Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

I thought the same thing as I watched last night. I remember the days getting a seat in that place was impossible.

I actually showed my son the 2001 Championship highlight video as we were watching the game last night just to see if you could get an idea of how empty the rink is now compared to then. While there wasn't a "pan back" view in the video to get a real sense, you could still tell the rink is so much more empty now days. Sad....

 

[Buckeye22]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

Norwich usually brings good crowds wherever they go in New England. I went to a game against the Cadets at UMass-Boston. Game was a complete sellout (they claimed there were exactly 1,000 people in attendance, likely because the fire code for the building won't let them have more, but they were definitely over capacity). There was a good student turnout which is rare for a school that doesn't have on-campus housing. I'd have to agree with the people who pointed out that size of the arena doesn't matter. Packed is packed.

 

[joecct]

Norwich usually brings good crowds wherever they go in New England. I went to a game against the Cadets at UMass-Boston. Game was a complete sellout (they claimed there were exactly 1,000 people in attendance, likely because the fire code for the building won't let them have more, but they were definitely over capacity). There was a good student turnout which is rare for a school that doesn't have on-campus housing. I'd have to agree with the people who pointed out that size of the arena doesn't matter. Packed is packed.

You'll just LOVE Lynch Arena in Pawtucket next year.

 

[Genbeau]

Norwich usually brings good crowds wherever they go in New England. I went to a game against the Cadets at UMass-Boston. Game was a complete sellout (they claimed there were exactly 1,000 people in attendance, likely because the fire code for the building won't let them have more, but they were definitely over capacity). There was a good student turnout which is rare for a school that doesn't have on-campus housing. I'd have to agree with the people who pointed out that size of the arena doesn't matter. Packed is packed.

UMB opening 2 new dorms on campus next year. Maybe they’ll draw some more fans.

 

[d3hockey57]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

Adrian.....come on man 500 people.....a shame if you ever want to go see your team play there, a great program with a shoebox for a rink.

The title of this thread is "Best atmospheres in DIII hockey", so the Arrington Ice Arena would qualify.

 

[Adam_Krug#1]

The title of this thread is "Best atmospheres in DIII hockey", so the Arrington Ice Arena would qualify.

I concur

 

[wallhd]

Small and packed beats large and empty.

Watching the Primelink in beautiful but empty Kenyon Arena is sad.

I had pretty much the same thought. We arrived just as the consolation game was ending. Most of the folks we saw leaving the rink appeared to be Wick fans. There were maybe 250 Card fans there for the championship game. Really a shame as it is not really a very long trip from Plattsburgh to Midd. Maybe 90 minutes each way. Primelimk does a huge amount of work ( and considerable expense to I'm sure) to pull off this event each year. One can only wonder how much longer they will continue to sponsor it if attendance doesn't improve.

 

[NU Pastime]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

I had pretty much the same thought. We arrived just as the consolation game was ending. Most of the folks we saw leaving the rink appeared to be Wick fans. There were maybe 250 Card fans there for the championship game. Really a shame as it is not really a very long trip from Plattsburgh to Midd. Maybe 90 minutes each way. Primelimk does a huge amount of work ( and considerable expense to I'm sure) to pull off this event each year. One can only wonder how much longer they will continue to sponsor it if attendance doesn't improve.

See, I view it as more of a Middlebury problem than a Primelink problem. It seems that when the tournament is hosted at Kreitzberg or Stafford that the attendance is considerably better.

I don't know if the attendance at Plattsburgh and Norwich matches the average attendance at those two arenas, but that's partially to be expected when the tournament is hosted over a holiday break.

On the other hand, from what I've seen it's the new norm for Kenyon to be empty. Even when they play Norwich in early February when class is in session.

 

[wallhd]

Small and packed beats large and empty.

Watching the Primelink in beautiful but empty Kenyon Arena is sad.

I had pretty much the same thought. We arrived just as the consolation game was ending. Most of the folks we saw leaving the rink appeared to be Wick fans. There were maybe 250 Card fans there for the championship game. Really a shame as it is not really a very long trip from Plattsburgh to Midd. Maybe 90 minutes each way. Primelimk does a huge amount of work ( and considerable expense too I'm sure) to pull off this event each year. One can only wonder how much longer they will continue to sponsor it if attendance doesn't improve.

 

[elbojpb]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

... One can only wonder how much longer they will continue to sponsor it if attendance doesn't improve.

Hockey attendance issues are not unique nor isloated to D3 ... D1 Thread

 

[minnesotan in vermont]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

I had pretty much the same thought. We arrived just as the consolation game was ending. Most of the folks we saw leaving the rink appeared to be Wick fans. There were maybe 250 Card fans there for the championship game. Really a shame as it is not really a very long trip from Plattsburgh to Midd. Maybe 90 minutes each way. Primelimk does a huge amount of work ( and considerable expense too I'm sure) to pull off this event each year. One can only wonder how much longer they will continue to sponsor it if attendance doesn't improve.

I think there are two factors contributing to the serious decline in attendance to the Primelink Shoot Out. Yes, Middlebury is no longer a d3 powerhouse. Midd fans would rather watch their basketball team win than their hockey team put up yet another dismal showing. But the other is the live streaming. Why drive 90 minutes to Kenyon arena when you can watch a pretty good broadcast on line in the comfort of your living room and let the dogs out AND make popcorn between periods then slip in to bed when its over rather than face another 90 minutes on the road back home (and then the dogs still need to go out when you arrive).

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

I think there are two factors contributing to the serious decline in attendance to the Primelink Shoot Out. Yes, Middlebury is no longer a d3 powerhouse. Midd fans would rather watch their basketball team win than their hockey team put up yet another dismal showing. But the other is the live streaming. Why drive 90 minutes to Kenyon arena when you can watch a pretty good broadcast on line in the comfort of your living room and let the dogs out AND make popcorn between periods then slip in to bed when its over rather than face another 90 minutes on the road back home (and then the dogs still need to go out when you arrive).

Good points all around. ( And it would be helpful if the pups sported bigger bladders, especially. )

 

[altazo]

I think there are two factors contributing to the serious decline in attendance to the Primelink Shoot Out. Yes, Middlebury is no longer a d3 powerhouse. Midd fans would rather watch their basketball team win than their hockey team put up yet another dismal showing. But the other is the live streaming. Why drive 90 minutes to Kenyon arena when you can watch a pretty good broadcast on line in the comfort of your living room and let the dogs out AND make popcorn between periods then slip in to bed when its over rather than face another 90 minutes on the road back home (and then the dogs still need to go out when you arrive).

I don’t know if it’s the live streaming. Even the best of those don’t compare to being at the rink. I’d love to be able to drive 90 minutes to watch Primelink, or any D3 game for that matter. DU is the closest NCAA hockey to me and it’s 8 hrs away.

I think part of it may be social media. I think in the ‘80s and ‘90s students would attend games on Friday and Saturday nights to meet up with friends and figure out what was going on later in the night. Now, everyone knows where everyone else is and what’s going on basically at all times.

 

[lakont55]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

Plenty of excitement at the Oswego Campus Center , big crowds, a lot of fanfare, watch the live streaming to see this

 

[dinocoach]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

I know it's a new building, but I have to believe that visiting teams coming into the Alfond at UNE can get intimidated by the crowd. The student section can be pretty loud and crazy and when UNE scores (which they do more at home than on the road, another story) the joint does rock. Anyway, not the history that some schools' buildings have, but it's up and coming!

 

[OhioMule]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

Alfond Arena on the Colby campus in Waterville, ME for the Bowdoin-Colby rivalry... It's an old hockey barn that seats close to 2,000 and is SRO for this game. Tonight is the 209th edition and can be streamed on NSN. Traditionally, some Bowdoin fans come armed with a squid.

 

[dinocoach]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

Alfond Arena on the Colby campus in Waterville, ME for the Bowdoin-Colby rivalry... It's an old hockey barn that seats close to 2,000 and is SRO for this game. Tonight is the 209th edition and can be streamed on NSN. Traditionally, some Bowdoin fans come armed with a squid.

Alfond and the old Dayton Arena in Brunswick are and were great old barns. When ever Bowdoin and Colby get together, and there is ice involved, it becomes and epic tilt. There may only be 12 guys on the ice for those games but there are a couple of thousand fans skating each and every shift! At least in the amount of energy expended! Thanks for reminding us of that.

 

[OSU2010]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

I'm surprised no one mentioned Geneseo, I always liked to travel there for an Oz/Genny game. The student sections are great and they have a band that plays to rile up the crowd.

 

[OZrebel]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Geneseo, I always liked to travel there for an Oz/Genny game. The student sections are great and they have a band that plays to rile up the crowd.

It was great again on Friday night, love the band and the student support was better part of 60-70% of the crowd. Place was rocking.

 

[GBhockeygal]

Re: Best atmospheres in DIII hockey?

ditto................don't waste your money on seats at Adrian / way better off to do standing room at end of the rink.

KB Willett rocks / small atmosphere but fun place to attend!