ECACs to Providence?

[marty]

Geography? The center of the ECAC passes through Albany. Glens Falls is Albany without the Big City flavor. An event in Springfield woudl have everyone driving to Northampton/Amherst miles away during the day Saturday to avoid boredom. Syracuse would set up howls from every team other than Cornell, Colgate, St Lawrence and Clarkson. And maybe Union and RPI. So that's half the league right there. Isn't the Syracuse War Memorial about as old as Lynah but w/o the charm?

[clear]
Albany it is: Perimeters of ECAC with lines matching each team with others.

If only half the idiots I sit with in Houston had made the trip to Albany, we wouldn't be having this discussion.  That's not to let the Schenectadians off the hook - but the number of RIP fans that won't even follow their team to Schenectady is very sad::cuss::.

[Ben Rocky '04]

After seeing your map, I'm (for the 500th time) reminded again how nice it is to be in a conference that makes sense geographically.

[pfibiger]

This article about a PC recruit also talks about moving the ECACs to Providence. It sounds like it's under serious consideration. Maybe even for this year.

http://www.projo.com/pc/content/Divver_Capuano_hockey_notes_09-11-11_DKQ9K44_v2.96876.html

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Jim Bennett is optimistic about Providence's chances of landing the ECAC Men's Hockey Championship Tournament, perhaps as soon as this season.

Steve Hagwell, the ECAC Hockey commissioner, and Paul Stewart, the league's director of officials, met with Bennett in Providence on Sept. 1 and were open to the idea of moving the tournament from Atlantic City, N.J., Bennett said.

"They've given us a number to hit, and now we've got to see if we can hit it," said Bennett, who is trying to bring college hockey back to the Dunkin' Donuts Center in his capacity as chairman of the board of the Rhode Island Convention Center and director of Providence's Department of Economic Development.

"I feel very encouraged. They loved the site. Now it's up to us to see if we can (meet the financial guarantee)," Bennett said.
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[billhoward]

The Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness. We've been gone from Boston going on 20 years. When will we find a home not in the wastelands?

[Rosey]

The Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness. We've been gone from Boston going on 20 years. When will we find a home not in the wastelands?

I still don't see what's so bad about Albany. It isn't Boston, but I've never been bored there for the ECAC's. And it has a whole host of virtues, chief among them being cheap lodging.

[jkahn]

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Jim Bennett is optimistic about Providence's chances of landing the ECAC Men's Hockey Championship Tournament, perhaps as soon as this season.

Steve Hagwell, the ECAC Hockey commissioner, and Paul Stewart, the league's director of officials, met with Bennett in Providence on Sept. 1 and were open to the idea of moving the tournament from Atlantic City, N.J., Bennett said.

"They've given us a number to hit, and now we've got to see if we can hit it," said Bennett, who is trying to bring college hockey back to the Dunkin' Donuts Center in his capacity as chairman of the board of the Rhode Island Convention Center and director of Providence's Department of Economic Development.

"I feel very encouraged. They loved the site. Now it's up to us to see if we can (meet the financial guarantee)," Bennett said.
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Jim Bennett played for Brown in the late '70's.

[billhoward]

The Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness. We've been gone from Boston going on 20 years. When will we find a home not in the wastelands?

I still don't see what's so bad about Albany. It isn't Boston, but I've never been bored there for the ECAC's. And it has a whole host of virtues, chief among them being cheap lodging.

This vanue-shuffling is all a plan by the ECAC to get Albany to beg us to come back 3 years from now. Albany just knows the level of fan interest and so bids accordingly. Atlantic City may know the odds on the outcome of sporting events but not the turnout. It really is too bad there aren't more schools in the ECAC with the fan interest levels of Cornell. The ECAC finals in packed Boston Garden (or Hockey East now) were sensational. Now, Albany is where the ECACs need to be. And for all the griping about the location, all you have to do is find something to do for about eight daylight hours Saturday. The rest is travel, sleeping, eating & drinking, and the games.

[Trotsky]

Well, the ECAC doesn't really need a plan if they want to go back to Albany.  They can just go there.  If RPI would just cooperate it would be a great venue.

[billhoward]

ECAC hockey is theoretically a draw, so the venue guarantees the ECAC a certain amount of money. (That was part of the Providence story noted above.) It sounds as if Albany, having seen the books, doesn't value the ECACs quite as highly as before. The move to Atlantic City had to have been about money, not central location or ice conditions.

[Josh '99]

The Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness. We've been gone from Boston going on 20 years. When will we find a home not in the wastelands?

I still don't see what's so bad about Albany. It isn't Boston, but I've never been bored there for the ECAC's. And it has a whole host of virtues, chief among them being cheap lodging.

Plus it isn't Boston!  ::rock::

[Jim Hyla]

ECAC hockey is theoretically a draw, so the venue guarantees the ECAC a certain amount of money. (That was part of the Providence story noted above.) It sounds as if Albany, having seen the books, doesn't value the ECACs quite as highly as before. The move to Atlantic City had to have been about money, not central location or ice conditions.

It was money, surprise! As I had posted a year ago when Albany lost them, a Capital District friend said that Albany just couldn't match the offer of Atlantic City. Maybe now if Atlantic City is seeing less than they wanted, they have an escape in their contract, so the ECAC can look around.

[TimV]

Albany is where the ECACs need to be. And for all the griping about the location, all you have to do is find something to do for about eight daylight hours Saturday.

Things to do for eight hours on Saturday in Albany Area

Movies :
Two multiplex theaters
one theater with multiple screens specializing in Indie films

Education:
New York State Museum
Children's Museum of Science and Technology
Nature conservation areas for fishing or birding

Spending:
Two major shopping Centers with specialty stores
20 Automobile dealerships

Eating:
Dozens of authentic ethnic restaurants including Indian, Thai and Vietnamese

Drinking:
3 Sports Bars with 20+ HiDef screens
Multiple saloons
Several "Adult establishments"

How much more do you need?:-P

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Albany is where the ECACs need to be. And for all the griping about the location, all you have to do is find something to do for about eight daylight hours Saturday.

Things to do for eight hours on Saturday in Albany Area

Movies :
Two multiplex theaters
one theater with multiple screens specializing in Indie films

Education:
New York State Museum
Children's Museum of Science and Technology
Nature conservation areas for fishing or birding

Spending:
Two major shopping Centers with specialty stores
20 Automobile dealerships

Eating:
Dozens of authentic ethnic restaurants including Indian, Thai and Vietnamese

Drinking:
3 Sports Bars with 20+ HiDef screens
Multiple saloons
Several "Adult establishments"

How much more do you need?:-P

But AC has strip cluibs right across the street from the area!  ::cheer::

[billhoward]

Glad you didn't end with "Priceless!"

[Trotsky]

Plus it isn't Boston!  ::rock::

Boston would be great if you could just remove all the Bostonians.