UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Snooze, I lose; tickets from the Whitt are sold out.

So, I picked up a ticket for seat 14, row 17, Loge 12. I will try to arrive in time for part of the UVM-UML game, and buy Jeremy Jacobs' hot dogs for supper (just kidding, I am a vegetarian). We can keep in touch via electronic devices about mid-period rendezvous.

Sorry about that 65 but you are in anyway!! I will communicate with Ref at the game so we can meet up. I've got her number and will text her. No death rods(hot dogs!) for me either except on the 4th of July

 

[wildcatdc]

+2

Of course, you could argue UNH started it with The Mills. Rumor has it a wrecking ball is finally headed for the lower quad. Afraid to see what kind of monstrosity they put there.

Wondering what's going to happen on the ATO site. The old Kappa Sig site (new dining hall) was definitely WAY out of scale.

I'm a little biased about PTP, I will admit. I think it's a great addition. The fact that Stoke is across the street helps with scale, I suppose.

The shocker for me this last time up were the new apartments on 155A. Those went up in about as long as it took me to type this, I think.

 

[Scarlet]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Snooze, I lose; tickets from the Whitt are sold out.

So, I picked up a ticket for seat 14, row 17, Loge 12. I will try to arrive in time for part of the UVM-UML game, and buy Jeremy Jacobs' hot dogs for supper (just kidding, I am a vegetarian). We can keep in touch via electronic devices about mid-period rendezvous.

Well then you can eat them because I'm sure there is no real meat in those hot dogs.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

I have many great sport and concert memories in that building. People sneaking in fire doors, different stair configurations in each of the four building corners, fights in the stands/ice/court, bringing towels to 90 plus degree playoff games. It was literally a rat (one brushed my foot) infested crap hole, but I'd take it back in a heart beat. One had to be a FAN to be in the building and opposing teams loathed playing there.

Totally agree, Darius. The closest old-barn vibe we can still enjoy is Mathews (Boston) Arena over on St. Botolph St., home of the Northeastern Huskies - which is actually an older building, and housed the Bruins before work on the original Garden was finished. When the WHA made its debut in the early '70's ('72/'73?) the "New England Whalers" played most of their games at the Arena, as back then the Bruins' AHL affiliate (Boston Braves) also played their home games at the Garden. The Whalers did play some home games in the Garden during their two seasons in Boston - which would've been interesting, considering the fact the Bruins (pre-Jacobs) still owned the Garden, and there was hardly a "Welcome Wagon" approach being taken by the NHL to the new WHA and its roster-raiding and salary-escalating ways.

But to show just how big hockey was in Boston back in the era of Bobby Orr and the "Big Bad Bruins", the Garden was being used by three (3) separate pro hockey teams for their games for two seasons, until the Whalers moved to Hartford/Springfield in '74/'75. The Braves set AHL attendance records during their first season in Boston ('71/'72) that apparently stood for decades, but they disbanded a year after the Whalers left. Keep in mind ... during the winters, the old Garden was also hosting a full slate of Celtics' games, plus the Beanpot and ECAC tournaments, assorted college and high school hoops and hockey tournaments AND the old ice skating shows that used to make the rounds back then (pre-Disney on Ice stuff). Throw in long stays by the circus and being a prime concert venue during the summer months (pre-Centrum, Great Woods, etc.) and it was a busy, busy building with very little down time for repairs.

That's not to defend Jacobs OR the previous owners (mostly the Adams family in my youth), but with a limited window of June thru September (playoff seasons didn't run past May in those days) and no shortage of demand for the facility on a year-round basis, you can almost understand the thinking of keeping the place running, making money, and not worrying too much about renovations.

It was a dump, but I would take the old place back in a minute over the replacement building. If Agganis somehow added a balcony, it would be about as close as a modern building could come to the old place. It is no surprise my two favorite buildings in HE are Mathews and Agganis. Like the Garden, they were built primarily for hockey, and it shows.

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

It was a dump, but I would take the old place back in a minute over the replacement building. If Agganis somehow added a balcony, it would be about as close as a modern building could come to the old place. It is no surprise my two favorite buildings in HE are Mathews and Agganis. Like the Garden, they were built primarily for hockey, and it shows.

I love that Agganis was built with the bowl as steep as building code would allow. My understanding is that was a Parker thing and if it was he was absolutely right, hockey is best when the bowl is steep and the fans are on top of the game.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

If we can only get the buzz back for UNH Hockey, fill up the seats regularly, and generate a waiting list like a decade ago, can we start the "Add a balcony to The Whitt" discussions again? I miss those ...

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

I love that Agganis was built with the bowl as steep as building code would allow. My understanding is that was a Parker thing and if it was he was absolutely right, hockey is best when the bowl is steep and the fans are on top of the game.

The story I heard and am sticking with is Parker wanted a modern Matthews with no obstructed seats. The cost for an arena including a no support poles balcony was too much so they went with steep.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

If we can only get the buzz back for UNH Hockey, fill up the seats regularly, and generate a waiting list like a decade ago, can we start the "Add a balcony to The Whitt" discussions again? I miss those ...

Right after the "Add a quality video screen to The Whitt" discussions. Get in line.

 

[Greg A]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

I do not disagree about Jeremy Jacobs always being a hotdog salesman (I think that is where the majority of profits lie in all of these sports facilities), but John Henry is the majority owner of the Red Sox by a huge margin (maybe not quite 50%, but close?), and in 2006 spent millions rebuilding a mansion in Boston (I am assuming that he lives there at least some of the time).

And your point is? That John Henry is super rich, has a trophy wife who is so young that, at Lynnfield HS, she was a year ahead of the daughter of a friend of mine, and that he has the bucks to tear down one mansion and build another? Never a fan of conspicuous consumption, which Henry does in spades (remember he had the yacht) but the point is that he, Werner, and Lucchino hired people to improve the park and improve the immediate area surrounding the park. This commitment was good for the Sox, good for the fans, and good for the City of Boston. Jacobs, on the other hand, never had a vision beyond squeezing every last dime out the Garden until it was literally falling apart. Just think what the Garden area would look like now if Jacobs had something on his mind besides making a buck. The Bruins might have won a couple of Cups, the Garden would have been palatable until a new one was built, and the Causeway St. area would not be as rundown as it is, even today.

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Just think what the Garden area would look like now if Jacobs had something on his mind besides making a buck. The Bruins might have won a couple of Cups, the Garden would have been palatable until a new one was built, and the Causeway St. area would not be as rundown as it is, even today.

The really sad part is Causeway St. doesn't seem so run down anymore... which tells you how bad it used to be.

 

[Greg A]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Right after the "Add a quality video screen to The Whitt" discussions. Get in line.

The screen is the big thing for me, especially after seeing the monstrosity that PC has. Unfortunately it ain't going to happen now that King Football has made its way to Durham. No money for improvements at the Whit unless some big shot, hopefully not like Tyco's Dennis Kozlowski, ponies up the money.

 

[sonar]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

If we can only get the buzz back for UNH Hockey, fill up the seats regularly, and generate a waiting list like a decade ago, can we start the "Add a balcony to The Whitt" discussions again? I miss those ...

"The Buzz" ..... If only .........

I cannot express how much I would enjoy (and yes benefit from) getting the buzz back. Reading the posts the last few weeks can only be described as a "walk back in time." I am actually looking forward to the weekend. However, my experience is akin to being on a three person rope team that is ascending a route that skirts a large crevasse .... been there done that. I'll take the experience and be larger as a function of it .... however, the summit looks more and more to be further away.

I'm all "growed up" now and the NCAA summit is less important to me .... but it still tugs at my thoughts.

 

[Greg A]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

The really sad part is Causeway St. doesn't seem so run down anymore... which tells you how bad it used to be.

But it is. If you are standing on the Garden side of the street and look across, it still looks pretty tired an worn. The Haven, which was a real derelict bar back in the day, is gone, but the Penalty Box and Half Time Pizza remain and they were there back in the Bobby Orr/John Havlicek days. I know folks are entitled to make a living but this area is one of the more frequented by out-of-towners. It should be better.

 

[Greg A]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

"The Buzz" ..... If only .........

I cannot express how much I would enjoy (and yes benefit from) getting the buzz back. Reading the posts the last few weeks can only be described as a "walk back in time." I am actually looking forward to the weekend. However, my experience is akin to being on a three person rope team that is ascending a route that skirts a large crevasse .... been there done that. I'll take the experience and be larger as a function of it .... however, the summit looks more and more to be further away.

I'm all "growed up" now and the NCAA summit is less important to me .... but it still tugs at my thoughts.

NCAA championship still means a lot to me, not saying it doesn't to you. The ironic thing is that if UNH does get rejuvenated, I think they have a better opportunity to win. The overall level of play in college is nowhere what it was 15 years ago, one hit wonders seem to be copping banners the last few years (Yale and Union) so, in the immortal words of Curt Schilling, "who not us." Now, is it going to happen on Umile's watch? Personally, I would love to see HIM behind the bench when we win, he deserves it. But I am realistic enough to think it might take another individual to put us over the hump. But I do think it is possible, not immediately, but sooner rather than way later.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

And your point is? That John Henry is super rich, has a trophy wife who is so young that, at Lynnfield HS, she was a year ahead of the daughter of a friend of mine, and that he has the bucks to tear down one mansion and build another? Never a fan of conspicuous consumption, which Henry does in spades (remember he had the yacht) but the point is that he, Werner, and Lucchino hired people to improve the park and improve the immediate area surrounding the park. This commitment was good for the Sox, good for the fans, and good for the City of Boston. Jacobs, on the other hand, never had a vision beyond squeezing every last dime out the Garden until it was literally falling apart. Just think what the Garden area would look like now if Jacobs had something on his mind besides making a buck. The Bruins might have won a couple of Cups, the Garden would have been palatable until a new one was built, and the Causeway St. area would not be as rundown as it is, even today.

Fenway and the area was updated, renovated, was good for the fans, Sox, etc. AND Henry is making a buck. I wish Jacobs could have managed a Fenway style update for the old Garden. Probably not his fault given what he had to work with, but still.

Ironic the thread title and current discussion topic, eh? It gets me thinking of another story when a buddy and I did some serious pre-gaming before a HEA final. I think it was 1993. Exiting Sully's, a neon Liqour sign called to us like a beacon so we entered the Garden with contraband. Memories are a bit hazy, but I recall a puck landing in my friends lap. Seemed funny at the time.

 

[Greg A]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

It was a dump, but I would take the old place back in a minute over the replacement building. If Agganis somehow added a balcony, it would be about as close as a modern building could come to the old place. It is no surprise my two favorite buildings in HE are Mathews and Agganis. Like the Garden, they were built primarily for hockey, and it shows.

Actually Chuck, the Arena was built for boxing, not hockey. That's why you can't see half the ice from the back rows of the balcony except in the end zone. And you may not have been to either one but the best new arenas for hockey, no surprise, are in Minnesota with the Xcel Center and Mariucci.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

The screen is the big thing for me, especially after seeing the monstrosity that PC has. Unfortunately it ain't going to happen now that King Football has made its way to Durham. No money for improvements at the Whit unless some big shot, hopefully not like Tyco's Dennis Kozlowski, ponies up the money.

Positive or negative monstrosity? Did they install a really high quality monster size screen? It is all about quality for me. I'd rather be without than with a low quality screen.

 

[Greg A]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Fenway and the area was updated, renovated, was good for the fans, Sox, etc. AND Henry is making a buck. I wish Jacobs could have managed a Fenway style update for the old Garden. Probably not his fault given what he had to work with, but still.

Ironic the thread title and current discussion topic, eh? It gets me thinking of another story when a buddy and I did some serious pre-gaming before a HEA final. I think it was 1993. Exiting Sully's, a neon Liqour sign called to us like a beacon so we entered the Garden with contraband. Memories are a bit hazy, but I recall a puck landing in my friends lap. Seemed funny at the time.

Sully's was our watering hole back in the day. One night a bunch of us got there early before a concert, must have been around 4. We walk in and standing at the end of the bar are Wayne Cashman and John Frosty Forristal (he was the B's equipment guy in their glory days) getting plastered on 16 oz Knickerbockers. I remember Cash wearing this hideous patched leather jacket. Back then hockey players really knew how to dress. Sully's is still pretty good, especially with the fake butcher block which is a real nice touch.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Actually Chuck, the Arena was built for boxing, not hockey. That's why you can't see half the ice from the back rows of the balcony except in the end zone. And you may not have been to either one but the best new arenas for hockey, no surprise, are in Minnesota with the Xcel Center and Mariucci.

The best old renovated I've been in is Yost.

Turning back to the present, does anyone seriously think we beat BU this weekend? I would not be shocked given our recent play, but I would be surprised.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Sully's was our watering hole back in the day. One night a bunch of us got there early before a concert, must have been around 4. We walk in and standing at the end of the bar are Wayne Cashman and John Frosty Forristal (he was the B's equipment guy in their glory days) getting plastered on 16 oz Knickerbockers. I remember Cash wearing this hideous patched leather jacket. Back then hockey players really knew how to dress. Sully's is still pretty good, especially with the fake butcher block which is a real nice touch.

OK one more... we hit Sully's and Halftime before and after just about every C's game. When we beat the Lakers in '84 me and my half dozen to 15,000+ friends, were partying in the streets. Guys I knew who didn't have tickets or go to the game were there. No fires, trashed cop cars, just frivolity. Whenever we needed a beer we'd walk into Sully's and order "12 Buds, 12 Bud Lights", they'd hand us a case and out the door we'd walk.

BTW, had I run into a plastered Cash back then, my instinct would have been to steer clear.