Northeastern Huskies 2023-24: Brave New World or New Beginning?

[RossiRules]

Wait - is mookie thinking about Punter's Pub?

No I think he's thinking of Huskies/Plunketts/Uno. No hockey players or fans generally went to Punters before games. The hockey and football players mostly hated each other. I think I went to Punters a total of 5 times while at NU. He may be thinking of Our House East or Maxwell Jumps..those all were around in the 80s and 90s

 

[Split-N]

No I think he's thinking of the Claw/Huskies/Plunketts/Uno...

Right on. BTW, the whole NU area appears to be a watering hole desert from what I could tell when last up there. Punter's, Conor Larkins, Our House, Unos all gone. All I could find were a couple of snooty foofoo places that served only flavored whiskey (blecch!). Where does a Doghouse kid go to get a drink these days?

 

[navy44]

Where does a Doghouse kid go to get a drink these days?

Tried "The Westland" yet? 3 blocks from the arena, food decent, scotch/whiskey/bourbon/rum choices, and Guinness

 

[mookie1995]

Wait - is mookie thinking about Punter's Pub?

Couldn’t recall the name to save Mookie’s life.
just know it was on Huntington and the sw corner side of the intersection with mass ave. Big windows looking out on the street. We would pick on their nachos and drink beer while watching Celtics.
certainly wasn’t our house. That was too far west down Huntington. But did visit that at times.
we went there to watch sports as while T’s did have a few tvs it couldn’t compete.
dugout was for shooting the chit and drinking. Nobody went there to watch games. Mookie was walk in during the afternoon after class and read the globe. Certainly sure nothing like that happens these days. Would read the wsj in the morning and the globe in the afternoon. Man we’re those the days that ain’t coming back.

used to visit all the father’s after dinner. Lived near 2. First used to be on Harvard ave in Alston that is now a Korean bbq. Friends lived near fifth on mass ave & marlbourgh. Recall being there one night when a Boston cop was shot. All of a sudden the door opened and a dozen cops ran in looking for their suspect.
the days of girls wearing sweaters that hung to their knees…..don’t miss those

 

[Split-N]

Tried "The Westland" yet? 3 blocks from the arena, food decent, scotch/whiskey/bourbon/rum choices, and Guinness

That's the old Cafe Amalfi, which was a high-end restaurant in the '70s/'80s. Owned and managed by an NU alum. Drew mostly the pre- post-symphony crowd and some NU administrators. Never a student hangout (too expensive).

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: the NIL discussion as it relates to hockey - there's a key differentiator with basketball and football. By law, non-US players cannot benefit from NIL the same way US players can due to the risk of losing their student visa. They cannot earn direct NIL income such as Company X pays $1,000 to Player Y to make social media posts about their product. They are, however, allowed to earn passive income - such as if someone makes a t-shirt with their name and number on it and they earn some of the profit. The differentiation is they are considered not to be directly working to earn that income.

Of course, with the larger number of non-US players in hockey as compared to basketball and football, this lessens the overall impact of NIL on hockey.

 

[Split-N]

Tipping the helmet to the ladies, who won their 19th (!) Women's Beanpot last night before 10,663 at the Garden.

 

[Scarlet]

I really liked your women's team's jerseys. Have the men ever worn those? Also - congrats!!

 

[njdevscup30]

Anyone know if NU has a Beanpot ticket allocation for alumni/NU fans? In years past I know they sometimes released extra tickets a week or so before the game. Secondary market tickets are crazy right now with #1/#2 involved. Looking for a few now.

 

[Split-N]

I really liked your women's team's jerseys. Have the men ever worn those? Also - congrats!!

AFAIK, the women's reds are a new design. Men's reds are the throwback "demon husky" reds that are worn on special occasions, like Beanpot games, Frozen Fenway, HEA Playoffs, etc. In recent years, men's and women's programs have had separate and distinct uni designs.

 

[Split-N]

Re: the NIL discussion as it relates to hockey - there's a key differentiator with basketball and football. By law, non-US players cannot benefit from NIL the same way US players can due to the risk of losing their student visa. They cannot earn direct NIL income such as Company X pays $1,000 to Player Y to make social media posts about their product. They are, however, allowed to earn passive income - such as if someone makes a t-shirt with their name and number on it and they earn some of the profit. The differentiation is they are considered not to be directly working to earn that income...

Thanks. I actually didn't know that. But I think we're both smart enough to know that this seeming restriction will likely be abused or openly flaunted by the usual suspects.

 

[brassbonanza]

Thanks. I actually didn't know that. But I think we're both smart enough to know that this seeming restriction will likely be abused or openly flaunted by the usual suspects.

Perhaps, but since it'd be violating law - instead of NCAA rules - the repercussions are real and there wouldn't be a toothless governing body enforcing it. It's a ridiculous law, but it is what it is.

I suspect what's more likely is those with big pockets would be more willing to use the passive income route to get the players the NIL money.

 

[Ryecheers]

I cringe each time I pass Chase bank. I also have memories of the Lobster Claw and its successors. Only the Quadrangle at the University looks vaguely the same. Matthews isn't the same building. It's just in the same location. IIRC the University owns the strip of small apartment buildings on the east side of Matthews fronting on Mass Ave.. We passed on a chance to take over Wentworth for its buildings and land. I wonder what it would cost today.
From a reliable source, I understand there is an ambitious plan to create a multi-sport multi-level structure that would house several varsity teams as well as the entire athletics administration. The problem is cost, which would run well into 9 (nine) figures. Our alumni have done very well in many fields, but, while I can think of lots of millionaires among them, we may need a Billionaire or two to pull this off.

 

[PullTheGoalie]

Ryecheers, is the new structure to be on the site of the Arena?

 

[OnePack]

I have no inside info but fairly sure the new structure would go up over the parking lots here and the garage. Unlikely they’d do something different than what they’ve been showing to the Boston community for the last 10 years.

No one here tonight is which is unfortunate given it’s been by far one of more competitive games this season.

instead of complaining about the team I’m going to complain about the fan experience and this video board. So much screen real estate and they can’t be bothered to show more replays. And the biggest game of the regular season is going on down the street but they no longer seem to want to show scores around the league.

Instead all we get is ads for the app, tickets, and pleas to donate. Plus horribly loud, annoying mikes advertisements. Sound team needs to step out of the booth

 

[Ryecheers]

Ryecheers, is the new structure to be on the site of the Arena?

That is my impression. There are fields on the Columbus Ave. side of the tracks, but IIRC, they are controlled by the city and are used by NU and the local community. That means local pols are involved, which brings challenges and high hurdles!

 

[Ryecheers]

I have no inside info but fairly sure the new structure would go up over the parking lots here and the garage. Unlikely they’d do something different than what they’ve been showing to the Boston community for the last 10 years.

No one here tonight is which is unfortunate given it’s been by far one of more competitive games this season.

instead of complaining about the team I’m going to complain about the fan experience and this video board. So much screen real estate and they can’t be bothered to show more replays. And the biggest game of the regular season is going on down the street but they no longer seem to want to show scores around the league.

Instead all we get is ads for the app, tickets, and pleas to donate. Plus horribly loud, annoying mikes advertisements. Sound team needs to step out of the booth

I don’t know what the plan was 10 years ago, but, i have the impression that the more recent plan is more ambitious than any I’ve heard about in the past.

Concerning tonight’s game: The announced attendance was a very vocal ~2,400 which would represent nearly 2/3 of capacity allowing for unavailable section of the balcony on the western end. Not bad considering there was a bit of a distraction in Chestnut Hill. Also, this year’s Merrimack team’s fans came as empty seats. Their team didn’t win, but certainly earned respect for the effort they put forth.

I must agree that fan experience could be improved. The NU related ads don’t bother me as much as the shrill noises made by the gal serving as sort of an emcee. She’s more brassy than classy, and projects loudly enough to wake up our 4th line (Maybe not a bad thing :>). The background “music” is meh and uninspiring, if that is its purpose. The folks in charge of maintaining the “game day” experience would be smart to go on a road trip to learn how other venues improve and enhance their product.

The scoreboard is stunning, but it is underutilized. More game stats and updates of other HEA games are just two of many subjects that would be of interest to the fans. On the website, the game summaries are modest and mechanical. They often seem as though they have been written by a bot. Or not at all if we didn’t fare well. Yes, there are replays of goals, and occasionally other plays, but not from many angles. Slo Mo would be neat. That’s up to the director who calls the shots (poor pun not intended).

Obviously this season hasn’t gone as hoped. The “team behind the Team” needs to improve its own game plan to help attract the kind of fans the players hope to hear cheering for them.

 

[Split-N]

...instead of complaining about the team I’m going to complain about the fan experience and this video board. So much screen real estate and they can’t be bothered to show more replays. And the biggest game of the regular season is going on down the street but they no longer seem to want to show scores around the league. Instead all we get is ads for the app, tickets, and pleas to donate. Plus horribly loud, annoying mikes advertisements. Sound team needs to step out of the booth.

THIS! All of it.

I made my annual pilgrimage to Matthews over the holidays and while the game (vs QPac) was thrilling, the fan experience was anything but. Both OP and Rye are spot-on with their comments so no need here to elaborate except to note that the Konyatron has been under-utilized since it was turned on. In addition to replays and out-of-town scores, there are plenty of humorous public domain video clips that could be pulled in from the ether and played during breaks and between periods. Pet videos, especially of huskies smacking terriers, always entertain. As for the loud, shrill promos, let's just say they left my senses feeling sandpapered.

Someone needs to get a clue.

 

[OnePack]

Edit to respond to splitN: is there any real way to submit feedback? Public domain videos are a great idea and the rest of the feedback seems to have a lot of support

Is it a sad look at the state of the community engagement with the program that we get out of the cellar and there really isn’t a whisper here and nothing on DHD?

Mickey Mac clearly not the same team they were last year so I’m not going to say a sweep was an amazing accomplishment, but overall I thought the effort was much better these games. Especially from Lund who was starting to play up to expectations.

Tough schedule with BU Tuesday. Why are these BU games scheduled for Tuesdays?

 

[Split-N]

Edit to respond to splitN: is there any real way to submit feedback? Public domain videos are a great idea and the rest of the feedback seems to have a lot of support.

Is it a sad look at the state of the community engagement with the program that we get out of the cellar and there really isn’t a whisper here and nothing on DHD...?

I'm told that people have sent feedback to various places in the Athletic Dept. and elsewhere in the administration. Not sure anyone pays attention anymore. Once upon a time when DHD was in its heyday, the various forums were read by the top level of Athletics and Mr. Konya was a member. But DHD has faded. Not sure there are any more than a few folks left.

As for the weekend, wish they could get a do-over on that whiffed clearing pass vs UMass. Extending BU's misery on Tuesday would merit some forgiveness.