With all the posts about the state of the current renovations, perhaps a little historical comparison between the current renovations and the one done between the 1982-1983 seasons and the 1983-1984 seasons is in order. There are major differences between the two, some from memory (not always 100% reliable, but, in this case are close enough) and some documented and totally reliable. Some good for the current leaders, some not so good.
They are:
1) At least for hockey, the Fieldhouse was never needed again after RPI's last home game of the 1982-1983 season on February 19, 1983 (a 6-3 win against Boston College) and would not be needed again for a home game until November 4, 1983 (a 2-1 win against Mount Allison). Yes, they had way more swing time the first time around.
2) However, the 1980's renovations were far more extensive involving far more than just the rink, boards, glass and refrigeration system. Also included were renovations changes to the floor which involved lowering it and making the rink 15 feet longer, extending the grandstand on both sides, removing view obstructing poles, modernizing everything out of sight under the grandstand (locker rooms, offices, etc.) and all the way up to a new roof (which has probably already been replaced somewhere along the line).
3) The key institutional leaders in place at the time of the first renovation were the GOAT of ALL RPI Athletic Directors Bob Ducatte (dispute that in my presence and I will probably just laugh in your face and tell you that you need to sleep with somebody else every now and then) and the great Dr. George Low who also had to rescue the place from the reign of a pathetic stiff much like the present guy is apparently doing now. Don't know a thing about who would be the GOAT at the presidential level but I do know that the only guy who could have possibly given Ducatte a run for his money would have been in charge now but, incredibly, was never given the opportunity and eventually went to work somewhere else. Can't possibly say for sure if that would have accelerated the pace of the current renovation, but, I do wonder.
4) Finally, they did not need the swing time mentioned in #1 above. Not even close. The first renovation was pretty much completed at or about the beginning of the academic year as best as I can recall. In plenty of time to schedule a well publicised (both in local newspapers and by regular mail to season ticket holders) open to the public tour of the entire virtually completely renovated facility. All that was still laying around circa Labor Day 1983 were a wooden horse or two, some wall panelling here and there, a few walls that still needed painting to be completed and some tools wherever touch up work still had to be done. None of these cosmetics would have had much effect on the arena area itself. They could have hosted an event of any kind that very day as soon as the sizable tour group which included me left!!!
Should anyone who lives in the area (or lived in the area at that time) AND took the long ago tour recall anything above differently about the state of the renovation, the floor is yours.