RPI 2025–26: Off the Critical List and In Recovery

[MikeMidd]

Times Union story on HFH renovations: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rpis-houston-field-house-renovations-110000118.html

Good to have a bit more detail on the renovations.

A bit confused about the plans to move the concourse to the top level. I assume that's more of a middle level like on the north side above the home bench, as opposed to the actual top of the seating. But would require major reconfiguration at the ends to add in stairs (and presumably elevators).

Also interesting to see the proposed reduction in seating to 3,500-3,700. It's a further reduction from the historical capacity of 5,000+, though probably reflects the actual season-long interest for tickets outside the Freakout.

No mention of returning the band to the east end or making larger changes to that end of the rink. Feels like creating a full end of seating (with band space) would be logical, if you're doing this scale of renovations.

Wonder if there's a way to remove the roof support pillars?

Best thing in this might be the clear messages about nostalgia for the Field House, which is one of college hockey's good old barns, and strong commitment to the program. You don't put this type of effort and investment into it if you don't intend to make it a success. That's got to be exciting for Lang and a useful recruiting platform.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Humility? I have the opposite view. Saying that your team could only get a garbage win by one goal, and in overtime at that, is denigrating your opponent. To do it publicly demonstrates arrogance and a lack of class. Those comments should have been confined to the locker room.

Well, he actually said the opposite.... "they outworked us"...."they out competed us"....outcoached, etc.. I'm no defender of Pecknold, but this was as complimentary as any coach could be toward an opponent, after not being at all pleased with the way HIS team played. The fact is, Q is a better team than RPI at the moment.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Good to have a bit more detail on the renovations.

A bit confused about the plans to move the concourse to the top level. I assume that's more of a middle level like on the north side above the home bench, as opposed to the actual top of the seating. But would require major reconfiguration at the ends to add in stairs (and presumably elevators).

Also interesting to see the proposed reduction in seating to 3,500-3,700. It's a further reduction from the historical capacity of 5,000+, though probably reflects the actual season-long interest for tickets outside the Freakout.

No mention of returning the band to the east end or making larger changes to that end of the rink. Feels like creating a full end of seating (with band space) would be logical, if you're doing this scale of renovations.

Wonder if there's a way to remove the roof support pillars?

Best thing in this might be the clear messages about nostalgia for the Field House, which is one of college hockey's good old barns, and strong commitment to the program. You don't put this type of effort and investment into it if you don't intend to make it a success. That's got to be exciting for Lang and a useful recruiting platform.

There are certainly more questions than answers to be sure. Bowers is more than aware of the interest in returning the band to the end zone, which was necessitated by the failure of the HFH ice making equipment and installation of the semi=permanent temporary system behind the net 4+ years ago.

 

[rpi82]

Good to have a bit more detail on the renovations.

A bit confused about the plans to move the concourse to the top level. I assume that's more of a middle level like on the north side above the home bench, as opposed to the actual top of the seating. But would require major reconfiguration at the ends to add in stairs (and presumably elevators).

Also interesting to see the proposed reduction in seating to 3,500-3,700. It's a further reduction from the historical capacity of 5,000+, though probably reflects the actual season-long interest for tickets outside the Freakout.

No mention of returning the band to the east end or making larger changes to that end of the rink. Feels like creating a full end of seating (with band space) would be logical, if you're doing this scale of renovations.

Wonder if there's a way to remove the roof support pillars?

Best thing in this might be the clear messages about nostalgia for the Field House, which is one of college hockey's good old barns, and strong commitment to the program. You don't put this type of effort and investment into it if you don't intend to make it a success. That's got to be exciting for Lang and a useful recruiting platform.

I was told during the 1982 renovation that the original plan was to move the walkway to above the stands, presumably replacing the top several rows. Fans would come in, go up and then proceed to their seats from the top rather than blocking views by walking between the stands and the ice. I have always wondered if that's why the corner stands that were added at that time have fewer rows than the concrete grandstand. By the time I was told that plan had been nixed (presumably due to $$) so it was never clear to me the answer to some basic questions such as: how would fans get up to the top (escalators, stairs + elevator, etc.), how much seating could be added in front of the existing stands, etc. As we know the ice is well below the floor level of the rest of the arena so presumably they could dig down and add rows.

As for suites, I presumed they would be on the east end in a structure similar to the west end and the seating capacity reduction would be in the concrete corners beyond the rink where they removed the actual seats many years ago. However, any move of the concourse would also require a new press box location. Will it remain in the grandstand (just in front of the walkway like Ingalls Rink) or would it also have to move to an end structure (like Bright)? Using the east end for the band, press box and suites doesn't sound feasible so I'd guess the former.

The part that doesn't make sense is that the article talked about Phase 1B costing $20M. I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell all the work I just described could be done for $20M. It would be easier to get excited about the proposed changes if we saw some drawings and a real timeline. My guess is that they don't want to set expectations that are likely to change as they see how fundraising goes. As Tony has commented and the '82 renovation shows, phases in RPI projects have been known to change significantly or even disappear completely, generally due to $$.

 

[kurt stutt]

A bit confused about the plans to move the concourse to the top level. I assume that's more of a middle level like on the north side above the home bench, as opposed to the actual top of the seating. But would require major reconfiguration at the ends to add in stairs (and presumably elevators).

That would be my preference (for a refurbishment, which is not my preference). I had season tickets for a few years in the front row of section 15 and the people walking past were not a distraction. The biggest drawback of the HFH is the walkway being between the spectators and the ice. When I have needed to move around the arena, I try to stop out of sightlines when play is underway, but sometimes it is tough to make it from one point to another before the puck drops.

Also interesting to see the proposed reduction in seating to 3,500-3,700. It's a further reduction from the historical capacity of 5,000+, though probably reflects the actual season-long interest for tickets outside the Freakout.

I do not see RPI getting back to averaging 4,000 a game, ever. 3,500 might be the largest I would recommend, might even drop down to 3,000 (not including suites and standing room).

Wonder if there's a way to remove the roof support pillars?

That I highly doubt. But if they are dropping the seat total, they can remove the ones behind the posts and make it largely irrelevant.

Best thing in this might be the clear messages about nostalgia for the Field House, which is one of college hockey's good old barns, and strong commitment to the program. You don't put this type of effort and investment into it if you don't intend to make it a success. That's got to be exciting for Lang and a useful recruiting platform.

I have spent a lot of time in that building and I get the nostalgia and all, but given the choice I would go for a new building. I understand it is not my money and without the money in hand, doing a gradual rework of the building is more practical financially. There are few sports venues I think are so historic they should be preserved at all costs. The HFH is not one of them. NOTE: Baker Rink in Princeton is one.

Also a note to RPI82's post: In my time around RPI, I do not recall a single "Phase 2" that has actually happened. Which makes me wonder how much would get done after the ice system is reworked (clearly a necessity).