The Frozen Four

[walrus655321]

Re: The Frozen Four

only issue i had was the upper level concessions at the jacobs arena having being half staffed. embarrassing to see the lines waiting for wieners and popcorn. good god are the jacobs cheap

I just posted about that on the other thread, glad to see I wasn't the only one who noticed it. That was terrible, and it made navigating the balcony difficult because the lines were EVERYWHERE.

Also would've like to see them use the Fan Zones downstairs for the merchandise instead of closing them up. That would've improved traffic flow in the arena too.

Seems like the Garden did what it could to make sure it's a long wait before the next Frozen Four.

 

[DLG]

Re: The Frozen Four

The "backstory" on that is that it was built on the same footprint as the old Boston Garden. The old garden was still standing and the walls were something like 10 inches apart before they tore down the old garden. Unless they had put it in the suburbs, there was no other option. The concourses are not particularly wide, either, and that's for the same reason. Boston is a hardscrabble town. You have to remember that we were going to games where there were no video boards, sound systems, in-game entertainment, etc. There was just the game and John Kiley playing the organ. You didn't get up every five seconds to get food. You were there to WATCH THE GAME. We have gotten so spoiled it's ridiculous. People want every amenity they have in their home. Fine. You know what, then? Stay home. Boston has never been that way. Someone said they didn't "promote it?" Well, it sold out for two nights. What type of "promotion" were you looking for. This isn't a one-horse town. I bet if you walked around and asked 100 people if they knew that the Frozen Four was in town this weekend, at least 70 would have said "What????" I'm not condescending to other places...it's just the way it is here. There are a million things going on at any one time all the time. The FF is not the "Big Cheese" when it's in town like it is in other places. I'm sure in Cincinnati or Milwaukee or Tampa it gets promoted more. Fine. It's not like that here, and never will be. And for those who aren't aware, college sports takes a BIG back seat to pro sports in this town. I guarantee more people were excited about the Red Sox home opener (today) than even knew about the Frozen Four. The people here who care know about it. The people who care about the opera or the theatre or the museums or the research institutions or the cancer centers or the concerts or the circus know about those events too. It's a diverse city with diverse events that has an international flavor and appeal. There's more to life than the Frozen Four. It is what it is. If you want it to be like it is in Tampa or Anaheim, then I suggest you go when it's in those places. It ain't gonna be that way in Boston.

I am a Bostonian who goes to the frozen four every year. Yes Boston is a good host city with lots to do but at a high cost
the garden however is the worst venue for holding the event. Every year we go to an arena that has more amenities, better sight lines and is managed better than the garden
When the garden was built they said it would be very steep which it is not. The concourses can't handle the traffic between games and it is hard to believe that the concessions weren't adequate since it is Jacobs main business.
I had Bruins seats for 38 years and only lasted in new arena one year

Looking forward to Tampa-they did a great job in 2012

 

[CLS]

Re: The Frozen Four

... I'm not condescending to other places...

Yes you are, and there's no reason for the defensiveness. With perhaps the sole exception of Minneapolis-St. Paul (or Grand Forks, if they ever had it there), the FF is not the "Big Cheese" anywhere. There are many other fine cities that have a lot going on, and even have a theater or a museum or two, and aren't "one-horse towns". And even if what you say is true, there's no good reason why the TD Garden is not managed as well as other similar venues.

I agree with you on the promotion. When I go to a FF, I couldn't care less if there are banners on the street or if the bartender doesn't know why I'm wearing a hat with a lot of pins on it. But if someone else feels differently, I don't think that they deserve scorn. You know, if someone has a different opinion than you or values different things, it doesn't mean they're wrong.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: The Frozen Four

I will say one disappointing aspect we encountered was the alcohol distribution over at Fanfest. The mobile bar was oddly-shaped and hard to get over to a bartender (busy + going around these massive semicircles that kept you away from the bar and served no purpose that I could see), you waited there for a while only to find out when it was your turn to order that you needed a wristband. Only after we roamed around did we find a small little foldup table with no high signage to see from afar that it was where you got a wristband. Total clusterf.

Fanfest overall was seemingly lame. Didn't have the feel of the fanfest in Tampa or Philly.

Note for those of you that did go in, you were standing in the spot of the old Boston Garden.

 

[chickod]

Re: The Frozen Four

But if someone else feels differently, I don't think that they deserve scorn. You know, if someone has a different opinion than you or values different things, it doesn't mean they're wrong.

Sorry, that's not what I meant to convey. What I'm saying is that in BOSTON, they DON'T CARE if you like it or not. They're not going to go out of their way to accommodate you. They don't even accommodate US (the people who live here). It's the most corrupt city in the country, full of political hacks and lifelong "absentee" employees. My point was that if you expect to receive the same level of consideration that you get in other places, you are going to be disappointed. Did I like the fact that the half the concession stands on the upper levels were closed? No. Do THEY care? No. It's not one of our endearing qualities. The expression "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" was never more apropos than in Boston.

 

[jonnyquest]

Re: The Frozen Four

I'd add that it was odd that the seafood stand was sold out of pretty much everything early on Thursday. Was it that hard to grasp that out-of-town visitors might be interested in the more unique concessions? That said, I was later advised by a local that the seafood items were usually of poor quality. In other words, the seafood sellout may have been a blessing in disguise.

I'm not surprised to read the seafood stand was sold out. It may have been the best food value inside the Garden - $15 for a double cheeseburger vs. $16 for a lobster roll.

The Garden has the worst food of any arena I've been...and it's not close. I wish we could get our freedom back to leave the arena between games on FF Thursday.

 

[alfablue]

Re: The Frozen Four

b1g

It was nice of the NCAA to find a way to include the conference in the Frozen Four.

Don't mean to bring up too many old points (unless it was to remind posters of their pre-game chest pumping that turned out so very wrong)...

But about this- yes our conference sucked bad this year- but I also noticed some games where the refs let the game get a little out of hand- where the two teams would end up pretty chippy. Which I don't like much- since it could have been prevented by making the correct first penalty call.

So for previous BU/PC games- was it this chippy before? If not, then on behalf of the crappy B14G refs, sorry about that.

 

[chickod]

Re: The Frozen Four

The Garden has the worst food of any arena I've been...and it's not close. I wish we could get our freedom back to leave the arena between games on FF Thursday.

The BEST food I have ever had at a sports venue was at the old County Stadium in Milwaukee. Brats, roast beef sandwiches...mmmmm...delicious!

 

[The Zlax45]

Don't mean to bring up too many old points (unless it was to remind posters of their pre-game chest pumping that turned out so very wrong)...

But about this- yes our conference sucked bad this year- but I also noticed some games where the refs let the game get a little out of hand- where the two teams would end up pretty chippy. Which I don't like much- since it could have been prevented by making the correct first penalty call.

So for previous BU/PC games- was it this chippy before? If not, then on behalf of the crappy B14G refs, sorry about that.

That was far from chippy...that was mild for two hockey east teams

 

[BCeagle]

Re: The Frozen Four

I'm not surprised to read the seafood stand was sold out. It may have been the best food value inside the Garden - $15 for a double cheeseburger vs. $16 for a lobster roll.

The Garden has the worst food of any arena I've been...and it's not close. I wish we could get our freedom back to leave the arena between games on FF Thursday.

I just left feedback online, on the NCAA feedback regarding the food experience at the Frozen Four.

 

[rufus]

Re: The Frozen Four

The 2000 FF in Providence was the best FF I've ever been to. They closed every street around the arena and it was a giant party. Helped the weather was awesome. Hobey ceremony was right there also.

Yep. second best I've been to; the best was 1988 in Lake Placid. Maybe cause I was younger, had a bunch of folks I knew from UMaine out there also that we kept running into and hanging around with, lots of great food including the best steak I've ever had in my life. Pretty close to being drunk for the entire weekend. We crashed Thursday night sometime after midnight, but there was a group of St. Lawrence people partying on the floor just above us, and no way were we getting any sleep, so we said screw it, got dressed, went upstairs and asked if they minded if we joined them. Drove there the night before, walked up to the box office at the rink and bought tickets. Ah, the old days.

2000 Providence was amazing, cause I think it was Saturday, temps were in the 60's or something, I was hanging out with the crew from Michigan, finals were played earlier then, and after the game we all ended up at Union Station(?) to eat and drink some that evening, sitting outside on their patio. Wonderful. And that bar, pretty much right across the street from the Dunk? Ohh, the time we had downstairs at that place Thursday after the games. And Buddy Cianci made it so you could carry and drink outside in the areas around the arena. Greatest mayor evah!!!

 

[Split-N]

Re: The Frozen Four

...I also noticed some games where the refs let the game get a little out of hand- where the two teams would end up pretty chippy...So for previous BU/PC games- was it this chippy before? If not, then on behalf of the crappy B14G refs, sorry about that.

Actually, I thought the officiating crew did a pretty decent job, all things considered.

 

[mookie1995]

Actually, I thought the officiating crew did a pretty decent job, all things considered.

No complaints all weekend

 

[walrus]

Actually, I thought the officiating crew did a pretty decent job, all things considered.

I think in regular season they would have called some stuff but they let them play. I thought it was good also

 

[Terrier520]

Re: The Frozen Four

I think in regular season they would have called some stuff but they let them play. I thought it was good also

Yeah, if it were the HE championship game with "in-house" refs, they'd be more likely to call a few things. But with strangers? In all games they were pretty out of the way.

 

[satyking]

Re: The Frozen Four

Yeah, if it were the HE championship game with "in-house" refs, they'd be more likely to call a few things. But with strangers? In all games they were pretty out of the way.

That was my biggest worry, that we would end up with a penalty box game....none of these games would have made it with the HE refs.....I don't know where these guys came from but they did a great job and let the players decide the winners

 

[alfablue]

Re: The Frozen Four

That was my biggest worry, that we would end up with a penalty box game....none of these games would have made it with the HE refs.....I don't know where these guys came from but they did a great job and let the players decide the winners

I see the idea of letting the players play, but not calling penalties (which I'm not saying there were- just post whistle chippiness) is just as much the refs being involved- they are not calling the stated rules. Yes, penalties kill the flow- but allowing the teams to trip, hold, hook- etc- I'm not sure that it's better.

For this game, I didn't see much play that wasn't called- just that the post stuff.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: The Frozen Four

I am a Bostonian who goes to the frozen four every year. Yes Boston is a good host city with lots to do but at a high cost
the garden however is the worst venue for holding the event. Every year we go to an arena that has more amenities, better sight lines and is managed better than the garden
When the garden was built they said it would be very steep which it is not. The concourses can't handle the traffic between games and it is hard to believe that

Looking forward to Tampa-they did a great job in 2012

Tampa was renovated a few years ago and it is a lot better, the view of the ice is very good, even from high seats, but the concourses are quite narrow and there are long lines at limited bathrooms.Plus parking is not that great and it takes a long time to get out of the lots. I'm hoping Chicago is good.

 

[The Rube]

Re: The Frozen Four

That was my biggest worry, that we would end up with a penalty box game....none of these games would have made it with the HE refs.....I don't know where these guys came from but they did a great job and let the players decide the winners

I thought I heard they were B1G refs. We let a lot go out here in the west. I think the general view of West/East hockey is like US-Canadian/Euro hockey in styles. West is more physical. East is more speed/flow.

 

[Terrier520]

I thought I heard they were B1G refs. We let a lot go out here in the west. I think the general view of West/East hockey is like US-Canadian/Euro hockey in styles. West is more physical. East is more speed/flow.

They were B1G, but he's saying that, if it were HE, it'd be different.