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Arena Rankings

Re: Arena Rankings

Shirtless Guy said:
I noticed the comments on the MTU rink page are from 2012, and the description mentions the scoreboard as not having any video board...which is no longer true so they obviously haven't been there in awhile.
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Exactly, but I do think JMSIA is up there with the best to watch a game at, is it fancy, no but it has improved even since I was a freshman in 2005, but to actually watch a game it's second to none. The sightlines are perfect, the pitch to the seating is awesome, you will never have someone sitting in front of you block your view due to it and you feel close to the action. Atmosphere wise it's also up there with the best, obviously our pep band being a huge part of that, but since Mel has come to town the students and even the people from the area have really gotten in to it and the place is awesome, truly one of the best hockey cities in the world and one of the best college experiences you will find, it definitely beats the Berry Events Center and Munn Ice by a mile.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

Guys, you gotta understand this isn't one person making a list based solely on his opinion. The rankings on that site are based on the overall score each arena has received in their individual reviews. And the arenas are each visited/reviewed by different people, so there's naturally going to be some variation in subjective metrics. Keep in mind, too, that the site is aimed at out-of-town visitors, not the local rabid fanbase, so things like food and access are absolutely important. (Also, the site's scoring system is intended to be flexible enough to cover any sports venue, not just college hockey arenas.)

The site claims to revisit each arena at least every 3 years, but obviously they don't always hit the target. =)


Powers &8^]
 
Re: Arena Rankings

kwm4385 said:
While it doesn't have every D1 arena covered, this site has much more thought-out reviews in my opinion

http://www.roamingtherinks.com/
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I'll agree with that!:
roamingtherinks.com said:
When we think of vocal and passionate fans we think of the RIT Corner Crew. They so impressed us in our visit to the Tigers old home that we consider them the best cheering section in hockey. The gameday experience at the Polisseni Center is largely led by the actions, and the passion, of the Corner Crew.
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Re: Arena Rankings

It was interesting to look at both the "Stadium Journey" and "Roaming the Rinks" websites.

It appears that both of the entries pertaining to Harvard's Bright- Landry hockey facility were written a couple of years ago. There have been some changes in the arena that were not mentioned. I have season tickets to both men's and women's hockey so I spend a lot of time there and have done so since somewhere around '67.

Seating - the articles refer to bench style seating. Last year the bench type seating was removed and theatre style seating installed. The problem is that the clearly were designed for theaters to see a movie screen, so that if you sit in them in the normal way you are leaning back and looking up at the scoreboard. To watch the game you are forced to lean forward and forgo the minimal support the new seats provide. Back when Sicily was a Greek colony, in the days of the Roman republic, the Greeks build stome amphitheaters with built in lumbar support far better than the Bright Landry seats. As the seats are spring loaded they flip up when to being used and it is hard for older and infirm spectators to get seated. The new design has also reduced the legroom for those seated. It is too bad that Harvard does not have a graduate school of design that could have advised them. Err...oh wait...they do.

I should note that the renovation added both a new men's room and replaced one of the tiny women's rooms with a much larger one and they have added a "family friendly" restroom .

The concession stands have expanded since the reviews and prices have risen. I belong to the Boynton Lounge so can get food and free soft drinks etc there so have no need for the concession stand. I am annoyed that when the arena was rebuilt all water fountains were removed so that one is forced to purchase water at $4 per bottle unless you are a Boynton Lounge member.

As to access, before the renovation the elevator to get to concourse level was at the front side and 8 ADA/HP parking spaces were on that side. The elevator was moved from the front to the rear near the Zamboni entrance and there are only 2 ADA spaces at the rear and those were only created after a two year fight between the Harvard office for Disabilities and the Harvard Athletic department. (If you suspected that I am older somewhat gimpy alumnus, you are correct)

Despite all of this, I have no intention of giving up my season tickets.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

There are a few things on this list that really have me scratching my head. I've only been to a few of the arenas in the west, but I've hit every arena in the HEA and ECAC (except Brown) and a few from the AHA.

1. Cheel at #4. It's a great arena, it can have a great atmosphere, but it's been hit and miss as the team has in the last decade, especially with the economic downturn in the North Country.

2. Appleton at #43. This is a great old time barn to watch a game with a crazy atmosphere. Their team just sucks. ;)

3. Lynah at #48. The all time best college hockey arena I've been to. Some of my friends on the CCT boards say the atmosphere has changed in recent years, but wow, #48???

4. Messa at #34. Hands down, the worst arena I've been to, including the AHA arenas I've been to. Seeing them above anyone is head-scratching.

5. Mullins at #14. I've seen better atmosphere at high school games in Potsdam.

6. Agganis at #7. I'll admit that I haven't been to Agganis, only its predecessor Walter Brown. However, I can't see such a great atmosphere going that far south in a new barn. Walter Brown ranked top 2 for me.

7. Gutterson at #24. Again, a great atmosphere for college hockey and a new enough arena that it has amenities.

8. Tate at #26. I love my hometown boys but having this arena above places like Whittemore is just shocking.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

I really like looking at StadiumJourney, because I'm a stadium nerd and the site has tons of pictures of an enormous amount of sports venues worldwide. It also has relatively useful information if you travel. The actual rankings can be ignored, however. They're all based on one person's experience at one game. They don't even average the scores of venues with multiple visits. Bonus points can be given on a whim. The concessions at Amsoil are pretty good, but certainly not a 5. The have an updated review of World Arena now, but the old one had given bonus points because the reviewer liked the team uniforms. The same reviewer deducted points from Magness because they were too cold. What the definition of 5 star access is, is anybody's guess.
My point is, if you like pictures of venues from around the world, it's a great site, but pay little attention to their scores and rankings, because they're frequently preposterous.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

No doubt Matthews should have been higher. Hard to beat the history, the atmosphere is good, particularly when they play BC or BU, and for my money, there isn't a better seat in college hockey to be had than front row balcony.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

Cross Check said:
No doubt Matthews should have been higher. Hard to beat the history, the atmosphere is good, particularly when they play BC or BU, and for my money, there isn't a better seat in college hockey to be had than front row balcony.
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I think the thing that counts against Matthews a little bit is that basically all of the balcony seats are obstructed to some degree. I mean, you have to lean over to the rail even if you're in the front balcony row to see the whole ice.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

bose301s said:
Exactly, but I do think JMSIA is up there with the best to watch a game at, is it fancy, no but it has improved even since I was a freshman in 2005, but to actually watch a game it's second to none. The sightlines are perfect, the pitch to the seating is awesome, you will never have someone sitting in front of you block your view due to it and you feel close to the action. Atmosphere wise it's also up there with the best, obviously our pep band being a huge part of that, but since Mel has come to town the students and even the people from the area have really gotten in to it and the place is awesome, truly one of the best hockey cities in the world and one of the best college experiences you will find, it definitely beats the Berry Events Center and Munn Ice by a mile.
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truth
 
Re: Arena Rankings

How the Ralph is not ranked number 1 is beyond me. PSU should be 2nd, I love the kohl but even I don't think it should be top 5.
This guy is clueless.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

I know that Lynah is a shell of its former self in terms of atmosphere (even compared to 10 years ago), but 48 is quite a bit high.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

I agree that it is hard to match the Ralph as #1 but would put Pegulia as #2 but the student section at Pegulia rivals Michigan for #1.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

Haaafs said:
Well the list gets 1 thing right, the JAR is awful. I attended 2 games there this year. The atmosphere is horrible. The rink itself is hilariously terrible. One of the games was delayed because the scoreboard broke. The "food" was overpriced and probably the worst thing I have ever tasted. Seriously, there are no redeeming qualities. It's just plain terrible.
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Do you think you could type that up in a nice neat email and send it to our board, administrators, and local Waltham politicians? We've been "on the cusp" of a state of the art new rink for two years now. For gods sake, I've seen the architectural renderings and blueprints! They can't taunt me any more. So yeah, that email! Anything to expedite this LONG overdue project.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

Red Hockey said:
I know that Lynah is a shell of its former self in terms of atmosphere (even compared to 10 years ago), but 48 is quite a bit high.
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How is it a shell of it's former self, just curious, haven't been there in 6-8 years ?
 
Re: Arena Rankings

You guys lost me at "The Ralph is a top five arena in the world."

Can't make that crap up.
 
Re: Arena Rankings

tape said:
I think the thing that counts against Matthews a little bit is that basically all of the balcony seats are obstructed to some degree. I mean, you have to lean over to the rail even if you're in the front balcony row to see the whole ice.
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All balcony seats above the front row at Matthews are horrible. Not to mention there's a bunch of obstructed view seats in the lower level from the new press box and/or the overhang.
 
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