Quinnipiac's new rink

bandrews37 · November 20, 2006, 03:30:17 AM

Looking at the photos of Quinnipiac's new rink that's supposed to open in a month or two, I'm reminded of how much we screwed the pooch by not building a new rink on campus. Lynah's historic and all, blah blah blah, but we missed out on a chance at something great by not going new. And it's too bad. For the small fortune that we spent to do practically nothing to the rink, we could have chipped in a little bit more and gotten a brand new facility out by the orchards and kept Lynah as a rec/club/practice facility. Imagine the cash to be made by that... athletics missing the boat once again....

redice · November 20, 2006, 06:26:17 AM

[quote bandrews37]Looking at the photos of Quinnipiac's new rink that's supposed to open in a month or two, I'm reminded of how much we screwed the pooch by not building a new rink on campus. Lynah's historic and all, blah blah blah, but we missed out on a chance at something great by not going new. And it's too bad. For the small fortune that we spent to do practically nothing to the rink, we could have chipped in a little bit more and gotten a brand new facility out by the orchards and kept Lynah as a rec/club/practice facility. Imagine the cash to be made by that... athletics missing the boat once again....[/quote]

Oh boy! Here we go with this discussion again.

Be careful what you ask for...New is not always better. A beautiful new arena, with nicely padded (wider) seats, & a jumbotron scoreboard ,etc sounds real nice. But, it's unlikely that you can build such a building and maintain the crowd noise level that is Lynah. Lose that, and over time, the program goes downhill. After all, isn't that what a lot of recruits have said made them want to attend Cornell?

IMO, they did a fine job in upgrading Lynah.

billhoward · November 20, 2006, 06:45:49 AM

A new rink with padded seats, etc., and more capacity would be better for most not all fans, and there could always be some bench seat student sections for those who wanted closeness and density. For a new rink to make sense, it ought to seat 6,000, and that's $50 million plus, and we don't know that the Ithaca community would fill the place.

But college facilities really ought to be close to the students. Basketball has been relocated farther away, from Barton to Bartels. Soccer has been moved farther out. Tennis is off-campus. Lacrosse, going back a generation, played on Lower Alumni Field (R.I.P.) across from Barton. In some small way, the greater distance decreases the odds students will walk over and watch a game, and increases the sense the sports teams are isolated from, apart from Cornell.

Rosey · November 20, 2006, 10:01:52 AM

What is the motivation for a new rink? More seats, so they can stop selling out games? Seats instead of benches, so it's harder to stand and harder to pack 30% more bodies into the student section? Greater volume, so it's harder for fans to fill the place with noise? A center-ice scoreboard, so we can get some computer-led "Charge!" chants going?

If there were a need for a larger rink, there would be an actual discussion here. But, the fact is: there's not. The only substantive complaint you could have made was the crappy state of the varsity facilities (e.g., locker rooms, weight rooms, meeting rooms, etc.), but they have either been upgraded already or are in the process of being so, so now Cornell's facilities are competitive with those of any program in the country.

Most importantly to me and (I daresay) most of the other fans who post here are the things that the Lynah atmosphere does bring to Cornell:

- recruits who are left speechless upon seeing the crowd at a game

- one of the few real, positive elements of community uniting students, faculty, and staff from every college, as well as a lot of non-Cornell Ithacans and even a few IK students

These could be lost by a new rink that wasn't properly designed. And given the current leadershit at the AD (hi, Andy!), you know it wouldn't be properly designed.

Provide us a single good reason why Lynah should be replaced, other than, "It isn't all new and shiny."

Kyle

Beeeej · November 20, 2006, 10:33:04 AM

[quote krose]Provide us a single good reason why Lynah should be replaced, other than, "It isn't all new and shiny."[/quote]

...or "I didn't get enough fiber this morning."

KeithK · November 20, 2006, 12:23:03 PM

[quote bandrews37]Looking at the photos of Quinnipiac's new rink that's supposed to open in a month or two, I'm reminded of how much we screwed the pooch by not building a new rink on campus. Lynah's historic and all, blah blah blah, but we missed out on a chance at something great by not going new. And it's too bad. For the small fortune that we spent to do practically nothing to the rink, we could have chipped in a little bit more and gotten a brand new facility out by the orchards and kept Lynah as a rec/club/practice facility. Imagine the cash to be made by that... athletics missing the boat once again....[/quote]No. Have you ever been to Cheel? I rest my case.

Dpperk29 · November 20, 2006, 12:27:38 PM

have you ever been to cheel? it's actually very nice. the seats are confortable, it's loud, and just all around awesome. granted... it's not lynah... but it's awesome. we just need to get rid of the scoreboard message box and the piped in music.

Josh '99 · November 20, 2006, 12:32:45 PM

[quote Dpperk29]have you ever been to cheel? it's actually very nice. the seats are confortable, it's loud, and just all around awesome. granted... it's not lynah... but it's awesome. we just need to get rid of the scoreboard message box and the piped in music.[/quote]I've been to Cheel. It feels antiseptic.

KeithK · November 20, 2006, 12:33:07 PM

[quote Dpperk29]have you ever been to cheel? it's actually very nice. the seats are confortable, it's loud, and just all around awesome. granted... it's not lynah... but it's awesome. we just need to get rid of the scoreboard message box and the piped in music.[/quote]I figured I'd get a quick reply from you. :-D Yes, I've been to Cheel. Several times (in the 90's). It always felt cold and antispetic to me. Not especially loud either. Have you been over to Walker? I never managed to see a game there but I've been inside and from what I saw and the descriptions I can picture a game there. I would much rather see a game in the old barn.

If you want comfortable seats and amenities go with a new place like Cheel. If you want atmosphere stick with an old barm. There's no question in my mind, but YMMV.

redhair34 · November 20, 2006, 12:42:47 PM

[quote Dpperk29]have you ever been to cheel? it's actually very nice. the seats are confortable, it's loud, and just all around awesome. granted... it's not lynah... but it's awesome. we just need to get rid of the scoreboard message box and the piped in music.[/quote]

I've been, and I agree with what Keith and Josh have said about it. And if we had to build a modern style rink (for some reason) I would prefer to use Thompson as model much more so than Cheel.

Dpperk29 · November 20, 2006, 12:47:53 PM

I had them same feelings when I first went into cheel. but it grows on you. quickly. like I said... Cheel isn;t lynah. Lynah isn;t cheel. Comparing an old barn to a modern arena is like comparing Clarkson's engineering program to SLU's american history program... doesn;t really make sense.

KeithK · November 20, 2006, 12:54:19 PM

[quote Dpperk29]I had them same feelings when I first went into cheel. but it grows on you. quickly. like I said... Cheel isn;t lynah. Lynah isn;t cheel. Comparing an old barn to a modern arena is like comparing Clarkson's engineering program to SLU's american history program... doesn;t really make sense.[/quote]I disagree. It does make sense to compare old and new because you're doing the same thing - watching a hockey game - in both. Besides, the OP was saying we should have built a new rink instead of renovating Lynah. Yuo have to compare the two options in order to make that decision. My assessment stands. I'd much ratehr go to a game in a place like Lynah or Walker or Appleton than a Cheel or Thompson.

I'm not surprised that Cheel has grown on you though. You're rooting for your school's team every time you go there. Antiseptic rink or not, you've got some good fans up there. Naturally you're going to come to like the experience at Cheel.

Jordan 04 · November 20, 2006, 01:08:57 PM

Quote- one of the few real, positive elements of community uniting students, faculty, and staff from every college, as well as a lot of non-Cornell Ithacans and even a few IK students

An nothing gives those on the South Hill the warm fuzzy feelings of positive elements of community like being referred to as "IK"

Rosey · November 20, 2006, 01:20:31 PM

[quote Jordan 04]An nothing gives those on the South Hill the warm fuzzy feelings of positive elements of community like being referred to as "IK"

[/quote]
LOL. I couldn't resist.

Of the few Ithaca College alumni I know, about half of them I met through watching Cornell hockey. Sounds strange, but it's true. I also know that there are students there who don't have a chip on their shoulder, and laugh good-naturedly at "IK". They expect it from us: we're assholes.

Cheer,
Kyle

Drew · November 20, 2006, 01:48:27 PM

[quote KeithK][quote Dpperk29]I had them same feelings when I first went into cheel. but it grows on you. quickly. like I said... Cheel isn;t lynah. Lynah isn;t cheel. Comparing an old barn to a modern arena is like comparing Clarkson's engineering program to SLU's american history program... doesn;t really make sense.[/quote]I disagree. It does make sense to compare old and new because you're doing the same thing - watching a hockey game - in both. Besides, the OP was saying we should have built a new rink instead of renovating Lynah. Yuo have to compare the two options in order to make that decision. My assessment stands. I'd much ratehr go to a game in a place like Lynah or Walker or Appleton than a Cheel or Thompson.

I'm not surprised that Cheel has grown on you though. You're rooting for your school's team every time you go there. Antiseptic rink or not, you've got some good fans up there. Naturally you're going to come to like the experience at Cheel.[/quote]

It is antiseptic. Outside the student section the place is a morgue. Walker was much more intimidating. I know guys that played against Clarkson in Walker and they said it was like "...a riot inside the place every time".