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RPI 2026-27: Houston Field House, We Have Lift-off!
- Thread starter Ralph Baer
- Start date
No better example than the above that there is an on ice recovery in progress. Last year they gave up 20 through four games though the competition was stiffer.
Unfortunately, no sign of a recovery at the box office. First four drew 1,948, 2,066, 1467 & 1,419 for a four game total of 6,900 even. Average of 1,725 a game. Last seasons' average was 1,698 per game. Despite the seemingly higher expectation, enthusiasm and hype levels, just does not appear to be resonating or connecting with either the students or general public.
Next home game is Union on a Friday. Last year it was on the Saturday and it was Black Out and, I believe, free food for students. It drew 2,710. We will see how this time around compares but it sure looks like a prior administration's absolute mishandling of the Covid era is not going to go away anytime soon.
Another local institution that plays D1 sports actually did handle the Covid ever far better including how they dealt with their PAYING CUSTOMERS during that time. They recovered relatively quickly both on the court and at the box office. No better example of that than earlier today. They played an EXHIBITION GAME against, yes, a Power 4 opponent but an utterly irrelevant one in recent times. Paid attendance 8,604.
Ouch!!! for our operation and how irrelevant it has become to most everyone (including the local sports media) in the Capital District with the exception of the most diehards of diehards who still attend religiously.
Wicked Slappaahs
I miss Tie Domi
One area that needs improvement is our defense around the crease. Our keepers are getting hit/bumped/run over far too often....Krawchuk won't last the season if that is allowed to continue. We need a lot more ill-humor in front of our net.
Wicked- agree. But we have to find a way to accomplish that without getting called for a penalty each time. It appears some of our opponents have learned how to do it and avoid getting called for the various cross checks, slashes, and hooks. We seem to get called for even more minor attempts at clearing the area. I do not think it is the refs per se (at least i hope it is not that and things get called fair and square) but there may be a learning curve we have to master on how to commit some minor indiscretions without having them called and spending 2 minutes meditating in the box. Hard to argue with success and we are indeed 3-1 so far. But if we do not further address winning face offs, especially deep in our zone and especially on the PK, we are going to pay dearly.
43 I think and we are just 3 slots off the top 20. Makes me smile!!! We have a coach and a staff who have us going in the right direction. There may be some ups and downs for a while but as long as the trend continues up, going to be a fun year to watch.
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I have been to 2 of the games so far this season. This team is much better than any I have seen since 2019/2020. Their passing is crisp and purposeful. They take shots - many more shots than I have seen in years. They are high energy. We actually feel like they are in these games and can win. Given all the positivity on the ice - I have to comment on the negatives of the in-game experience. What is going on with this announcer (can't stand this guy - for example - totally tramples the 1, 2,3 - we want more, sieve, sieve, sieve, it's all your fault chant)? What is going on with the music choice (I personally have a play list of the songs they have played for at least the last decade - and now they are playing - i don't even know what it is)? Why did they move the band to the non-student side? Why do they not do things like play the video "we got one!!!!" when we score our first goal? We finally have a good team - and they gut the Field House experience / tradition that so many of us are used to. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
I was at both OSU games.
I was at both OSU games. Yes the announcer was painful. I enjoyed the game. The team plays hard with good discipline. The ice and boards are good. I looked out the back door at the compressors on 2 trailer trucks. They look like they are there for the season. Alumni tickets Fri ($18) Sat ($13). 2,000 fans each night (2/3 Troy side)(1/3 student side. Long lines at the concession stand during 3rd period. Beer garden (NOT) is small and full with a line to get in. No view of the game or video screen. The mens rest room is poor as described in previous posts. I watch almost every game on ESPN. My first game was in November 1963.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
RPI fan 4 life
Season Ticket Holder since 1974
Sobieski was named ECAC defenseman of the week. McCallum was named Rookie of the Week and former RPI player Tyler Wallace (traitor) was the forward of the week.
Nice to get these recognitions.
Nice to get these recognitions.
Wicked Slappaahs
I miss Tie Domi
Many of the changes made were a result of the off-season survey that was taken of season ticket holders and stakeholders. I know for a fact that the off-ice production, music etc. was a primary response from that effort. I have nothing against Al Shibley, but the PA work had gotten very sleepy and whatever the B-side hair metal music we used to play - produced before our players parents were born - needed to go...LOL. It was time for a change to infuse more energy and "hype" if you will, into the game. If you've ever been to an ADK Thunder game, the booming voice of Dan Miner on the PA is very similar to RPI's new hype guy. I would point out that these efforts are pointed toward the younger generation, NOT us old farts. Union has a local semi-celebrity who does on ice contests and in-crowd promos throughout their home game during stoppages... I mention this just as a comparison to what we DON'T do. This is stuff that modern sports teams do to generate energy and fan engagement, whether we like it or not, The days of the monotonous, tired HFH off-ice production are gone, thankfully. I view this as one of the ways that AD Bowers is making changes to drag RPI into the modern era. Again, it's about attracting the next generation of fans, not the aging townies....myself included. Ha.
I should add that one area that needs improvement is the scoreboard operation. EVERY damn game we have delays due to the clock, resetting the clock, penalty time and/or both.... can we PLEASE pay some smart CSE student to attend Daktronics school so that we can capably run the damn scoreboard that they spent so much money to install ?? My two cents. LOL
rvd5star69
hockey
hope if we keep winning the embarrassing crowds get better
tanman
Member
Honestly the best way to get crowds back is with a better product on the ice, and I'm hoping we're moving in that direction. Also, I don't know what kinds of discounts/promotions they normally do, but I think the first home weekend of the season should have free tickets available to every freshman (space allowing). First hit is free, and all that.
The new music is a result of the survey taken after last years season ended. Everyone was complaining about the absolute dog shit music they were playing at a college hockey game. I do miss Al shibley but the new announcer is not bad. I agree he does get carried away from time to time but he’s bringing energy which is needed. The bathrooms are terrible. I’m assuming that’s part of stage 2 of the renovation. I heard they were testing out moving the band near the visitors locker room to disrupt/intimidate the visiting team? Haha I have no idea if that’s true or even working but yeah….they could move them back.
I’m good with bowers bringing us into the modern era. It was getting old in the field house. New era!!
I agree with you they need to figure out the scoreboard operation. It happens every damn game with scoreboard issues.
Agree it looks like a different team. The shots are more of a mixed bag than they look, though. Ohio State outshot RPI 69-38 over that weekend and RPI still got the split, mostly because Krawchuk stopped 66 of 68. He's stopped 96 of 100 for the season, a .960. The LIU Saturday game was the best sign so far: RPI outshot them 37-26. If they can do that more consistently, the wins will hold up even when the goalie isn't standing on his head. RIT this weekend should be a good test.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Some names out of the past have returned here recently.
For a couple of years when I was a student, I operated the scoreboard for freshman football games at '86 Field. I was only allowed to control the score, quarter, down, yards to go, and possession indicator. NCAA rules dictated that, even for a freshman game, someone from outside RPI had to operate the clock. So the AD from Troy High, Ed Pickens, worked the clock at those games.
In those days before referees had microphones, I can remember more than one occasion when Ed said to me "Look at that. The official on this side is signaling time out. The official on the other side is signaling wind the clock. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?"
Could someone post a copy of this "survey". Don't recall getting one myself or of hearing anyone even mentioning a survey until turning on my computer today. Anyone would mean season ticket holders of over a half century (since Salfi) and another who has been around long enough to see games coached by every single coach RPI Hockey has ever had!!! I will verify the receipt of any such "survey" the next time I see them.
Would like to see the questions that led to this. The ever shrinking current attendees in overwhelming numbers would have never given answers that could have led to these cheesy, low class, bush league teathrics being adopted. Cheesy, low class, bush league garbage is not generational. It is merely cheesy, low class, bush league garbage. Period. Whoever did get this "survey" (assuming there actually was one) and gave answers that led to this apparently forgot to do one last thing (the most important one) . Show the f--- up and buy a ticket!!! The attendance figures to date appear to indicate they have not.
What's next assuming it was on the "survey". Ditch the objective down the middle WRPI broadcasters almost everyone enjoys listening to and replace them with shrieking, screaming home team shills???
Al is still doing football PA work where, apparently, he is not yet being required to make a damned fool of himself. Not going to speak for Al. However, my gut tells me that if anyone tries to get him to scream like a village idiot at the football stadium, his reply would be sayonara. Al has always struck me as being far too classy a gentleman to ever be reduced to this.
Over the past two weekends I have found my own visual "survey" far more troubling. Saw no less than a dozen and a half people or so who were covering their ears with the palms of their hands or sticking their index fingers in their ears during a now ever present breaking of the sound barrier. They did not appear to be enjoying their "fan engagement" or the "generated energy" one little bit. In fact, they did not appear to be enjoying themselves at all. No, I never covered my ears or stuck fingers in them. I only saw it far too often.
rvd5star69
hockey
i always read but reposting againSome names out of the past have returned here recently.