RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

[ken66]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

IMHO Ritter is not a "cozy" place. It's a "close" place, because of the bleacher seating. People jammed up against each other on those hard wooden benches help create the energized atmosphere everyone likes. Put in stadium seating, which spreads out that same crowd, and you'll get a much different (and comfortable) feel. Do hockey crowds really like to be comfortable? I know many of them like to stand. SUNY Oswego has a relatively new building that seats 2500, and stands 500 around an 185x85 ice surface. Perfect for their program. Using that as a model, I sense that RIT would prosper with 4000 seated and 500 standing. I doubt you'll have to expand beyond that 4500 capacity. The very first complaint you'll get in a new and expanded arena is that it doesn't "feel" the same. Well, duh! If you have a crowd of 6000 for hockey, take it to BCA. Let those larger crowds be their niche.

 

[RITAlum]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

'04/'05? Oh my.

in '85/'86 the away team would defend the goal nearest Clark twice, while RIT would defend the window side of the rink twice. The corner crew hung out nearest the women's bathroom (that doesn't sound right...).

Not sure when it swapped, but it was sometime after I left.

kids today...

 

[MattS]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

'04/'05? Oh my.

in '85/'86 the away team would defend the goal nearest Clark twice, while RIT would defend the window side of the rink twice. The corner crew hung out nearest the women's bathroom (that doesn't sound right...).

Not sure when it swapped, but it was sometime after I left.

kids today...

This is the way it was when I came to RIT back in the early 90's. I can't remember exactly when it switched but it was before '99 when I left Rochester.

 

[Rochester]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

IMHO Ritter is not a "cozy" place. It's a "close" place, because of the bleacher seating. People jammed up against each other on those hard wooden benches help create the energized atmosphere everyone likes. Put in stadium seating, which spreads out that same crowd, and you'll get a much different (and comfortable) feel. Do hockey crowds really like to be comfortable? I know many of them like to stand. SUNY Oswego has a relatively new building that seats 2500, and stands 500 around an 185x85 ice surface. Perfect for their program. Using that as a model, I sense that RIT would prosper with 4000 seated and 500 standing. I doubt you'll have to expand beyond that 4500 capacity. The very first complaint you'll get in a new and expanded arena is that it doesn't "feel" the same. Well, duh! If you have a crowd of 6000 for hockey, take it to BCA. Let those larger crowds be their niche.

Though I know where your coming from, you are extremely underestimating how much the Rochester community needs this team. All of Rochester will be behind this team! If the community was not behind this team I would agree with 4,000. But this arena should be 6,000 since Rochester is behind them. Rochester is excited and they should be!

 

[Got Print]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

Though I know where your coming from, you are extremely underestimating how much the Rochester community needs this team. All of Rochester will be behind this team! If the community was not behind this team I would agree with 4,000. But this arena should be 6,000 since Rochester is behind them. Rochester is excited and they should be!

We'll see how much the Rochester community is behind them the weekend after Thanksgiving when the students are on break. Until the community starts buying tickets on a regular basis, causing games to be sold out weeks ahead, I don't think we need 6,000 seats. When we sold out Blue Cross, it was mostly RIT alumni,students,faculty and staff, not the community.

 

[elvo86]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

Though I know where your coming from, you are extremely underestimating how much the Rochester community needs this team. All of Rochester will be behind this team! If the community was not behind this team I would agree with 4,000. But this arena should be 6,000 since Rochester is behind them. Rochester is excited and they should be!

And again, with two tiers, it won't look so bad. Fill the first tier first, the second tier is bonus points.

 

[d4rksabre]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

We'll see how much the Rochester community is behind them the weekend after Thanksgiving when the students are on break. Until the community starts buying tickets on a regular basis, causing games to be sold out weeks ahead, I don't think we need 6,000 seats. When we sold out Blue Cross, it was mostly RIT alumni,students,faculty and staff, not the community.

And again, with two tiers, it won't look so bad. Fill the first tier first, the second tier is bonus points.

Agreed on both counts. There is no way we need a 6,000 seat arena. I'd imagine we draw about 3,000 regularly for the first year or two of the new arena until it starts catching on that this is something that anyone can do on a Friday/Saturday night in Rochester.

 

[elvo86]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

Since it's a holiday weekend, I'm assuming there will be some people not using their season tickets for the games on the 26th and 27th. Anyone interested in selling? I'm looking to pick up four tickets for the Friday game if possible. If I can't get that many for Friday, I could convert one or two to Saturday...

Send me an e-mail and we'll chat.

 

[Chris Lerch]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

This is the way it was when I came to RIT back in the early 90's. I can't remember exactly when it switched but it was before '99 when I left Rochester.

Wilson changed it when he got here in 1999. He wanted the defensive zone onside line change for two periods.

 

[Rochester]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

I JUST BOUGHT MY TICKETS FOR FRIDAY WOOT WOOT!!! lol

Oh yeah, I hate Canisius!

 

[Rochester]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

Just so everyone knows... We're coming out of the 716 this weekend with our first win over NIAGARA!!!!

I better see a sea of ORANGE or ill be so angry with RIT FANS!

 

[komey1]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

Agreed on both counts. There is no way we need a 6,000 seat arena. I'd imagine we draw about 3,000 regularly for the first year or two of the new arena until it starts catching on that this is something that anyone can do on a Friday/Saturday night in Rochester.

Better marketing ON CAMPUS could probably get to 3000.

Paper and TV ads (and not just TWCS) could get the crowds MUCH bigger.

 

[blazer777]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

Better marketing ON CAMPUS could probably get to 3000.

Paper and TV ads (and not just TWCS) could get the crowds MUCH bigger.

A 4k areana would be just about right.

Marketing? that's just liquer and guessing!

 

[jgRIT]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

My friend was in line at the box office for Pittsburgh tickets. She was told they haven't arrived yet and to try again tomorrow.

 

[Ed Trefzger]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

One of the considerations on arena size is the ability to bring in programs with a national fan base for non-league games. RIT still has to find most of those on the road. Being able to seat 5,000-6,000 for a Michigan, Notre Dame or BC means the difference between having more home games or not. And RIT has to look to the future. When Penn State's program begins, it will likely start a domino effect of conference changes. Things could look much different than they are now as far as league affiliations. I think it is better to have an arena that is loud when 1/2 or 2/3 full than to have one that is stuck being too small. They certainly want to do it right the first time. Adding more seats after things are complete is not a cost-effective way to go. The new arena also has the opportunity to be a venue for other events, and there's a big difference in what 1,000 or 2,000 more seats can do.

 

[MattS]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

One of the considerations on arena size is the ability to bring in programs with a national fan base for non-league games. RIT still has to find most of those on the road. Being able to seat 5,000-6,000 for a Michigan, Notre Dame or BC means the difference between having more home games or not. And RIT has to look to the future. When Penn State's program begins, it will likely start a domino effect of conference changes. Things could look much different than they are now as far as league affiliations. I think it is better to have an arena that is loud when 1/2 or 2/3 full than to have one that is stuck being too small. They certainly want to do it right the first time. Adding more seats after things are complete is not a cost-effective way to go. The new arena also has the opportunity to be a venue for other events, and there's a big difference in what 1,000 or 2,000 more seats can do.

Hm, not sure that I agree with you on this. I really doubt that for the foreseeable future that a larger arena will help all that much in getting teams like Mich, ND, BC, etc. in Rochester. This especially depends upon what kind of mayhem is going to occur with Penn St. Didn't it come out in the press conference or maybe I read it online that RIT still plans to have one game a year downtown even after the new arena is built. A Michigan, ND, BC, etc. game would almost certainly be there.

Shouldn't the paramount thing for a new arena is making it a great place to watch the vast majority of the RIT's hockey games? It should not be a priority if it can be used for other functions. A winning atmosphere is what is going to attract fans and players to RIT not if they play Michigan (or some other similar team) once a year.

I believe to a certain extent that winning and the atmosphere of the home arena go hand in hand for creating a great program. Obviously players want to play for winning teams and fans want to see winning teams. But there are a lot of winning programs out there and I contend that a great atmosphere can be the make or break decision between two winning programs. Just like a great atmosphere can make or break a casual fans decision on where to spend their money. Let face it, RIT is not going to have 6000+ die hard fans (one's that will buy season tickets or come to a majority of games no matter how good the team is) anytime in the near future. So keeping that atmosphere of making RIT the place to have fun is paramount to the new arena. A cavernous arena that is 1/2 full most of the time it not the way to do that. I firmly believe that sacrificing atmosphere for the sake of larger capacity for maybe one game a season for a BC, Mich, etc, or for the one or two non-RIT hockey events is foolish.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

One of the considerations on arena size is the ability to bring in programs with a national fan base for non-league games.

Or even for nationally known programs in League games, if,... and that's a big IF, there is any chance in the future of RIT trying to make the jump from the "mid-majors" to one of the Big-4 conferences (or whatever the equivalent is in the new landscape post-BTHC). I have no idea if that is even a consideration aside from talk on these boards, but it doesn't seem unfathomable at the rate that the program seems to be bent on growing.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

Let face it, RIT is not going to have 6000+ die hard fans (one's that will buy season tickets or come to a majority of games no matter how good the team is) anytime in the near future.

Who's to say they can't? I know it is a stretch right now, but really think about it. During any given in-season quarter (Fall, Winter, and Spring), RIT has upwards of at least 12k students attending school (17,000 enrollment minus co-ops and minus strictly on-line students), more than half of whom live on or around campus. So let's say for the sake of argument that 7,000 live on or near RIT (I have no idea what the numbers are). Advertise the crap out of it on campus and get just half of them to go to games and you've got 3500 just for starters. Then on top of that you've got the commuters who are fans, the local alumni (like myself) who have been going for years, the local alumni who have been re-invigorated by last year's FF run, and then the local community hockey fans (especially disenchanted Amerks fans - believe me, there are LOTS of them), and whomever else and I could potentially see a base of fans approaching the 5k range. Then you bring in a couple annual contests with well known schools (whether or not they're actually good at hockey - the casual fan here in Rochester still doesn't know the difference), and you can easily sell the place out a few times a year even at 6,000.

 

[MattS]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

Who's to say they can't? I know it is a stretch right now, but really think about it. During any given in-season quarter (Fall, Winter, and Spring), RIT has upwards of at least 12k students attending school (17,000 enrollment minus co-ops and minus strictly on-line students), more than half of whom live on or around campus. So let's say for the sake of argument that 7,000 live on or near RIT (I have no idea what the numbers are). Advertise the crap out of it on campus and get just half of them to go to games and you've got 3500 just for starters. Then on top of that you've got the commuters who are fans, the local alumni (like myself) who have been going for years, the local alumni who have been re-invigorated by last year's FF run, and then the local community hockey fans (especially disenchanted Amerks fans - believe me, there are LOTS of them), and whomever else and I could potentially see a base of fans approaching the 5k range. Then you bring in a couple annual contests with well known schools (whether or not they're actually good at hockey - the casual fan here in Rochester still doesn't know the difference), and you can easily sell the place out a few times a year even at 6,000.

The key word in my statement was "majority". I have no doubt that occasionally a game or two could sell out a 6,000+ arena, but not a majority of the time. Even with your numbers and logic which I think has flaws (i.e. what happens when Amerk become good again or is it really lack or advertising that keeps students away?).

Since I have time here at work today I did a quick lookup of the capacity of each arena's in DI. By my calculation the median is 4200. That includes the outliers of NoDo, Wisc. Ohio St, RoMo, Amer. Int'l. etc. I think around that # is a good place to start the discussion of capacity.

 

[komey1]

Re: RIT 2010-11: What do Tigers dream of?

Only 16 schools have capacity over 6000 for their arenas - so I think that would be plenty big.

For those who think that a 6000 seat arena will draw top tier teams - don't bank on it, especially when the Big Ten Hockey Conference is formed unless RIT is invited to a bigger league.