quote from: billhoward on Today at 03:39:50 PMFirst worry about:
- Why the rink lighting is dim and has varied hot spots and dim spots. And is hard to get color fidelity for those shooting stills. I believe the A.D. is aware of at least the lighting concerns.
- Why the video board is so dim, low-res and obscured by the netting (that may be necessary in its current location) if there's no protective clear shield.
- Why the arena audio is hard to discern. The man at the mic has a golden voice; it's not him.
Forgive me for not putting still photographers first. I also don't care about the video board, understand why it exists, but don't need to like it (and the pregame hype video has the opposite effect). The rink audio is not an issue. I could hear ACM as well as the DJ all weekend. Bad PA audio is Yale (before and after they upgraded the speakers).
Yes, most people "get used to" piped in music. People get used to lots of things.
The piped music creates competition with the band and the organic energy in the building. It seemed that if the conductor wasn't ready to go immediately at a whistle, there was a real risk of random noise being pumped in. The Saturday conductor was faster than Sunday and we got more band Saturday than Sunday. There are also times when the band shouldn't play because the student section is up to something and that should breathe too. If the loudmouths are chirping Charette after a whistle, the band might be wise to give it space. But in today's Lynah, that space will be an invitation to the DJ, who will drown it all out. The volume is also so loud that it makes otherwise loud cheering seem like not much.
And don't get me started about the warmup tape and the complete death of pregame heckling....
It's all a slippery slope to the SHU/Q experience where fans are mostly passive and every break has video production or pumped music with one or two breaks for the band each period and poor ACM is telling us about the East Hill Car Wash Penalty Box brought to you by Wegman's and the final minute of play will be sponsored by Cayuga Medical Center and RC Holmes.
I'm going to go back to shaking my fist at the clouds now.
Quote from: ACM on Today at 03:25:55 PMA few words of advice (from the guy who reads all the marketing shit):
1. It's Doctor Moore.
2. Keep it brief and to the point. She's got a lot on her plate.
3. The only language Cornell understands is $$. Explain the impact their decision will have on your purchase of season tickets, your annual contributions, your bequests to the Athletic Department.
Thanks, Arthur. I somehow missed the fact that I should have addressed our AD as Doctor Moore. That's an embarrassing mistake.
I personally didn't want to make empty or weak threats with respect to some of what you suggest above, but if others are comfortable doing that, I'm all for it.
I'm just hoping many of us will take the time to write, and that if enough of us do we may get the change we desire.
Quote from: billhoward on Today at 03:39:50 PMY'all are the people who wouldn't believe a 10-second video clip online could be seen as "too long."
Times change. Most people get used to the piped-in music as long as recorded-music playback does not step over the music the pep band plays.
First worry about:
- Why the rink lighting is dim and has varied hot spots and dim spots. And is hard to get color fidelity for those shooting stills. I believe the A.D. is aware of at least the lighting concerns.
- Why the video board is so dim, low-res and obscured by the netting (that may be necessary in its current location) if there's no protective clear shield.
- Why the arena audio is hard to discern. The man at the mic has a golden voice; it's not him.
Y'all have heard me mention before how the camera angles are suboptimal for the video broadcasts and I believe we can improve them. At least versus 5 years ago our video guys are tracking the puck.
All of your concerns are valid, Bill. The point of this thread was to attempt to get one small (and free) thing back the way we want it. Saying "first worry about..." misses that point.
Sure, better lighting would be great. It also costs money. I think sending the AD a laundry list of things we want changed or improved at Lynah would dilute the message quite a bit. I am attempting to keep it simple.
You, and others, of course, are free to write the AD about anything you like. For now, I'm focusing on the piped in music, which would cost the administration nothing to stop.
Quote from: billhoward on Today at 03:39:50 PMY'all are the people who wouldn't believe a 10-second video clip online could be seen as "too long."
Times change. Most people get used to the piped-in music as long as recorded-music playback does not step over the music the pep band plays.
First worry about:
- Why the rink lighting is dim and has varied hot spots and dim spots. And is hard to get color fidelity for those shooting stills. I believe the A.D. is aware of at least the lighting concerns.
.........
- Why the arena audio is hard to discern. The man at the mic has a golden voice; it's not him.
Y'all have heard me mention before how the camera angles are suboptimal for the video broadcasts and I believe we can improve them. At least versus 5 years ago our video guys are tracking the puck.
Casey mentioned that he is advocating for improvements in both the lighting and camera issues - though his first priority is better refrigeration.
As to the audio, wait until you visit the gambling mecca of Schenectady. Union's architects have designed a space with too narrow seating, poor lines of sight and an unintelligible audio system. Many will find this refreshing as the homer announcer at Achilles was insufferable. He was missing at the Cornell game and the noise from his milquetoast replacement couldn't be deciphered. (It did make me nostalgic for the late '70's CTA El announcements.)