>>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

[SmallTown]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I would say the fan support notion is somewhat of a misnomer anyway. How many times did we sell out Ritter last year? Even the year following the frozen four we didn't manage 100% capacity in our tiny little rink. RIT has like 20,000 enrolled, another few thousand employed, and resides in a city of almost a quarter million...and we can't fill a 2,100 seat barn every night. The season opener this year was a cool 500 seats short of a sellout.

Last year as I recall we only sold out a handful of games. So..if I'm a recruit looking for a good program, is RIT's fan support really going to win me over? Not unless I'm looking to go only to other AHA schools, at which point RIT's on-ice performance, facilities, and academics puts us ahead of most programs anyway.

Certainly most schools in all the other conferences enjoy at least as good if not better fan support than we do.

I don't know why more RIT students don't go to games, but I know that the Rochester community is tired of having to show up 30 -60 minutes before the doors open just to get a seat for their family and on top of that having to deal with the major parking issues at almost every game. What family with small children wants to walk half way across campus in the middle of winter because RIT has deemed the event that night at the fieldhouse more important than the hockey game thus blocking anyone going to the hockey game from parking in D lot? I think many community members have simply just given up trying to go to the games because they don't think they'll get a seat or a parking spot. The new rink will definitely solve the seating problem, but I'm concerned about what will be done with the parking situation? That little section that's left of U lot isn't going to cut it and the next closest lot outside of D (which gets blocked for fieldhouse events) is S lot. That's a bit of a hike for small children in winter.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I don't know why more RIT students don't go to games, but I know that the Rochester community is tired of having to show up 30 -60 minutes before the doors open just to get a seat for their family and on top of that having to deal with the major parking issues at almost every game. What family with small children wants to walk half way across campus in the middle of winter because RIT has deemed the event that night at the fieldhouse more important than the hockey game thus blocking anyone going to the hockey game from parking in D lot? I think many community members have simply just given up trying to go to the games because they don't think they'll get a seat or a parking spot. The new rink will definitely solve the seating problem, but I'm concerned about what will be done with the parking situation? That little section that's left of U lot isn't going to cut it and the next closest lot outside of D (which gets blocked for fieldhouse events) is S lot. That's a bit of a hike for small children in winter.

I also cannot explain the apathy the student body has towards the hockey team. With 17,000+ students enrolled (and maybe 10k to 12k on campus in any one quarter - co-ops, commuters, on-line excepted), you'd think they could convince 1500 of them to go to a hockey game now and then before going to the weekend's parties.
As far as the Rochester community (actually closer to 800,000 in the greater Monroe County area instead of the 250,000 in the city of Rochester as mentioned earlier) goes... From a hockey standpoint, Rochester is mostly (although certainly not exclusively) a Sabres/Amerks town. It's difficult to get the die-hard professional fans (myself excluded) to warm to college hockey for some reason. And even at Amerks games, the attendance has not been anywhere near what it used to be in recent years. I think the many other entertainment options around town as well as things like NHL Center Ice take attention away from live hockey games in general and especially from schlepping out to Henrietta so you can park a quarter of a mile from a cold arena where you'll have to either sit on a wooden bench or stand for 2.5 hours or more to watch a lower tier Division I opponent take on the Tigers. When the Amerks are winning and drawing well, the "casual" fans come out of the woodwork to go to Friday night games. Many of these fans aren't huge hockey fans necessarily, but enjoy being out somewhere with their friends drinking and taking in some entertainment before hitting the bars. The fact that the Amerks have been so bad has led many of these "fans" to fade back into the woodwork and nearly all of them are highly unlikely to be converted into Tigers fans (partially due to the reasons stated previously). So even though around 2010 when RIT was at their height of media attention and the Amerks were just a mess and at their lowest, I don't think RIT stole too many fans from them. For now, I think RIT needs to keep marketing hard to its own students, staff, and local alumni to fill their tiny arena. When the new arena is built, they will have to either find some way to get many more students to care or start marketing the team more to the rest of the general public. I don't know what the magic bullet will be to convince more folks to come (shiny new digs may help for a short time?) but at the current in-house (students, staff, alumni) level of support, without increased interest from outside the RIT community, we'll see lots of games where the arena will be half empty.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I see progress that RIT gets to host Michigan and BC on Brick City, and that they can get a couple home OOC games unlike most of the AHA.

Although the respect for the program is a factor, you have to admit that without the BCA these opponents wouldn't come here in a million years. And if the Tigers don't get themselves back into a regular top 2 or 3 position in the AHA, even the BCA may not be enough to get programs like UM or BC in here. I'll be interested to see how high up the chain of D-I programs the Tigers will be able to draw in here to play in the new arena. It's going to be a good size D-I arena, but still won't be anywhere near the earning potential of home arenas for the big boys like the B1G teams, Notre Dame, BC, or North Dakota.
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if the Tigers still plan on playing the BCH game at BCA once the new arena is built?

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Although the respect for the program is a factor, you have to admit that without the BCA these opponents wouldn't come here in a million years. And if the Tigers don't get themselves back into a regular top 2 or 3 position in the AHA, even the BCA may not be enough to get programs like UM or BC in here. I'll be interested to see how high up the chain of D-I programs the Tigers will be able to draw in here to play in the new arena. It's going to be a good size D-I arena, but still won't be anywhere near the earning potential of home arenas for the big boys like the B1G teams, Notre Dame, BC, or North Dakota.
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if the Tigers still plan on playing the BCH game at BCA once the new arena is built?

Yes, the plan is to stay at BCA for homecoming. RIT wouldn't give up 6,000 seats worth of dollars.

 

[dxk3355]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

The reason that RIT doesn't get students at the games is that it doesn't engage the student body about the hockey games on a daily basis. If you walk around campus you see posters for the anime club, juggling club, frats, and plenty of other events that are fun and nearly free. The hockey team isn't free and they don't do this day to day engagement. Also there is no beer at the games.

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Perhaps RIT should do some sort of student appreciation game program? Free tickets to one game a month or something. Maybe buy a few kegs for those that are 21+ at the RITz?

I also cannot explain the apathy the student body has towards the hockey team. With 17,000+ students enrolled (and maybe 10k to 12k on campus in any one quarter - co-ops, commuters, on-line excepted), you'd think they could convince 1500 of them to go to a hockey game now and then before going to the weekend's parties.
As far as the Rochester community (actually closer to 800,000 in the greater Monroe County area instead of the 250,000 in the city of Rochester as mentioned earlier) goes... From a hockey standpoint, Rochester is mostly (although certainly not exclusively) a Sabres/Amerks town. It's difficult to get the die-hard professional fans (myself excluded) to warm to college hockey for some reason. And even at Amerks games, the attendance has not been anywhere near what it used to be in recent years. I think the many other entertainment options around town as well as things like NHL Center Ice take attention away from live hockey games in general and especially from schlepping out to Henrietta so you can park a quarter of a mile from a cold arena where you'll have to either sit on a wooden bench or stand for 2.5 hours or more to watch a lower tier Division I opponent take on the Tigers. When the Amerks are winning and drawing well, the "casual" fans come out of the woodwork to go to Friday night games. Many of these fans aren't huge hockey fans necessarily, but enjoy being out somewhere with their friends drinking and taking in some entertainment before hitting the bars. The fact that the Amerks have been so bad has led many of these "fans" to fade back into the woodwork and nearly all of them are highly unlikely to be converted into Tigers fans (partially due to the reasons stated previously). So even though around 2010 when RIT was at their height of media attention and the Amerks were just a mess and at their lowest, I don't think RIT stole too many fans from them. For now, I think RIT needs to keep marketing hard to its own students, staff, and local alumni to fill their tiny arena. When the new arena is built, they will have to either find some way to get many more students to care or start marketing the team more to the rest of the general public. I don't know what the magic bullet will be to convince more folks to come (shiny new digs may help for a short time?) but at the current in-house (students, staff, alumni) level of support, without increased interest from outside the RIT community, we'll see lots of games where the arena will be half empty.

 

[dxk3355]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Perhaps RIT should do some sort of student appreciation game program? Free tickets to one game a month or something. Maybe buy a few kegs for those that are 21+ at the RITz?

Free tickets wouldn't work, since once the free tickets are gone few will stay to buy them.

 

[mar7967]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Free tickets wouldn't work, since once the free tickets are gone few will stay to buy them.

They are already free ticket options too - bring a canned food item to RHA? Free ticket. You can buy that a corner store on food debit.

 

[apple2k]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Wooden Bleachers? Yikes! What sort of arena in the 21st century would still have wooden bleachers? Oh, wait . . . . Seriously, thanks for the info. As far as filling up the new arena goes, the new NCAA rules on the importance of "away" games to the PWR will help getting "big" schools, which will help with the AHA schools--not to mention really small schools--like SLU. Hope to meet a few of you in November--since my bud is getting the tix, I may be in hostile territory.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Although the respect for the program is a factor, you have to admit that without the BCA these opponents wouldn't come here in a million years. And if the Tigers don't get themselves back into a regular top 2 or 3 position in the AHA, even the BCA may not be enough to get programs like UM or BC in here. I'll be interested to see how high up the chain of D-I programs the Tigers will be able to draw in here to play in the new arena. It's going to be a good size D-I arena, but still won't be anywhere near the earning potential of home arenas for the big boys like the B1G teams, Notre Dame, BC, or North Dakota.
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if the Tigers still plan on playing the BCH game at BCA once the new arena is built?

It's very true that without the BCA, RIT does not get to host Michigan or Boston College. I think we could get mid-level HE teams like Vermont and Providence and possibly some WCHA teams. Granted, the sooner RIT gets back into consistent top 3 or 4 of the AHA the better the teams that would be willing to come to the new arena.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

The reason that RIT doesn't get students at the games is that it doesn't engage the student body about the hockey games on a daily basis. If you walk around campus you see posters for the anime club, juggling club, frats, and plenty of other events that are fun and nearly free. The hockey team isn't free and they don't do this day to day engagement. Also there is no beer at the games.

Getting back to winning ways would help as well.

 

[RITProf]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I wonder what the TV broadcasts' impacts are on attendance .... pretty high quality, free, HD, can sit in a nice chair, can drink all the beer you want, don't have to show up early, etc.

There were certainly a few times (last year especially) that I chose to forego the drive to campus in the cold to sit home and watch (despite having season tix). My daughter watches most games on TV now and seldom goes to one in person (apparently it's just not cool enough for a high-school kid to hang out with dad at RIT). Do students hang out in their apartments and watch the games, etc.? If so, will that change significantly with the new arena? Or, as Komey suggests, is it all about winning (hint: yes!)?

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I wonder what the TV broadcasts' impacts are on attendance .... pretty high quality, free, HD, can sit in a nice chair, can drink all the beer you want, don't have to show up early, etc.

There were certainly a few times (last year especially) that I chose to forego the drive to campus in the cold to sit home and watch (despite having season tix). My daughter watches most games on TV now and seldom goes to one in person (apparently it's just not cool enough for a high-school kid to hang out with dad at RIT). Do students hang out in their apartments and watch the games, etc.? If so, will that change significantly with the new arena? Or, as Komey suggests, is it all about winning (hint: yes!)?

My inclination would be that the broadcasts are a net gain for the program. Sure there are cases like yours where sometimes the path of least resistance is to stay home...but I would bet more people happen to tune into the games or are interested in watching them. If they games weren't broadcast, these people would likely have little/no interest in the program, certainly not enough to go out and find out the schedules, come to campus to get tickets, drive out for a game, etc. TV brings in a larger casual audience and most likely is more of a help to bring casual fans to Ritter a couple times per season than a hindrance of keeping would-be attendees home. Also in your case specifically, RIT doesn't care if you stay home because you paid for your tickets already, and would be counted on the attendance.

TLDR - The broadcast is an invaluable way of getting the wider community as a whole to at least casually pay attention to the team. Without it wider community interest suffers.

 

[RITProf]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

TLDR - The broadcast is an invaluable way of getting the wider community as a whole to at least casually pay attention to the team. Without it wider community interest suffers.

Agree completely. 100% support the broadcasts (TV & Radio). I wasn't suggesting that the TV coverage go away; it is a wonderful thing and great PR for RIT as a whole (as well as RIT Hockey). Just speculating on whether it hurts attendance some.

(To the WITR guys ... it's always nice to hop in the car after the game and listen to the post-game show. Although the walk to the car is often long, so maybe you can stall a little bit more before starting the post-game for us old guys!! )

 

[redhotzep96]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

From his Facebook page, Saracino is an "Official member of the Slovak Republic". I would assume Hockey related...?

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

(To the WITR guys ... it's always nice to hop in the car after the game and listen to the post-game show. Although the walk to the car is often long, so maybe you can stall a little bit more before starting the post-game for us old guys!! )

Or lobby for more parking closer to the arena. Or a new lot for the Field House.


Powers &8^]

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I still don't see a reason why having high expectations is a bad thing. I guess I am just competitive at nature. No one ever won a championship without high expectations. High expectations are what drive greatness and success. Therefore I don't think I am alone but, if you don't have high expectations you're most likely on the losing end.

And yes, I would rather be in the ECAC with no scholarships any-day of the year.

High expectations are alright. Wayne Wilson has made comments about how high they raised the bar on air and a few times to me personally when I had the pleasure of talking to him. He is proud that they raised the bar that high. It's a tribute to his staff and players.

However people just seem to have no perspective on what this program has accomplished and what is going on in College hockey in general. Back in the D-III days there were many players that came to RIT and other top notch D-III programs that easily could have player for any AHA or at the time it was called MAAC, and even could have scratch the line up at one of schools in a more well known conference. They came to D-III school for more playing time and because playing for a D-III title was better then playing in a league where your only chance was against other league teams and if you were lucky enough to win it all your reward was to get spanked on a national stage against that years top team. This resulted in many D-I teams in the AHA/MAAC being filled with less talent than the top D-III teams. Despite what the their coach said, it was not an accident that RIT beat Nebraska Omaha twice on their home ice back in 1998. This was also shown when RIT was able to win the regular season title of the AHA in their first regular season in AHA Play.

Things started to change when Holy Cross beat Minnesota in the AHA. Air Force made some more strides winning a few games and coming close in the Regional finals. Then RIT kicked the door down in Albany. This changed the reality of the AHA and I still watch a few D-III games, I see the effect there. More kids in the grey area are wanting to play D-I hockey over playing D-III. It has been a blast in D-I, I remember being at Colgate in like year 2 or 3 of D-I and Komar said to me how great it was to be playing Colgate and not Oswego or Elmira and I agreed.

I also ask you to point out how many other schools in other sports made it to the national semi finals in just 4 years at D-I? When I was a student at RIT (98-03) the idea of going to D-I was spoken but said to be impossible, that it would never happen. Now the biggest parking lot in the days I went to school is being turned into a new arena twice the size of the Ritter. RIT success at the D-I level has been impressive, but the way some people seem to dismiss their accomplishments after just one season of a bad year and early results of this year that have not been the greatest is ridiculous. It is mostly driven by people on here who was saying the same things at the start of the year that RIT went to the Frozen Four. However that is the first rule of propaganda, repeat a lie enough times and less informed people will believe it.

A program is measured against what it does year in and year out. Every program has an off year from time to time and has to rebuild or reload. The challenge, like in life, is once you get knock down how fast can you get back up. Lets see how this team finishes before we curse about how bad they are or attendance. BTW, ever stop to think that maybe one of the tough selling points on those last few tickets is that you have to get to the Ritter an hour and 15 minutes before a game to get a good seat. I know some of you hate assigned seating, but it should bring more fans.

Give my friend Tom a cigar.

About time! Is Lerchie going to join us for a Cigar

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

In no way am I downplaying how far RIT has come. Being a student over the span of RIT just joining D1 to the FF run, I got to experience a lot of change in a small amount of time. This still doesn't change the fact that we have seemingly let the AHA grow around us in three years. Maybe it's absurd for me to think that RIT should keep growing as a program (and they are, the new Arena is going to be great), but the on ice performance last year and this year have shown decline. These are the seasons we are suppose to be benefiting most from the FF run :\

High expectations are alright. Wayne Wilson has made comments about how high they raised the bar on air and a few times to me personally when I had the pleasure of talking to him. He is proud that they raised the bar that high. It's a tribute to his staff and players.

However people just seem to have no perspective on what this program has accomplished and what is going on in College hockey in general. Back in the D-III days there were many players that came to RIT and other top notch D-III programs that easily could have player for any AHA or at the time it was called MAAC, and even could have scratch the line up at one of schools in a more well known conference. They came to D-III school for more playing time and because playing for a D-III title was better then playing in a league where your only chance was against other league teams and if you were lucky enough to win it all your reward was to get spanked on a national stage against that years top team. This resulted in many D-I teams in the AHA/MAAC being filled with less talent than the top D-III teams. Despite what the their coach said, it was not an accident that RIT beat Nebraska Omaha twice on their home ice back in 1998. This was also shown when RIT was able to win the regular season title of the AHA in their first regular season in AHA Play.

Things started to change when Holy Cross beat Minnesota in the AHA. Air Force made some more strides winning a few games and coming close in the Regional finals. Then RIT kicked the door down in Albany. This changed the reality of the AHA and I still watch a few D-III games, I see the effect there. More kids in the grey area are wanting to play D-I hockey over playing D-III. It has been a blast in D-I, I remember being at Colgate in like year 2 or 3 of D-I and Komar said to me how great it was to be playing Colgate and not Oswego or Elmira and I agreed.

I also ask you to point out how many other schools in other sports made it to the national semi finals in just 4 years at D-I? When I was a student at RIT (98-03) the idea of going to D-I was spoken but said to be impossible, that it would never happen. Now the biggest parking lot in the days I went to school is being turned into a new arena twice the size of the Ritter. RIT success at the D-I level has been impressive, but the way some people seem to dismiss their accomplishments after just one season of a bad year and early results of this year that have not been the greatest is ridiculous. It is mostly driven by people on here who was saying the same things at the start of the year that RIT went to the Frozen Four. However that is the first rule of propaganda, repeat a lie enough times and less informed people will believe it.

A program is measured against what it does year in and year out. Every program has an off year from time to time and has to rebuild or reload. The challenge, like in life, is once you get knock down how fast can you get back up. Lets see how this team finishes before we curse about how bad they are or attendance. BTW, ever stop to think that maybe one of the tough selling points on those last few tickets is that you have to get to the Ritter an hour and 15 minutes before a game to get a good seat. I know some of you hate assigned seating, but it should bring more fans.



About time! Is Lerchie going to join us for a Cigar

 

[QUAlum2004]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

In no way am I downplaying how far RIT has come. Being a student over the span of RIT just joining D1 to the FF run, I got to experience a lot of change in a small amount of time. This still doesn't change the fact that we have seemingly let the AHA grow around us in three years. Maybe it's absurd for me to think that RIT should keep growing as a program (and they are, the new Arena is going to be great), but the on ice performance last year and this year have shown decline. These are the seasons we are suppose to be benefiting most from the FF run :\

As as Quinnipiac alum and fan let me just say that when the Polisseni Center is completed your team will have the top rink in the AHA. You will probably start getting much better recruits. This is going to happen because it happened for Quinnipiac and look where they are now. Coming off a National Runner-Up season and off to a 4-1 start beating UMass Lowell twice the team that was the preseason number 1. RIT made a tremendous run to the FF a few years ago but they still were playing in Ritter Arena not exactly the greatest place in the world. I have been there for a graduation not a game. The place is old and run down and not something that is enticing to recruits. That is all going to change very soon and you should see improved results and more tournament berths.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

As as Quinnipiac alum and fan let me just say that when the Polisseni Center is completed your team will have the top rink in the AHA. You will probably start getting much better recruits. This is going to happen because it happened for Quinnipiac and look where they are now. Coming off a National Runner-Up season and off to a 4-1 start beating UMass Lowell twice the team that was the preseason number 1. RIT made a tremendous run to the FF a few years ago but they still were playing in Ritter Arena not exactly the greatest place in the world. I have been there for a graduation not a game. The place is old and run down and not something that is enticing to recruits. That is all going to change very soon and you should see improved results and more tournament berths.

Yes, the building in and of itself is nothing to write home about (i.e. a dump). What coaches and players (from both RIT and opponents) seem to be impressed by the most here is the in-game atmosphere (i.e. the fans and their proximity to the ice), not the building itself. We're just hoping the new arena maintains the magic we have in Ritter while still being more of a modern quality arena.