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Illinois to D1
- Thread starter JDUBBS1280
- Start date
moose97
Well-known member
Re: Illinois to D1
I don't disagree at all that 2 sheets of ice is better than 1, but I can only think of a handful of teams that actually have that set-up (Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota, Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, Ohio State and soon Wisconsin - although I'll admit not knowing the women's rink situation out east). That leaves most D-I schools with men's and women's hockey one rink (not to mention most D-III schools).
In a perfect world, Bemidji State had hoped for a two sheet building for the Sanford Center, but budget cuts forced it to be a single sheet. It's unfortunate, really, since steel ended up so cheep... The story was that to add a practice sheet, it would have been an extra $10 million. The project was $10-15 mil over budget when everything was included in the design phase, and the practice rink got the ax. When all was said and done, the project came in $10 mil under budget (primarily because of the cost of steel). Unfortunately, they didn't plan for the practice sheet as an alt add, and to this day, I'm betting there are some folks that wish they had that available...
I don't disagree at all that 2 sheets of ice is better than 1, but I can only think of a handful of teams that actually have that set-up (Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota, Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, Ohio State and soon Wisconsin - although I'll admit not knowing the women's rink situation out east). That leaves most D-I schools with men's and women's hockey one rink (not to mention most D-III schools).
In a perfect world, Bemidji State had hoped for a two sheet building for the Sanford Center, but budget cuts forced it to be a single sheet. It's unfortunate, really, since steel ended up so cheep... The story was that to add a practice sheet, it would have been an extra $10 million. The project was $10-15 mil over budget when everything was included in the design phase, and the practice rink got the ax. When all was said and done, the project came in $10 mil under budget (primarily because of the cost of steel). Unfortunately, they didn't plan for the practice sheet as an alt add, and to this day, I'm betting there are some folks that wish they had that available...
Re: Illinois to D1
Pffft, get some boards and lights and put a rink on the lake next door!
Pffft, get some boards and lights and put a rink on the lake next door!
Beer Pong Horn
soldier of fortune
Re: Illinois to D1
That shouldn't be an issue for Illinois - they already have the practice sheet in the form of their existing Ice Arena, which might possibly be able to be expanded into a women's arena of a few thousand capacity. The men's D-1 arena would have to be a separate building.
I take it that the Glas' ice capacity has been removed?
That shouldn't be an issue for Illinois - they already have the practice sheet in the form of their existing Ice Arena, which might possibly be able to be expanded into a women's arena of a few thousand capacity. The men's D-1 arena would have to be a separate building.
I take it that the Glas' ice capacity has been removed?
JDUBBS1280
MN Hockey Enthusiast
It was three Twitter posts
Sounds like it is still in the idea stage. Nothing formal has been announced and I wouldn't expect anything to be unless the get all of the funding and logistics figured out.
moose97
Well-known member
Re: Illinois to D1
It would be a great women's/practice rink if renovated, IMHO...
http://www.campusrec.illinois.edu/facilities/iceArena/photos.html
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/z9pwyoGBbBc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Yes. MnSCU approved the lease at Sanford based on the fact that shutting down the Glas would save something like $90,000 a year.
It would be a great women's/practice rink if renovated, IMHO...
http://www.campusrec.illinois.edu/facilities/iceArena/photos.html
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/z9pwyoGBbBc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Yes. MnSCU approved the lease at Sanford based on the fact that shutting down the Glas would save something like $90,000 a year.
Handyman
Hug someone you care about...
Re: Illinois to D1
This is probably quite true. Everyone talked about Penn State so much it became a joke but the fact was all it took was a donor to step up and it happened. If the Jimmy Johns guy wants to do this, then it will happen. Especially now without the issue of trying to find a conference to go to since they have an affiliation set up already.
The scenarios have changed now, the paradigm has shifted. Before a startup had to worry about a conference and setting up games. If a Big Ten team decides to start up they have their conference schedule already set which is half the battle.
This is probably quite true. Everyone talked about Penn State so much it became a joke but the fact was all it took was a donor to step up and it happened. If the Jimmy Johns guy wants to do this, then it will happen. Especially now without the issue of trying to find a conference to go to since they have an affiliation set up already.
The scenarios have changed now, the paradigm has shifted. Before a startup had to worry about a conference and setting up games. If a Big Ten team decides to start up they have their conference schedule already set which is half the battle.
SCSU Euro
Well-known member
Re: Illinois to D1
No, the football team puts them way out of whack on gender balance, so they end up having more women's sports at all football schools to balance the huge number of scholarships on the football team.
Re: Illinois to D1
So I’ve really be trying to hunt over the web for rumors of the University of Illinois getting a NCAA division 1 team. Their ACHA team has been good for quite some time. People have always mentioned rumors of how they were likely to upgrade the program, largely due to the success of the team I’d imagine. I found a pretty interesting plotline that may have also contributed to those rumors. Forgive the long post as I was taking notes as I tracked all this info down. Plenty of links for anyone who really wants to dig into the story as well.
The Danville Wings were in the NAHL from 1993 through 2003. Lou Mervis was the owner and Josh Mervis was the GM. They upgraded for the 03-04 season to the USHL.
July 2003 Blagojevich signs the Downstate Sports Facility Act, which would allow interested townships to sell bonds for the purposes of building arenas then tax local hotels to recoup the investment. Mervis is interested in relocating the Wings to Champaign with a newly built arena.
7/23/2003 - Blagojevich signs 2 bills in visit to UI
The Wings struggle to make a profit. In June 2003 Lou Mervis was helping to push the idea of building a new ice arena on the south end of Champaign / Urbana to be a new home for his USHL team. The arena was supposed to seat 4,000 as well as be a multiuse facility for conferences. This was planning that was taking place due to pending legislation in IL that would help offset costs with a hotel tax.
6/8/2003 - Convention center, ice rinks on drawing board
In the fall of 2003 – Early momentum builds to investigate putting a new ice arena in Champaign. The first article talks to lack of ice time and possible financial challenges. The second talks more about forming a task force to tackle the project.
9/14/2003 - Tough sell looms for new ice rinks
11/20/2003 - Ice rink, center issues to be explored
In April 2004 current owner of the Wings, Lou Mervis, sold the franchise to Paul Skjodt who moved them to Indianapolis. Mervis cited $500,000 operating loss. Attendance per the league policy was supposed to be 1,600 but the Wings only averaged 964. Skjodt became the new owner and Josh Mervis stayed on in his current role as GM. The franchise became known as the Indianapolis Ice.
4/20/2004 - Wings relocating to Indianapolis
By May 2004, the financial planning has been dragging on. U of I is willing to donate land and cover a small amount of cost, but Champaign and Urbana argue over who covers what expenses and who is likely to see increased revenue due to hotel / conference related revenue. Mervis has purchased another USHL franchise and still wants to put a USHL team in Champaign.
1/29/2004 - New ice arena has funding gap
5/5/2004 - Funding plans for ice rink detailed
As of March 2005 the project still hasn’t died. The rink was part of the overall Research Park development process, but U of I decides to split this out as its own project. New development sites are looked at.
3/4/2005 - Proposed ice arena could end up in Urbana
I lose track here. I couldn’t find any new progress about putting a large arena in Champaign. I assume that the finances stayed deadlocked and interest just died out for the most part.
February 2010 it’s announced that Muskegon will be an expansion franchise in the USHL owned and operated by the Mervis family. “We spent a lot of time and effort exploring multiple cities that would be a solid USHL market, but Muskegon clearly established itself as not only the right fit for us, but for the League,” said Josh Mervis. No kidding. Even Mervis gives up hope and moves on...
2/16/2010 - USHL Expands to Muskegon, Michigan for 2010-11
As of June 2011, the developers of the Research Park are still interested in an ice rink, but in this article it’s really more of an afterthought.
6/2/2011 - Deere, iCyt plan expansion in new phase of UI Research Park
So while this story isn’t directly related to U of I getting a team, had this worked out I can only imagine they would have. With an arena in place it would have been operating costs, scholarships, and balancing Title IX. No small act, but the biggest hurdle would have been out of the way. The arena wouldn’t have been as large as other Big 10 teams, but something is better than nothing, right?
So I’ve really be trying to hunt over the web for rumors of the University of Illinois getting a NCAA division 1 team. Their ACHA team has been good for quite some time. People have always mentioned rumors of how they were likely to upgrade the program, largely due to the success of the team I’d imagine. I found a pretty interesting plotline that may have also contributed to those rumors. Forgive the long post as I was taking notes as I tracked all this info down. Plenty of links for anyone who really wants to dig into the story as well.
The Danville Wings were in the NAHL from 1993 through 2003. Lou Mervis was the owner and Josh Mervis was the GM. They upgraded for the 03-04 season to the USHL.
July 2003 Blagojevich signs the Downstate Sports Facility Act, which would allow interested townships to sell bonds for the purposes of building arenas then tax local hotels to recoup the investment. Mervis is interested in relocating the Wings to Champaign with a newly built arena.
7/23/2003 - Blagojevich signs 2 bills in visit to UI
The Wings struggle to make a profit. In June 2003 Lou Mervis was helping to push the idea of building a new ice arena on the south end of Champaign / Urbana to be a new home for his USHL team. The arena was supposed to seat 4,000 as well as be a multiuse facility for conferences. This was planning that was taking place due to pending legislation in IL that would help offset costs with a hotel tax.
6/8/2003 - Convention center, ice rinks on drawing board
In the fall of 2003 – Early momentum builds to investigate putting a new ice arena in Champaign. The first article talks to lack of ice time and possible financial challenges. The second talks more about forming a task force to tackle the project.
9/14/2003 - Tough sell looms for new ice rinks
11/20/2003 - Ice rink, center issues to be explored
In April 2004 current owner of the Wings, Lou Mervis, sold the franchise to Paul Skjodt who moved them to Indianapolis. Mervis cited $500,000 operating loss. Attendance per the league policy was supposed to be 1,600 but the Wings only averaged 964. Skjodt became the new owner and Josh Mervis stayed on in his current role as GM. The franchise became known as the Indianapolis Ice.
4/20/2004 - Wings relocating to Indianapolis
By May 2004, the financial planning has been dragging on. U of I is willing to donate land and cover a small amount of cost, but Champaign and Urbana argue over who covers what expenses and who is likely to see increased revenue due to hotel / conference related revenue. Mervis has purchased another USHL franchise and still wants to put a USHL team in Champaign.
1/29/2004 - New ice arena has funding gap
5/5/2004 - Funding plans for ice rink detailed
As of March 2005 the project still hasn’t died. The rink was part of the overall Research Park development process, but U of I decides to split this out as its own project. New development sites are looked at.
3/4/2005 - Proposed ice arena could end up in Urbana
I lose track here. I couldn’t find any new progress about putting a large arena in Champaign. I assume that the finances stayed deadlocked and interest just died out for the most part.
February 2010 it’s announced that Muskegon will be an expansion franchise in the USHL owned and operated by the Mervis family. “We spent a lot of time and effort exploring multiple cities that would be a solid USHL market, but Muskegon clearly established itself as not only the right fit for us, but for the League,” said Josh Mervis. No kidding. Even Mervis gives up hope and moves on...
2/16/2010 - USHL Expands to Muskegon, Michigan for 2010-11
As of June 2011, the developers of the Research Park are still interested in an ice rink, but in this article it’s really more of an afterthought.
6/2/2011 - Deere, iCyt plan expansion in new phase of UI Research Park
So while this story isn’t directly related to U of I getting a team, had this worked out I can only imagine they would have. With an arena in place it would have been operating costs, scholarships, and balancing Title IX. No small act, but the biggest hurdle would have been out of the way. The arena wouldn’t have been as large as other Big 10 teams, but something is better than nothing, right?
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Re: Illinois to D1
Good article from the school paper, the Daily Illini. I've been reading news on Illini hockey for some time and I've never really seen an article like this. It's a little feisty. The article doesn't directly advocate moving hockey to NCAA D1, but it's kind of a general kick in the university's butt that it should devote more resources to the sport. See the quick summary below if you're too lazy to read the link.
Club has D1 dedication, not D1 funds
The article starts off with some player interviews that basically talk about how it's frustrating given their level of success over the past few years but they receive very little financial support from the university. It talks some about what would be involved if the program did move to D1 such as school funding and a new rink, but also believes there would be strong support and increased income via more ticket sales and the the importance of the Big Ten Network. Then it moves into the details of the club finances and how much players pay. Even if the school doesn't go D1, some players point out that other ACHA schools cover significantly more costs for the club teams than U of I does. The end is a bit weak. It talks about a junior player who came close to playing D1 and the frustration of missing out on financial support to play.
Good article from the school paper, the Daily Illini. I've been reading news on Illini hockey for some time and I've never really seen an article like this. It's a little feisty. The article doesn't directly advocate moving hockey to NCAA D1, but it's kind of a general kick in the university's butt that it should devote more resources to the sport. See the quick summary below if you're too lazy to read the link.
Club has D1 dedication, not D1 funds
The article starts off with some player interviews that basically talk about how it's frustrating given their level of success over the past few years but they receive very little financial support from the university. It talks some about what would be involved if the program did move to D1 such as school funding and a new rink, but also believes there would be strong support and increased income via more ticket sales and the the importance of the Big Ten Network. Then it moves into the details of the club finances and how much players pay. Even if the school doesn't go D1, some players point out that other ACHA schools cover significantly more costs for the club teams than U of I does. The end is a bit weak. It talks about a junior player who came close to playing D1 and the frustration of missing out on financial support to play.
Re: Illinois to D1
UI Ice Arena to stay open for summer
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-04-01/ui-ice-arena-stay-open-summer.html
The headline summarizes most of the article. There is one interesting bit from Dave Bagger, an Assistant Director with the Division of Campus Recreation in there.
One reason for the 2015 summer hours: "Two of the last three years, we've had trouble getting our refrigeration system started up when we re-open in the fall," Bagger said. "This time, we will keep the system running and be open during the summer."
By doing that, the arena will try to wring one more year out of the existing system. It will close over summer 2016 to install a temporary ice-mat system that will include an outdoor air-cooled compressor. It's a more compact system than the current one — and portable as well.
But it's a stopgap because the university has long-term plans for the Ice Arena, based on a 2013 feasibility study. Those plans include either a major renovation of the existing facility or the construction of a second, bigger arena.
"It would be more than an ice rink," Bagger said. "It might have from 3,000 to 5,000 seats (compared to 1,500 now). We don't have that size arena in our community right now."
If the university builds an entirely new rink with 3,000 seats I'll be depressed. Even 5,000 would be too small, although likely not by that much. If the heavily renovate the current rink (which simply doesn't have the space to become worthy of D1) I could delude myself into thinking they'll eventually build something for an NCAA program. Discussion of ice facilities like this has been a low priority and has occasionally surfaced for quite some time now so he is very likely discussing out of date hopes and dreams. But it's still interesting to hear someone credible bring it up.
And yes I realize the irony in bumping this thread on April Fools Day...
UI Ice Arena to stay open for summer
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-04-01/ui-ice-arena-stay-open-summer.html
The headline summarizes most of the article. There is one interesting bit from Dave Bagger, an Assistant Director with the Division of Campus Recreation in there.
One reason for the 2015 summer hours: "Two of the last three years, we've had trouble getting our refrigeration system started up when we re-open in the fall," Bagger said. "This time, we will keep the system running and be open during the summer."
By doing that, the arena will try to wring one more year out of the existing system. It will close over summer 2016 to install a temporary ice-mat system that will include an outdoor air-cooled compressor. It's a more compact system than the current one — and portable as well.
But it's a stopgap because the university has long-term plans for the Ice Arena, based on a 2013 feasibility study. Those plans include either a major renovation of the existing facility or the construction of a second, bigger arena.
"It would be more than an ice rink," Bagger said. "It might have from 3,000 to 5,000 seats (compared to 1,500 now). We don't have that size arena in our community right now."
If the university builds an entirely new rink with 3,000 seats I'll be depressed. Even 5,000 would be too small, although likely not by that much. If the heavily renovate the current rink (which simply doesn't have the space to become worthy of D1) I could delude myself into thinking they'll eventually build something for an NCAA program. Discussion of ice facilities like this has been a low priority and has occasionally surfaced for quite some time now so he is very likely discussing out of date hopes and dreams. But it's still interesting to hear someone credible bring it up.
And yes I realize the irony in bumping this thread on April Fools Day...
PcFriars13
New member
The same. They have a pretty well-organized club system on campus and student support of the team is pretty high. I would like it if they went D1.
dxmnkd316
Lucia Apologist
Re: Illinois to D1
Oh my God. This has to happen. The signs would be epictastic.
"BJSU Rejects!"
Oh my God. This has to happen. The signs would be epictastic.
"BJSU Rejects!"
Their goal is to be the Evangelical equivalent of Notre Dame.