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Providence Friars 2012-13

OneTimer said:
Yes, PSU clearly has a legit claim to best facilities now.
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Sorry, but if you don't have cushy leather seats, granite tile in the concourse, corian counters in the bathrooms, and a merchandise store that rivals any mall boutique...well, you ain't in the same ballpark as the Ralph.
 
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OneTimer said:
Yes, PSU clearly has a legit claim to best facilities now.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but if you don't have cushy leather seats, granite tile in the concourse, corian counters in the bathrooms, and a merchandise store that rivals any mall boutique...well, you ain't in the same ballpark as the Ralph.
 
Re: Providence Friars 2012-13

Hux said:
Sorry, but if you don't have cushy leather seats, granite tile in the concourse, corian counters in the bathrooms, and a merchandise store that rivals any mall boutique...well, you ain't in the same ballpark as the Ralph.
Click to expand...
Not to mention hundreds and hundreds of defunct logos. But yeah, there are many nice barns, but only the Ralph gives the impression that money was no object.
 
Re: Providence Friars 2012-13

Hux said:
Sorry, but if you don't have cushy leather seats, granite tile in the concourse, corian counters in the bathrooms, and a merchandise store that rivals any mall boutique...well, you ain't in the same ballpark as the Ralph.
Click to expand...

Serious question that has crossed my mind from time to time...is there a rink anywhere on the planet, in any league including the NHL, that is nicer than the Ralph? Hard to imagine that there would be.

Even as you approach it, especially from the north, it's grandeur is overwhelming...like the castle on the hill (but, sadly, not as much as it used to be with the newer satellite buildings that have gone up recently that detract attention from and the view of the Crown Jewel, in my opinion).

The Phone Booth (MTS Centre) certainly doesn't come close. Looks good from the outside but the concourse by comparison looks like bargain basement.

Ralph and Betty hit a Grand Slam with that one.
 
I agree many great men's facilities where Women Teams play. In most they are significantly to large for current Women attendance.

The PC staff thinks at 4000 seats, video replay, sky boxes, Friar Room, locker rooms, video room, weight room, shooting area and training facility it will be a great facility. May compare to UM Ridder or UW. It should be step up over BU that has dedicated rink for the Women.

I guess we will know on 9/27 opening and 9/28 match with McGill.
 
Re: Providence Friars 2012-13

The Friars absolutely will have a great facility for all - especially the recruits now.
 
Re: Providence Friars 2012-13

joehockey said:
May compare to UM Ridder or UW.
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LaBahn is hard to quantify as a rink. It has some very nice features; for example, the look and the lighting are very nice, and the narrow counter or bar around the top row beats a metal rail. However, the places where corners were cut really detracts from the overall experience. Without some renovation, I don't know that it could handle hosting a conference tournament, let alone a national one.

Ridder is a nice, basic rink for everyday use, and the recently added art and scoreboard are an upgrade, but there are definitely areas with room for improvement.

The bottom line is that if a team can hang enough banners it will spruce up any rink in the eyes of recruits.
 
joehockey said:
I agree many great men's facilities where Women Teams play. In most they are significantly to large for current Women attendance.

The PC staff thinks at 4000 seats, video replay, sky boxes, Friar Room, locker rooms, video room, weight room, shooting area and training facility it will be a great facility. May compare to UM Ridder or UW. It should be step up over BU that has dedicated rink for the Women.

I guess we will know on 9/27 opening and 9/28 match with McGill.
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Very true. Hope they addressed the lighting issues..only downside is the sheet is so small with corners that practically start at the hash marks.
 
Re: Providence Friars 2012-13

I feel when my dau and I went out East that the hosts felt they had the best rinks. I think it's hard for a young girl to appreciate Baker Rink and others the way an old dad might. I feel that although some Eastern schools may claim the top rink I think it is a regional argument. Classic barns out East, and modern ultra rinks in the WCHA. Hard to argue that BSU doesn't have the greatest rink around. The emobossed beavers on the leather seats surely had my daus interest, although a solid scholarship would have gone further.
 
Re: Providence Friars 2012-13

Still A Game said:
Hard to argue that BSU doesn't have the greatest rink around.
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??? Sounds like you haven't experienced the Ralph which is only a 2 hour drive away.

While BSU's arena is rather imposing from a distance with a great location on the lake and the concourse with the electronic displays and gizmos is sharp and impressive and a great idea, the ice/seating area is rather disappointing although I assume it suits their purposes.

But from inside or outside...the Ralph it ain't.
 
Re: Providence Friars 2012-13

Please pardon me for being uninformed, but who plays out of "the Ralph". I'm assuming a Minn. team considering the 2 hour distance from BSU.
 
Re: Providence Friars 2012-13

Thank you kind sir.


Wow it looks like a smaller version of the United Center, home of the Stanley Cup Champions, the Chicago Blackhawks!! Outstanding!!
 
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Re: Providence Friars 2012-13

Yeah, as a non-UND person, I would agree that The Ralph is an absolute palace. The training facilities are awesome too, but being underground you kind of get the feeling you'd be living like a gopher if you played & trained there. Would be nice to have a little natural lighting while you work out, especially given the general bleakness of North Dakota 9 months of the year. So, it's a palace for gophers...ummm, maybe Flickertails would be more appropriate.

As an aside, there is another Ralph Engelstad arena in another bleak tundra town, Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Smaller than UND's Ralph, but nicer than a lot of college hockey rinks.

A bit more on Ralph...
 
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