Newman Arena and Lynah Rink Conflicts

[CornellFan]

In years past, Cornell basketball's home attendance at Newman Arena suffered somewhat because of competition with simultaneously played Cornell hockey games at Lynah Rink. This year, there are minimal conflicts for Cornell athletics fans. Cornell hockey and basketball will only play home games on the same day on three dates this season.

On January 19 when the Cornell basketball team hosts Columbia, the Big Red hockey team hosts Clarkson. While this is a pivotal league game for all teams involved, there is a possibility that Cornell will set the men's basketball game for an afternoon starting time, thereby allowing the Cornell and Ithaca community to see both events.

On February 29 and March 1, the basketball and hockey teams both host Dartmouth and Harvard. Fortunately for Cornell basketball, neither Dartmouth or Harvard are expected to emerge as "first division" Ivy teams. Therefore, if you were to pick a weekend where you did not need a big home crowd, this would be the weekend.

Overall, the schedule looks promising for drawing crowds to Cornell basketball games.  If the team produces wins, there are few excuses left for the Program in failing to sell out Newman Arena.

[Josh '99]

[quote CornellFan]On January 19 when the Cornell basketball team hosts Columbia, the Big Red hockey team hosts Clarkson. While this is a pivotal league game for all teams involved, there is a possibility that Cornell will set the men's basketball game for an afternoon starting time, thereby allowing the Cornell and Ithaca community to see both events.[/quote]It'd be nice if they could do this more often.  Unfortunately, I suppose it's not feasible because of the travel involved for teams playing at Cornell and Columbia on back-to-back dates.  For a game against Columbia, though, it seems like it should be possible.

[Jordan 04]

I always saw the presence of 4,000 people next door as a benefit to home attendance at Newman, not a detriment.

Sure they may have showed up for only 20-25 minutes of the basketball games, but otherwise, how many would be there at all?

Agreed though, the best scenario would be back-to-back games, basketball then hockey.

[Al DeFlorio]

I'll believe Harvard is easy pickings in basketball after we show we can beat them.  Last year's games were embarrassments.

[ugarte]

[quote CornellFan]Overall, the schedule looks promising for drawing crowds to Cornell basketball games.  If the team produces wins, there are few excuses left for the Program in failing to sell out Newman Arena.[/quote]
You mean, other than historical lack of interest?

(Says a person that went to every home basketball game that didn't conflict with hockey/vacation during my time at Cornell.)

[ebilmes]

January 19 is also the weekend at the end of rush week, so attendance can be expected to drop for both events. I remember the hockey games that weekend last year were fairly empty as a result of the invite only events Friday night and then mandatory contacts on Saturday night.

[KeithK]

[quote ebilmes]January 19 is also the weekend at the end of rush week, so attendance can be expected to drop for both events. I remember the hockey games that weekend last year were fairly empty as a result of the invite only events Friday night and then mandatory contacts on Saturday night.[/quote]
When will those silly Greeks learn to get their priorities straight?  You schedule your lives around hockey, not the other way around!

[KeithK]

[quote ugarte][quote CornellFan]Overall, the schedule looks promising for drawing crowds to Cornell basketball games.  If the team produces wins, there are few excuses left for the Program in failing to sell out Newman Arena.[/quote]
You mean, other than historical lack of interest?
[/quote]
Attendance growth should be expected to lag success on the court/ice/field.  While Cornell basketball has been better and looks promising the team hasn't achieved much in the way of game success yet. Being pre-season favorites in the Ivy League isn't likely to sell many tickets to people who weren't going to go anyway.  Being pre-season favorites after winning last year's title might be a different story.

[CornellFan]

ITHACA, N.Y. -- One change has been made to the upcoming 2007-08 Cornell men's hockey schedule in order to accomodate a national television audience. Cornell will take on Clarkson at 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 20, 2008, at Lynah Rink in a contest that will be televised by ESPNU.

The game against Clarkson was originally scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 19, 2008, but has been moved with the approval of both schools. Cornell will still play St. Lawrence on Friday, January 18, with an off-day in between the games against the North Country foes.

Additional television arrangements for the upcoming season will be announced as the season gets nearer, but none should require dates of the games to be changed.

[French Rage]

That might actually help avoid rush stuff, though I have no remote idea of the schedule.

[ugarte]

[quote CornellFan]ITHACA, N.Y. -- One change has been made to the upcoming 2007-08 Cornell men's hockey schedule in order to accomodate a national television audience. Cornell will take on Clarkson at 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 20, 2008, at Lynah Rink in a contest that will be televised by ESPNU.

The game against Clarkson was originally scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 19, 2008, but has been moved with the approval of both schools. Cornell will still play St. Lawrence on Friday, January 18, with an off-day in between the games against the North Country foes.

Additional television arrangements for the upcoming season will be announced as the season gets nearer, but none should require dates of the games to be changed.[/quote]
That's a first - cornell hockey content in the "other sports" forum. This is good news - now all I have to do is find a bar in my neighborhood with ESPNU.

[CornellFan]

I believe that Time Warner Cable will be adding ESPNU throughout the country.  I am not sure when it will take effect.  Hopefully by October.

[ugarte]

[quote CornellFan]I believe that Time Warner Cable will be adding ESPNU throughout the country.  I am not sure when it will take effect.  Hopefully by October.[/quote]
When I had TWC (and Dish, for that matter), I had ESPNU. Cablevision sucks.

[Dpperk29]

that sucks. Makes coming home for those games so much harder.

[ebilmes]

[quote French Rage]That might actually help avoid rush stuff, though I have no remote idea of the schedule.[/quote]

It will. I think contacts began at 8 last year. I doubt that factored into their decision, although a full Lynah would look better on TV.