Originally posted by zoofer
View Post
That said, let's be fair, and remember we are still in the middle of a covid situation...what I miss most is the interaction with the team, like meet and greets, autograph signings and the like. So you can't fault the admin on any of that, it's a covid thing. My husband reminded me of this on the way home as I said "you know I can't put my finger on it yet, but there's just something sooo different here". The band has been muted, etc. The wild kid in the stands that tried to fire up everyone, that's gone too (prob a covid protocol). Still...I remember how cool the FOH display was, how there'd always be people standing over there talking with the FOH exec board, signing up, etc...not to mention how we looked so forward to meetings after games win or lose. When that was gone, it was clearly felt, like it or not UNH admin; it did and that's all there is to it. If I'm saying that, having been a member for only a short time, God only knows what veteran FOH people were thinking/feeling. I walked around last night looking for a few of them and they weren't in their usual spots; that doesn't mean they aren't going to games but...Also! A small t hing, but where's the pic of the team that you see and people liked to take pictures with? Where's the updated pictures of the team since '18 season? Did we not have a UNH hockey team in those years? Small stuff, minuscule stuff, sure, that prob do not add up to much as far as growth goes, but, it's noticed...
So UNH hockey growth; is it dependent on having this group? Or is it about the product on the ice, the emphasis on the TEAM presence, all that goes into that? Now UNH is most likely dependent on the donors to do xyz...that ice shrinkage is most likey going to be paid for by typical University capital (capitol?) improvement funds...doubt there's a librarian who's going to die soon with the money necessary to do the bigger things they'd like to see (like a complete renovation of the arena, cool locker rooms, weight rooms that other programs boast). And the ticket sales are not there; place is pretty much empty although I felt last night there were more people there than the previous game.
Frankly, I do not know what factors contribute to the growth of a program...but I'm betting it's the team on the ice, the coaches behind the bench, and of course, the admin behind all of it and we know who that is. And of course, the enjoyment for the FANS. I'm all for fixing up the 'Whitt (the place looks tired) etc...and I was all for the video board but, throwing money at something doesn't necessarily mean you are going to start winning and filling the place with rabid fans like in the past. FOH or not. Just my .02 on the whole thing. I love our UNH fandom and want it to continue. I yearn for even the small things that attracted us to want to follow the team in the first place and hope that particular spark can be ignited with a few wins here and there, and something to look forward to like a trip to the Garden. Been too long, and, boy, are you guys lucky, at least you have the memories of all of that but I imagine that is a tough cross to bear at times....
Like I said, I wish other FOH veterans would speak to your point, but, I would not count on it....the way it all ended was not...pretty.
Comment