Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

[Draighlicht]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

Sounds like Ohio is thinking about a hockey only facility. Is this the first anyone's heard of this or has it been rumored for a while? If not what do we know about future plans like location, capacity, cost, etc? By the quote it sounds like it's on a wish list right now with no official planning so no getting hopes up yet.

How much do they fill the current arena? I know it's a multipurpose basketball arena, so I'd imagine no where near to capacity. Seems to be the trend to move away from sharing with basketball facilities. Better environment when it's full and it shows good committment to the program. Wisconsin will be the only one left in the B1G in a dual purpose arena. Given that they just added on with LaBahn I doubt that will change any time soon though.

The plans have been there in the form of a master plan for some time.

What brings this to the forefront is that St John Arena, French Field house and the Ice Arena are all slated to be demolished for classrooms and dorms in the not too distant future. A building for wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics etc was announced a week or so ago and that means that they must also build something for hockey shortly after that. Original master plan called for a 3K+ arena. The last I heard that was now 6K+ that would serve both men and women teams. My guess on timeline is 8 to 10 years - just a guess unless a hockey fan wins the Powerball tonight.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

The plans have been there in the form of a master plan for some time.

What brings this to the forefront is that St John Arena, French Field house and the Ice Arena are all slated to be demolished for classrooms and dorms in the not too distant future. A building for wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics etc was announced a week or so ago and that means that they must also build something for hockey shortly after that. Original master plan called for a 3K+ arena. The last I heard that was now 6K+ that would serve both men and women teams. My guess on timeline is 8 to 10 years - just a guess unless a hockey fan wins the Powerball tonight.

6K is too small, IMHO. It would be more than enough for the womens games but the men have drawn 8K-9K for games against Michigan and Miami in down years. I think something in the 8K - 9K range would be ideal. Then you wouldn't have to turn people away for big games. If and when Coach Oz gets the program to the level that he aspires to, we'll sellout an 8K - 9K arena on a regular basis. Having spoken about the desired capacity of a new hockey-only facility, I will be so happy with it that I won't care if it only holds 6K. It would be nice if they could build a new arena and still keep the ticket prices reasonable. I think $11 is a great price for a mens college hockey game. Hopefully the prices won't go up too much with a new arena.

 

[MUhawks628]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I should probably know this, but are hockey games free for OSU students?

 

[Draighlicht]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I should probably know this, but are hockey games free for OSU students?

yes

 

[jsvo88]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

The plans have been there in the form of a master plan for some time.

What brings this to the forefront is that St John Arena, French Field house and the Ice Arena are all slated to be demolished for classrooms and dorms in the not too distant future. A building for wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics etc was announced a week or so ago and that means that they must also build something for hockey shortly after that. Original master plan called for a 3K+ arena. The last I heard that was now 6K+ that would serve both men and women teams. My guess on timeline is 8 to 10 years - just a guess unless a hockey fan wins the Powerball tonight.

He's on the ball with a lot of this post. The hockey rink that was in the master plan that was done in 2008 can be found in this document: http://fod.osu.edu/masterplans/subdistrict/Athletics_10_08.pdf

That plan is just that, though, and Ohio State certainly isn't married to it. The way things are going, Ohio State isn't putting a lot of the buildings in the places where they are in that plan, but they are ticking the buildings off one by one as they go.

The announcement of the Covelli Arena for volleyball, wrestling, etc., was good news in two ways for a potential new rink: 1. They use donated funds for new facilities at OSU, and any time a facility gets ticked off the list, everything else moves up. 2. As Draighlicht said, if athletics replaces St. John Arena and leaves that plot of land, they have to replace the old rink and French Field House, too. They would likely go at the same time, too, as SJA provides a lot of the services for the Ice Rink (locker rooms, steam, water, etc.)

The hockey rink is on the list, but it is behind at least the Covelli Arena and the new Biggs training facility. But what is interesting is what will happen when Covelli is ready -- if they close the Ice Rink, where do the men's/women's teams practice until a new hockey facility is ready? (The hoops teams will have their own practice facilities, but it would be tough to have hockey practices on the same day as weeknight basketball games in VCA)

But as OSU associate AD Ben Jay told me Saturday: "Plans are right now for another ice rink to be built up in the athletics village, but that's well down the road." So that's exciting.

 

[OSUmab]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

He's on the ball with a lot of this post. The hockey rink that was in the master plan that was done in 2008 can be found in this document: http://fod.osu.edu/masterplans/subdistrict/Athletics_10_08.pdf

That plan is just that, though, and Ohio State certainly isn't married to it. The way things are going, Ohio State isn't putting a lot of the buildings in the places where they are in that plan, but they are ticking the buildings off one by one as they go.

The announcement of the Covelli Arena for volleyball, wrestling, etc., was good news in two ways for a potential new rink: 1. They use donated funds for new facilities at OSU, and any time a facility gets ticked off the list, everything else moves up. 2. As Draighlicht said, if athletics replaces St. John Arena and leaves that plot of land, they have to replace the old rink and French Field House, too. They would likely go at the same time, too, as SJA provides a lot of the services for the Ice Rink (locker rooms, steam, water, etc.)

The hockey rink is on the list, but it is behind at least the Covelli Arena and the new Biggs training facility. But what is interesting is what will happen when Covelli is ready -- if they close the Ice Rink, where do the men's/women's teams practice until a new hockey facility is ready? (The hoops teams will have their own practice facilities, but it would be tough to have hockey practices on the same day as weeknight basketball games in VCA)

But as OSU associate AD Ben Jay told me Saturday: "Plans are right now for another ice rink to be built up in the athletics village, but that's well down the road." So that's exciting.

Very true seems to create some serious practice issues. And will the womens team just play all games at VCA? What about Skull Session when SJA is gone? I assume talks are underway.

 

[jsvo88]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

Very true seems to create some serious practice issues. And will the womens team just play all games at VCA? What about Skull Session when SJA is gone? I assume talks are underway.

I'd assume Skull Session would move to VCA. It's the only comparable building even remotely close.

As for the women, I could see a day they move all the games to VCA before a new rink materializes. Oz talked about how Wisconsin did the same thing when he was there, and I know the women's program has a really, really hard time recruiting to the old Ice Rink.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I'd assume Skull Session would move to VCA. It's the only comparable building even remotely close.

As for the women, I could see a day they move all the games to VCA before a new rink materializes. Oz talked about how Wisconsin did the same thing when he was there, and I know the women's program has a really, really hard time recruiting to the old Ice Rink.

The old ice rink is a great place to see a game, but it's hands-down the worst facility in the WCHA and it has to be hurting recruiting. I assume the 3,000 seat ice rink they reference on page 11 would be strictly for the womens team and a practice rink for the men as 3,000 would be way too small for a mens hockey venue. We're drawing more than that now for games against directional Michigan schools and our team isn't even a finished product yet.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

For me personally it would be heartbreaking to see the rink gone as I was there when it first opened back in '61. So many memories skating there over all those decades and it really hasn't changed very much. All the benches are even the originals!

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

For me personally it would be heartbreaking to see the rink gone as I was there when it first opened back in '61. So many memories skating there over all those decades and it really hasn't changed very much. All the benches are even the originals!

To me it's heartbreaking to see the whole complex gone. Not to turn this into a hoops thread, but I have seen a lot of great hoops games in Saint John Arena (best was that 1991 OT win vs Indiana). Needless to say, when I was at tOSU, the old Ice Rink was home to the mens team, so I saw guys like Perry and Paul Pooley and Jamie Macoun play there, among others. It's a bittersweet situation. I will be thrilled to see our women and possibly the men get a venue that is comparable to other teams in the leagues they play in, but I will miss the OSU Ice Rink. Ideally, I would love to see OSU build something along the lines of Minnesota where they have a womens arena (3,000) and an adjacent mens arena (8,000 - 9,000). Maybe I am dreaming, but I believe Ohio State has the means to make this happen (rich alums ... unfortunately I am not one of them). Maybe I should start buying powerball tickets (haha)!

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

I'd assume Skull Session would move to VCA. It's the only comparable building even remotely close.

As for the women, I could see a day they move all the games to VCA before a new rink materializes. Oz talked about how Wisconsin did the same thing when he was there, and I know the women's program has a really, really hard time recruiting to the old Ice Rink.

Jsvo88, thank you for your insights into this matter! This has been talked about for quite some time on here and it appears we are that much closer to having this come to fruition. Exciting news for Buckeye Hockey fans, no question about it!

 

[THE OHIO STATE]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

GOOD NEWS about Saturday nights game. Updated info says that Buckeye Vision will have the video feed. THUMBS UP.


http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/gameday.html

 

[OSUmab]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

To me it's heartbreaking to see the whole complex gone. Not to turn this into a hoops thread, but I have seen a lot of great hoops games in Saint John Arena (best was that 1991 OT win vs Indiana). Needless to say, when I was at tOSU, the old Ice Rink was home to the mens team, so I saw guys like Perry and Paul Pooley and Jamie Macoun play there, among others. It's a bittersweet situation. I will be thrilled to see our women and possibly the men get a venue that is comparable to other teams in the leagues they play in, but I will miss the OSU Ice Rink. Ideally, I would love to see OSU build something along the lines of Minnesota where they have a womens arena (3,000) and an adjacent mens arena (8,000 - 9,000). Maybe I am dreaming, but I believe Ohio State has the means to make this happen (rich alums ... unfortunately I am not one of them). Maybe I should start buying powerball tickets (haha)!

SJA and Ice Rink are/were great places to watch. It gets loud in both of them with hardly any effort. VCA can be loud-but it takes a group effort, can be real quiet too. However both of them are aging buildings. SJA can be blazing hot no matter if its summer or winter plus other issues. Ice Rink-well I think we all know. Low ceiling, choppy ice, a net that comes off when you breathe on it, etc. I support the changes.

 

[Draighlicht]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

If I had any influence (I don't) I would love to see a scaled down replica of St John for ice hockey. I love how even the upper seats seem close to the floor and the sound just rolls down from the top to the floor. Put a hockey rink in that configuration and you have a great home ice advantage. We need about 9K in seats.

What I suspect will happen is that they will build around a 5K facility and games against 'premium opponents' will be played in the Schott while the directional schools will be in the new building.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

SJA and Ice Rink are/were great places to watch. It gets loud in both of them with hardly any effort. VCA can be loud-but it takes a group effort, can be real quiet too. However both of them are aging buildings. SJA can be blazing hot no matter if its summer or winter plus other issues. Ice Rink-well I think we all know. Low ceiling, choppy ice, a net that comes off when you breathe on it, etc. I support the changes.

I don't think you will find anyone on here that does not support the changes. A hockey-only venue is way overdue.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

If I had any influence (I don't) I would love to see a scaled down replica of St John for ice hockey. I love how even the upper seats seem close to the floor and the sound just rolls down from the top to the floor. Put a hockey rink in that configuration and you have a great home ice advantage. We need about 9K in seats.

What I suspect will happen is that they will build around a 5K facility and games against 'premium opponents' will be played in the Schott while the directional schools will be in the new building.

5K would be too small IMHO, but as I said earlier, I will be so happy to get a new hockey-only facility that I probably won't care if we short-sell potential capacity.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

Great game tonight. Not much work for either goalie, but when they have been challenged, they have both made the tough saves. I sincerely hope we can push one through tonight. We've worked way too hard tonight to not get points!

 

[OSUmab]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

Wow what a game Dzingel buries one late 1-0 win. Credit to Szech for making the rush. Bucks were flying after the 1st period. Nice to ensure 3 on friday

 

[UMICH]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

It's rare that I'll be happy after an ohio win but I actually HATE sparty more than you. Good job!

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State 2013/2014 - Third year in Oz

It's rare that I'll be happy after an ohio win but I actually HATE sparty more than you. Good job!

Haha, UMICH, we'll take it! It was a big three points on a night when goals were hard to come by. I know there has been some handwringing here about our lack of scoring (I've been guilty myself), but sometimes the goalies just stop everything and you end up having to win a 1-0 game. Tonight was one of those nights, and I am happy with the three points! I'll be even happier if we can get a W tomorrow and the six points. That would be huge!