It may have started 2 months ago but that doesn't mean they can't change their mind. Obviously, MS7 is up against it with his track record. The pressure is on no doubt.
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UNH 2024/2025 Goldberg Edition
- Thread starter norbert
- Start date
I'm just here to help Chuck. A little levity goes a long way sometimes.I've always appreciated your willingness to help out in the interests of advancing discussion on here
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
There's no doubt, The Whitt is a better place to watch hockey, and it should be, since that was the primary focus of the Durham arena when it was built 30+ years (half my lifetime, ouch) ago. Manchester (SNHU Arena) was built as a typical multipurpose facility, which it had to be, since it wasn't as if it was part of some campus construction that guaranteed a long-term/permanent presence of a tenant/occupant. Which, of course, we've now seen happen, since minor league hockey escaped the chains of Eastern restriction, when AHL (and even 'Coast) teams all began to migrate west, leaving mid-sized arenas like SNHU to battle among themselves for a limited number of "full-time" tenants (and by full-time, I mean 25-35 home dates for minor league hockey/hoops). Right now, SNHU is on the outside looking in within that little contest (with Portland barely ahead, and Lowell/Worcester not too far removed), and with the area around the arena improving - mostly attributable no doubt to the Toronto Blue Jays AA affiliate only a few blocks away - arena management should be on the prowl for any opportunities to supplement their usual fare of concerts, wrasslin' and rodeo ... so why not approach UNH???
I believe SNHU's naming rights to the facility expire in a year or two, having originated around 2016 (I believe?). With SNHU's institutional ambition, I'm both surprised and disappointed they haven't tried to elevate their Hoops (or Hockey) program to D-1 level, where using the larger arena for some of their games made sense? But now with the naming rights set to expire, there may be an opportunity then for arena management and UNH to explore using the arena for a smattering of hockey and hoops opportunities? Nothing grandiose, mind you - but if the arena's naming rights could be funded by SNHU for a decade, then why not "UNH Manchester Arena" as its successor?? Barter for the naming rights, ship the four UNH Hockey home dates to Manchester every year for the duration (at least 10 years), and see where that takes the two parties a decade from now, as Manchester continues to build its downtown residential core?? There's certainly no shortage of commercial activity in and around the Millyard district, and the Theater District does pretty well to keep Elm
Back in the early days of the Manchester arena, that was the heyday of UNH Hockey, and they were also the days of the multi-thousand person wait line for season tickets. That line virtually disappeared within a few years of the Monarchs coming to town, right? For awhile, on these very boards, and it's hard not to stifle a laugh at the topic nowadays ... there was serious discussion and questioning as to whether The Whitt could physically support an expansion of the facility to add a couple thousand (balcony?) seats to address the demand? Of course, with demand for entertaining hockey dissipated by the AHL showing up in the center of the state in our biggest metropolitan area, and the gradual fading of the UNH Hockey program's on-ice quality (AND full-bore retreat from its previous marketing of fans from the Greater Manch catchment area), that all became quite moot, quite quickly.
Just wanted to add some context on what's changed between the fabled "wait list" days, the peak period where both The Whitt AND Verizon Wireless Arena were regular sell-outs at a combined 15,000+ capacity ... and where we are now, with an on-campus arena that rarely (if ever?) truly sells out, and the SNHU Arena, which now stands functionally abandoned for hockey, except for rare NCAA events, charity events, and NHIAA championship events (?).
Not sure what the overall point is here, other than (1) to recap how far UNH Hockey has fallen (again), and (2) point out there is likely a large latent hockey fandom out there in the State that is being underserved. At the risk of repeating an old saw I've posted several times in the past ... as someone who still coaches young athletes in this area (plus Merrimack Valley MA and Southern ME), I'm always amazed at how few know UNH has a D-1 hockey product in Durham, as most with any bit of interest in the sport default to the far-away, and super-expensive Bruins. It doesn't have to be this way ...
Reporting live from Uptown Oxford:
Miami is rumored to be cutting upwards of the entire team. Pending deferrals they have 15-20 recruits capable of matriculating into campus next fall, and that is before any transfer portal moves are even considered…
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Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
"Mister Cutting Edge Economics", showing his lack of historical knowledge of UNH Men's Hockey attendance.
So, let's look at it this way, Mikey ... The Whitt has a capacity of 6,500-ish for hockey, I believe. I don't have the current attendance stats, but based on simple observations, and a look at the last decade or so of available stats, let's say 4,500 seats are sold on average these days. That's approx. 2,000 unsold seats per home date. Multiply that by 18 games, and at $20 per seat, and that's an available increment of roughly $720,000, with no discernable added costs, right??
The basis for the capacity assumption? Because a generation ago, when UNH was a consistent winner/postseason presence, The Whitt was filled to capacity regularly, at times with thousands on a wait list. Not a fluke, here and there. Every season, for at least a decade. Before you were a "fan", perhaps?!?
That doesn't even touch the myriad of other revenue-boosting options that might follow the increased demand/restricted supply that a winning program should be driving. So, conservatively, I think it's fair to say that sticking with a failed HC is costing the U at least $1 million annually.
It certainly supports the idea that you can hire an ambitious first-time HC at slightly more than MS7 money, and his success would basically pay for itself.
OR you can bump MS7 to $500K and watch what's left of the UNH Men's Hockey program circle the drain (or in your case, hit bedrock in your outhouse).
Robert Balin
Active member
It's too bad a certain coach won't consider that. With the four Major Junior players Souza could really mold a competitive team together. Signing LOI's to players three years out has backfired to this point as most have been defurred 2 years out. Sometimes a purge is necessary and what does he have to lose at this point. Nico Tournas scored his 38 and 39th goal last night.
Could not agree more. Purge this mess and rent a house in Quebec. And to hell with the portal. You'll just be replacing crap with crap cuz as pointed out, the cream of that crop is spoken for...
Iggles appear to be struggling also. Maybe only the Terriors will represent HEA in St Louis?
You back at SNHU Arena this evening?
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Yes! Sitting with Mr and Mrs Grouchy...Mr.HR Saw Norbert as well!
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mookie1995
there's a good buck in that racket.
have you guys ever considered ayers to run the program? ever got into interviews?
It works! Haven't commented on this forum in years, thought maybe my account was removed! (That's why I whispered a mic check.) UNH/college hockey fan from 1973 to about 10 years ago, haven't been to a game in about that long. Had season tickets for just about 25 years. I check in here every few years to gauge the temp of the fan base. If Souza were replaced I'd consider getting season tix again, but otherwise I have nothing else to say.
Cheers!
TheGrouchyCat
Litter Box of Bad Ideas
From well placed sources, he was approached last year but respectfully declined for undisclosed reasons.
TheGrouchyCat
Litter Box of Bad Ideas
Random thoughts from SNHU
Mrs. Grouch said five minutes into warmups, "Fowler is off tonight. He looks slow." She was right.
DU oozed confidence.
DU is well coached, disciplined and very creative. As the standard for all NCAA hockey programs, it's clear how far away UNH is from national relevance.
BC is a cocky team. Skilled, talent in spades and fast, but clearly enamored with its perceived awesomeness. Leonard belongs in the Bundesliga with his theatrics and diving. The NHL will be a wakeup call.
Brown and Ayers looked stunned walking off the ice.
Every Denver fan I met was a class act.
Not one MS7 or AD, fka SB, sighting all weekend. Sort of expected to bump into Dick as well, but didn't.
Spoke to a number of former players who shared their frustration and disappointment with the current state of the program. "Embarrassing." "Pathetic" "Things need to change"
Great to hang with HockeyRef for night two.
Mrs. Grouch said five minutes into warmups, "Fowler is off tonight. He looks slow." She was right.
DU oozed confidence.
DU is well coached, disciplined and very creative. As the standard for all NCAA hockey programs, it's clear how far away UNH is from national relevance.
BC is a cocky team. Skilled, talent in spades and fast, but clearly enamored with its perceived awesomeness. Leonard belongs in the Bundesliga with his theatrics and diving. The NHL will be a wakeup call.
Brown and Ayers looked stunned walking off the ice.
Every Denver fan I met was a class act.
Not one MS7 or AD, fka SB, sighting all weekend. Sort of expected to bump into Dick as well, but didn't.
Spoke to a number of former players who shared their frustration and disappointment with the current state of the program. "Embarrassing." "Pathetic" "Things need to change"
Great to hang with HockeyRef for night two.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Looks like mookie wants to dump a guy he probably considers to be a curse on his program. Just like the tiki idol on The Brady Bunch!!
The Tiki Curse: A Very Brady Cocktail
As a child of the 70’s, I grew up watching The Brady Bunch. Like many others, my favorite episodes are from season 4 when the Bradys are in Hawaii. In the iconic three-episode arc, Bobby Brady finds a wooden tiki idol in the dirt at his father’s construction site. Thinking it brings good luck...
elevatedcraft.com
The problem is I am not sure he has the likeability to get these guys. Time will tell. It was nice to see a real game tonight in a college setting.
Ref, Row J is still now row 16....
He could be the next greatest coach, but its time to go outside the Umile tree.
TheGrouchyCat
Litter Box of Bad Ideas
Vincent Price!Looks like mookie wants to dump a guy he probably considers to be a curse on his program. Just like the tiki idol on The Brady Bunch!!
The Tiki Curse: A Very Brady Cocktail
As a child of the 70’s, I grew up watching The Brady Bunch. Like many others, my favorite episodes are from season 4 when the Bradys are in Hawaii. In the iconic three-episode arc, Bobby Brady finds a wooden tiki idol in the dirt at his father’s construction site. Thinking it brings good luck...