Lake Placid-2024

[scoop85]

To give you an idea of how second class this tournament feels, there are no programs at the rink and not even a QR code to scan for one (like there was last year).  They just didn't bother creating one.  Also, there's a single tiny stand selling souvenirs.  None of it has the name of the schools on it - all the souvenirs simply have the tournament logo.  In other words, the tournament did the bare minimum of preparing for the fans.

Add that to the ridiculous prices for hotels, food, etc.  And the fact that almost all of the restaurants are closed when the late game ends.  They claim the town supports this but it's really hard to see that in practice.

I keep hoping we find some place better than LP, but sadly, I think there's not really a better option.  But personally, I'm thinking Albany was better than here.

While there are certain aspects of Lake Placid that are appealing, for the reasons you mention I would prefer Albany or another venue closer to the league's geographic footprint. While the Prudential Center would be a nice geographic fit, I'm not sure an NHL sized arena is appropriate for this league. Any of the AHL arenas in a metropolitan area would seem to be a better choice.

[adamw]

Nice job by Pierre McGuire calling Lynah one of the most difficult rinks to play in!

Anyone know if Bob Morton is still alive?

Bob Norton was alive five years ago when he received an award from the AHCA: https://unhwildcats.com/news/2019/4/30/unh-insider-hockey-coaches-celebrate-nortons-love-of-the-game I can't find an obit for him, so I assume he's still alive (but retired).  (Wikipedia's "Bob Norton" article is about someone else and there's no disambiguation page.)

I know a lot of people found Norton annoying (constantly telling us what prep school everyone attended), but I loved his enthusiasm for college hockey, and I thought it was a shame when the NCAA broadcasting jobs were handed over to the ESPN clowns (especially Melrose and Booch).

I had the pleasure of doing some games with Bob. Still alive somewhere. A really really nice man, and his hockey knowledge was pretty deep. Sure he knew more Eastern guys than West, sure he talked about preps a lot -- but it was all worth it to have his insight and knowledge on the games.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

To give you an idea of how second class this tournament feels, there are no programs at the rink and not even a QR code to scan for one (like there was last year).  They just didn't bother creating one.  Also, there's a single tiny stand selling souvenirs.  None of it has the name of the schools on it - all the souvenirs simply have the tournament logo.  In other words, the tournament did the bare minimum of preparing for the fans.

Add that to the ridiculous prices for hotels, food, etc.  And the fact that almost all of the restaurants are closed when the late game ends.  They claim the town supports this but it's really hard to see that in practice.

I keep hoping we find some place better than LP, but sadly, I think there's not really a better option.  But personally, I'm thinking Albany was better than here.

While there are certain aspects of Lake Placid that are appealing, for the reasons you mention I would prefer Albany or another venue closer to the league's geographic footprint. While the Prudential Center would be a nice geographic fit, I'm not sure an NHL sized arena is appropriate for this league. Any of the AHL arenas in a metropolitan area would seem to be a better choice.

OK.  Then I vote for Allentown.  Plenty of hotels.  Good selection of food in the arena.  Decent restaurants downtown (and more in the burbs).  Only $6 for parking.  3 hours from Ithaca.

And I can sleep in my own bed.  ::whistle::

[redice]

I keep hoping we find some place better than LP, but sadly, I think there's not really a better option.  But personally, I'm thinking Albany was better than here.

Agree

+1

[adamw]

I seem to recall that the Boston Garden was nearly full for the ECAC in the mid 80s. I get that we can't go back there, but how about Barclays or UBS or the Prudential. I'm sure MSG is too pricy. In the highly likely event that Cornell is in the semi finals there will be a strong likely five figure not half empty crowd.

Having the event in small to tiny markets guarantees small to tiny crowds.  In NYC you can find 10,000 people to do anything.

No, no, no, no and no.

You put it in a bigger building in places like that, and you will get 5,000 in a 20,000 seat arena, instead of 3,000 in LP - with the potential for more if the teams are right.

I've said it for 30 years - embrace what you are. Lake Placid is what makes the ECAC special. Do the best you can with that and embrace it.

Also - Albany is a sh*thole.

Going somewhere else would not make the ECAC look bigger. It would make it look smaller - because it would still be empty, and also in a stupid town of some sort.

The Big Ten tournament had crowds sometimes of just friends and family. If Michigan/MSU played neutral at Xcel, no one would be there. Vice versa if it was in Detroit. That's why they went to campus sites.

Hockey East has it easy. But if there's years where the wrong teams are there, TD Garden is half full too.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Also - Albany is a sh*thole.

It may be a shithole, but it's our shithole.  ::dribble::

You're right, I guess.  I just wish that Lake Placid didn't rip off the fans.  The woman checking me in at my hotel yesterday told me that all the hotels look forward to the ECAC tournament...so they can jack up their rates!

[marty]

I keep hoping we find some place better than LP, but sadly, I think there's not really a better option.  But personally, I'm thinking Albany was better than here.

Agree

+1

Since I live in what could be called East Albany I was in favor of this but I remember a lot who favored L.P.  That said I'm sitting just to the right of the band and enjoyed the 3rd period.

Before the switch to Albany I never made it to L.P. in the winter.

[Chris '03]

To give you an idea of how second class this tournament feels, there are no programs at the rink and not even a QR code to scan for one (like there was last year).  They just didn't bother creating one.  Also, there's a single tiny stand selling souvenirs.  None of it has the name of the schools on it - all the souvenirs simply have the tournament logo.  In other words, the tournament did the bare minimum of preparing for the fans.

Add that to the ridiculous prices for hotels, food, etc.  And the fact that almost all of the restaurants are closed when the late game ends.  They claim the town supports this but it's really hard to see that in practice.

I keep hoping we find some place better than LP, but sadly, I think there's not really a better option.  But personally, I'm thinking Albany was better than here.

I haven't been to placid since before the Albany years. But this is depressing. Sounds like one of the many youth tournaments they host more than a D1 conference championship.

One of the benefits of Placid over Albany is that it can be the main event in town.  But if it's not even that, it's really disappointing. A half baked experience will only increase the number of calls to just go on campus.

[marty]

To give you an idea of how second class this tournament feels, there are no programs at the rink and not even a QR code to scan for one (like there was last year).  They just didn't bother creating one.  Also, there's a single tiny stand selling souvenirs.  None of it has the name of the schools on it - all the souvenirs simply have the tournament logo.  In other words, the tournament did the bare minimum of preparing for the fans.

Add that to the ridiculous prices for hotels, food, etc.  And the fact that almost all of the restaurants are closed when the late game ends.  They claim the town supports this but it's really hard to see that in practice.

I keep hoping we find some place better than LP, but sadly, I think there's not really a better option.  But personally, I'm thinking Albany was better than here.

I haven't been to placid since before the Albany years. But this is depressing. Sounds like one of the many youth tournaments they host more than a D1 conference championship.

One of the benefits of Placid over Albany is that it can be the main event in town.  But if it's not even that, it's really disappointing. A half baked experience will only increase the number of calls to just go on campus.

When browsing the stores today I heard 2 or 3 patents with their peewees in tow looking forward to tonight's game.  So the youth factor in L.P. obviously puts fans in the seats.

[RichH]

To give you an idea of how second class this tournament feels, there are no programs at the rink and not even a QR code to scan for one (like there was last year).  They just didn't bother creating one.  Also, there's a single tiny stand selling souvenirs.  None of it has the name of the schools on it - all the souvenirs simply have the tournament logo.  In other words, the tournament did the bare minimum of preparing for the fans.

So I guess the Aubuchon Hardware and "Got Milk?" advertising dollars have dried up?

[adamw]

Also - Albany is a sh*thole.

It may be a shithole, but it's our shithole.  ::dribble::

You're right, I guess.  I just wish that Lake Placid didn't rip off the fans.  The woman checking me in at my hotel yesterday told me that all the hotels look forward to the ECAC tournament...so they can jack up their rates!

I agree that sucks - and I've tried to get in the ear of people there to prevent that stuff - but who am I? (don't answer)

For the record, I support LP for the ECAC Tournament - even though getting to Albany, and especially Atlantic City (or MSG/Barclays/Pru) were FAR easier for me to get to personally. AC was a 1-hour drive from where I used to live, and LP is 6 hours, often on bad conditions on Rte. 30. But I don't care - I always gladly made that drive.

Same now - since moving to Denver - it's pretty impossible for me to get to LP. It's killing me I'm not there right now. It would be far easier anywhere else. But I still support LP for the ECAC, 100%, all day every day.

[Scersk '97]

For the record, I support LP for the ECAC Tournament - even though getting to Albany, and especially Atlantic City (or MSG/Barclays/Pru) were FAR easier for me to get to personally. AC was a 1-hour drive from where I used to live, and LP is 6 hours, often on bad conditions on Rte. 30. But I don't care - I always gladly made that drive.

Used to take the train to the Atlantic City tournaments. Always regretted having left my couch to attend the Atlantic City tournaments.

Nice rink! Awful, awful place.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

For the record, I support LP for the ECAC Tournament - even though getting to Albany, and especially Atlantic City (or MSG/Barclays/Pru) were FAR easier for me to get to personally. AC was a 1-hour drive from where I used to live, and LP is 6 hours, often on bad conditions on Rte. 30. But I don't care - I always gladly made that drive.

Used to take the train to the Atlantic City tournaments. Always regretted having left my couch to attend the Atlantic City tournaments.

Nice rink! Awful, awful place.

I always remember pulling out of the parking garage at night after the games seeing a bunch of strip joints.  Awful place indeed.

[Pghas]

Meh, who needs all the bells and whistles? We get to cheer for a college hockey team that is nationally ranked on a consistent basis.  There are Ivy League schools who don't have hockey or lacrosse teams and therefore are never relevant on a national level athletically ( I went to one as an undergraduate ).  Lake Placid is what it is.  It's a destination because of its incredible history with respect to USA hockey.  Every youth hockey team in the northeast plays in tournaments there. It's pretty centrally located with respect to the ECAC.  And the fact that the ECAC is comprised of schools who pride themselves on academics means that neutral sites will not result in big turnouts from the schools who make it. One way to think of it is that instead of making it somewhere central to the schools, themselves, do it in a place that is central to the alumni.  NYC - UBS or MSG - probably too much for the number of people that would show.  So think Bridgeport at Harbor Yard, or somewhere else medium sized in the greater NY area.  I don't know just ideas.

[scoop85]

To give you an idea of how second class this tournament feels, there are no programs at the rink and not even a QR code to scan for one (like there was last year).  They just didn't bother creating one.  Also, there's a single tiny stand selling souvenirs.  None of it has the name of the schools on it - all the souvenirs simply have the tournament logo.  In other words, the tournament did the bare minimum of preparing for the fans.

Add that to the ridiculous prices for hotels, food, etc.  And the fact that almost all of the restaurants are closed when the late game ends.  They claim the town supports this but it's really hard to see that in practice.

I keep hoping we find some place better than LP, but sadly, I think there's not really a better option.  But personally, I'm thinking Albany was better than here.

While there are certain aspects of Lake Placid that are appealing, for the reasons you mention I would prefer Albany or another venue closer to the league's geographic footprint. While the Prudential Center would be a nice geographic fit, I'm not sure an NHL sized arena is appropriate for this league. Any of the AHL arenas in a metropolitan area would seem to be a better choice.

OK.  Then I vote for Allentown.  Plenty of hotels.  Good selection of food in the arena.  Decent restaurants downtown (and more in the burbs).  Only $6 for parking.  3 hours from Ithaca.

And I can sleep in my own bed.  ::whistle::

I know that's an appealing location to you, and the arena is very nice and the right side, but poor geography for the league.