Lynah Rink Review

[css228]

While watching the QU/PU weekend on ILDN, it was pretty weird to note many times that I could clearly hear the on-ice players yelling things over the crowd. We've hacked the possible reasons to death here, but its noticeable. I'm coming to terms with it: the student sections now are mostly made up of show-up-late and only-cheer-for-goals types of fans.  There's no way for the vaunted Lynah atmosphere to live up to its reputation for a first-time visitor anymore other than "go to the Harvard game."

His idea of a solid 60 minutes is piling stones on top of each other, and that can be tedious to watch.

This.. and I'm a huge hockey fan. He's like Ken Hitchcock without the success.

In its day it was incredibly successful.  In the 17 seasons between 1996 and 2012 Schafer led us to the ECAC Championship Game 10 times and the NCAA Tournament 9 times.  That's great.  The game has changed but this team looks like it has changed as well, and not just in style but in personnel.  I believe Mike knows there's no going back, and this product is much more fun to watch.  All that needs to follow now is success on the ice.  

Yes but in the last half decade that's 1 NCAA tournament and ECAC title game appearance, while being also a complete fun suck. The results matter, but the least they could do is be fun to watch if they're not going to win.

[Jim Hyla]

While watching the QU/PU weekend on ILDN, it was pretty weird to note many times that I could clearly hear the on-ice players yelling things over the crowd. We've hacked the possible reasons to death here, but its noticeable. I'm coming to terms with it: the student sections now are mostly made up of show-up-late and only-cheer-for-goals types of fans.  There's no way for the vaunted Lynah atmosphere to live up to its reputation for a first-time visitor anymore other than "go to the Harvard game."

His idea of a solid 60 minutes is piling stones on top of each other, and that can be tedious to watch.

This.. and I'm a huge hockey fan. He's like Ken Hitchcock without the success.

In its day it was incredibly successful.  In the 17 seasons between 1996 and 2012 Schafer led us to the ECAC Championship Game 10 times and the NCAA Tournament 9 times.  That's great.  The game has changed but this team looks like it has changed as well, and not just in style but in personnel.  I believe Mike knows there's no going back, and this product is much more fun to watch.  All that needs to follow now is success on the ice.  

Yes but in the last half decade that's 1 NCAA tournament and ECAC title game appearance, while being also a complete fun suck. The results matter, but the least they could do is be fun to watch if they're not going to win.

They have certainly been a lot more fun to watch this year. It seems like we want to continue to beat the horse, but this one is not dead and it seems to be improving. I much prefer to go through life looking forward, rather than back.

[Stadium_Visits]

Thanks for the feedback and I made some tweaks based on some of the responses.

The whole diminished atmosphere aspect is an unfortunate theme I've seen in several places, mostly due to the common reasons that have been stated. The only place I've been in that the crowd/band gave me goosebumps (and it wasn't a big game) was a VCU Basketball game at the Siegel Center.

I'm sure for long-time fans, it is frustrating and I can empathize as a Sabres fan as that building is too often a library (even when they don't suck). However, Lynah was a fun place to watch a game and it's still a better setting than many others in the NCAA and ECAC, even in spite of comfort level in watching the game.

[css228]

While watching the QU/PU weekend on ILDN, it was pretty weird to note many times that I could clearly hear the on-ice players yelling things over the crowd. We've hacked the possible reasons to death here, but its noticeable. I'm coming to terms with it: the student sections now are mostly made up of show-up-late and only-cheer-for-goals types of fans.  There's no way for the vaunted Lynah atmosphere to live up to its reputation for a first-time visitor anymore other than "go to the Harvard game."

His idea of a solid 60 minutes is piling stones on top of each other, and that can be tedious to watch.

This.. and I'm a huge hockey fan. He's like Ken Hitchcock without the success.

In its day it was incredibly successful.  In the 17 seasons between 1996 and 2012 Schafer led us to the ECAC Championship Game 10 times and the NCAA Tournament 9 times.  That's great.  The game has changed but this team looks like it has changed as well, and not just in style but in personnel.  I believe Mike knows there's no going back, and this product is much more fun to watch.  All that needs to follow now is success on the ice.  

Yes but in the last half decade that's 1 NCAA tournament and ECAC title game appearance, while being also a complete fun suck. The results matter, but the least they could do is be fun to watch if they're not going to win.

They have certainly been a lot more fun to watch this year. It seems like we want to continue to beat the horse, but this one is not dead and it seems to be improving. I much prefer to go through life looking forward, rather than back.

Once again, more is a relative term, and it wasn't a high bar to clear. They're still not playing what I'd call entertaining hockey.

[Trotsky]

They're still not playing what I'd call entertaining hockey.

I disagree.  I love the pressure and the strong forecheck.  I'm really enjoying this team.

[upprdeck]

one thing that you can only control so much of is scoring goals. the goalie still only has to move inches to make a save most of the time. you can do 99% of the play right and still get shut out..  the passing and hitting have to be enjoyed too or much of the night will still boring

[ugarte]

Thanks for the feedback and I made some tweaks based on some of the responses.

The whole diminished atmosphere aspect is an unfortunate theme I've seen in several places, mostly due to the common reasons that have been stated. The only place I've been in that the crowd/band gave me goosebumps (and it wasn't a big game) was a VCU Basketball game at the Siegel Center.

I'm sure for long-time fans, it is frustrating and I can empathize as a Sabres fan as that building is too often a library (even when they don't suck). However, Lynah was a fun place to watch a game and it's still a better setting than many others in the NCAA and ECAC, even in spite of comfort level in watching the game.

An admirable response to a bunch of prickly folks getting defensive.

[BearLover]

Easiest way to improve the atmosphere is to lower ticket prices.  If the games aren't selling out, it's absurd to charge students $250 or whatever it is these days for season tickets.  I knew so many people who would have gotten tix if they weren't so expensive.  It's even more absurd that profits from hockey are funding sports that no one cares about.  (Season tickets should still cost something, so that only committed fans buy them.)

The crappy atmosphere is a bigger problem than people on these forums acknowledge.  The Lynah Faithful, packed arenas, and wild fans is Cornell's biggest recruiting tool relative to similarly situated hockey programs (other ECAC schools especially).  Read any interview with a player and they'll mention one of the reasons they chose Cornell was the fan base.  Losing may explain the atmosphere, but soon the atmosphere will explain the losing.

[nshapiro]

As a parent of a current numb nut (and I am not offended on his behalf...my opinion of him alternates between smart-ass and dumb-ass), I can assure you that in most cases, cost is NOT the issue.  The overall apathy and lack of school spirit is widespread, and attendance at Lynah is just collateral damage.

[Trotsky]

As a parent of a current numb nut (and I am not offended on his behalf...my opinion of him alternates between smart-ass and dumb-ass)

Good, that is healthy.  If you don't want to sell your child to a Russian copper mine between the ages of 16 and 25, they're not doing it right.

[nshapiro]

As a parent of a current numb nut (and I am not offended on his behalf...my opinion of him alternates between smart-ass and dumb-ass)

Good, that is healthy.  If you don't want to sell your child to a Russian copper mine between the ages of 16 and 25, they're not doing it right.

We also have provided a sufficiently unsatisfactory home life, so there is no chance my kids will ever move back in.

[BearLover]

As a parent of a current numb nut (and I am not offended on his behalf...my opinion of him alternates between smart-ass and dumb-ass), I can assure you that in most cases, cost is NOT the issue.  The overall apathy and lack of school spirit is widespread, and attendance at Lynah is just collateral damage.

Sure, in "most" cases among Cornell students that's true.  Except here we're talking about attracting a couple hundred extra students to fill out Lynah, not turning out the entire Engineering school.  Halving the price of season tickets to $125 would fill the empty Lynah benches for sure.  And this kind of thing builds on itself.  Full rinks-->better atmosphere for first-timers-->Cornell Hockey more a "hot thing" to do on weekends-->better recruits-->more winning-->fuller rinks-->even better atmosphere-->etc.

Winning matters somewhat, but ticket prices are a much easier fix.

[Trotsky]

As a parent of a current numb nut (and I am not offended on his behalf...my opinion of him alternates between smart-ass and dumb-ass)

Good, that is healthy.  If you don't want to sell your child to a Russian copper mine between the ages of 16 and 25, they're not doing it right.

We also have provided a sufficiently unsatisfactory home life, so there is no chance my kids will ever to move back in.

You'd be amazed how they seep back in, like ants.  Or mold.

Move and don't leave a forwarding address.  It's the only way to be sure.

[nshapiro]

As a parent of a current numb nut (and I am not offended on his behalf...my opinion of him alternates between smart-ass and dumb-ass)

Good, that is healthy.  If you don't want to sell your child to a Russian copper mine between the ages of 16 and 25, they're not doing it right.

We also have provided a sufficiently unsatisfactory home life, so there is no chance my kids will ever to move back in.

You'd be amazed how they seep back in, like ants.  Or mold.

Move and don't leave a forwarding address.  It's the only way to be sure.

Wise you are

[redice]

As a parent of a current numb nut (and I am not offended on his behalf...my opinion of him alternates between smart-ass and dumb-ass)

Good, that is healthy.  If you don't want to sell your child to a Russian copper mine between the ages of 16 and 25, they're not doing it right.

We also have provided a sufficiently unsatisfactory home life, so there is no chance my kids will ever to move back in.

You'd be amazed how they seep back in, like ants.  Or mold.

Move and don't leave a forwarding address.  It's the only way to be sure.

I actually knew someone (now deceased) who returned from his US Navy days to his parents home, only to find they had moved...   He actually walked into the house & found strangers living there...   His parents never told him about the move....    That must have shaken him to his core....