Men's Ice Hockey - Mason's Newest D-I Sport

[MasonSAE4]

I would guess Sacred Heart is expecting some revenue from their hockey team. Could you say the same thing about soccer or baseball here?

I would argue that either facility would be a fraction of the cost and isn't aimed at bringing in more revenue (although I do think soccer would bring in a decent amount more in terms of attendance with a nicer place.) SHU is spending $60 mil on a facility that is single use. Most of the big programs average about four, maybe four and a half thousand people per game at about $20. Assuming SHU puts even half that many people in the seats at that price and you're generously looking at brining in only 1 mil a year. SHU averages less fans at games than Alabama-Huntsville. This feels like a pretty dumb move. Granted, it's a Bobby Valentine original so....yeah.

My broader point is that it's annoying to watch smaller schools on probably similar budgets have a bigger mentality and commitment to building the facilities needed to recruit than Mason.

 

[Five Two]

SHU is spending $60 mil on a facility that is single use.

Is it single use? The article says $60M for hockey, but Bobby's quote "There’s a plan now, with the arena being a shining star, for all of our sports having a facility to call home in a short period of time" makes it sound like other sports would use the arena as well.

 

[Pablo]

https://arenadigest.com/2020/01/26/plans-for-new-sacred-heart-university-arena-unveiled/:

"Scheduled for completion in 2022, the new Sacred Heart University arena will feature a number of amenities for students and guests, including a pro shop, beer gardens, food venues, suites, meeting rooms and offices. The new arena will also serve as a classroom for SHU students studying in the areas of sports communication & media, sport management, hospitality and others. Construction will begin this summer."

"The building also will be used to host special events such as guest lectures, concerts, convocations and other activities open to students and the community. In addition, there will be ice skating time available to students, faculty, staff and community members."

 

[MasonSAE4]

Is it single use? The article says $60M for hockey, but Bobby's quote "There’s a plan now, with the arena being a shining star, for all of our sports having a facility to call home in a short period of time" makes it sound like other sports would use the arena as well.

Only one team will be contributing revenue. Even if men and women's basketball and hockey play there, only men's hockey will take in any cash. Sure, you could do concerts there, but 4,000 seats in a bowl setting is a super awkward configuration. My guess is they'll struggle to attract outside events, particularly with the Bridgeport Arena down the road.

Again, I don't think everything comes down to turning a profit. This will help raise their profile, will be good for student athletes, and will also be a good convocation center. I just wish Mason could put some money into our (mostly) very old athletic facilities.

 

[KAOriginal]

I'm also from New England and while I concur about college hockey being bigger, it's still relatively small. The big programs all average about 4,000-4,500 a game; SHU waaaaay less than that. They're playing a very long game here that I don't think will work out.

Long game yes. Hockey is exploding here for grade school/youth leagues. Heck the fact there's girls high school hockey team at his school blows my mind. Football and baseball are shrinking. He's in 9th grade and the "wave" is definitely coming.

It probably a regional thing....but they are trying this gamble in the right portion of the country.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Long game yes. Hockey is exploding here for grade school/youth leagues. Heck the fact there's girls high school hockey team at his school blows my mind. Football and baseball are shrinking. He's in 9th grade and the "wave" is definitely coming.

It probably a regional thing....but they are trying this gamble in the right portion of the country.

Yeah hockey was always a pretty big sport at the youth level where I'm from in NH but those were all private leagues; are they still or are there public leagues below high school? Lacrosse was making big gains just as I was graduating high school, primarily at the expense of baseball. Soccer was also expanding pretty quickly at the expense of football.

SHU is certainly in the right part of the country to try and I give them all the credit in the world for taking the risk without a large donation but I just don't see it working out for them financially.

 

[KAOriginal]

There's all sorts of leagues here in Maine below high school. My son is an "outsider" since he is not interested in hockey. But my station chief....spends jfc how much money on getting her 10 year old son and 16 year old daughter to various teams etc all winter.

Sort of like hoops....build a eye dazzling center (which can be used for other things) , show you are investing in the program....with only about 60 programs...it only takes 1 or 2 recruits quality recruits to "stay home" to turn a corner.

Much better gamble than trying to start a football team by far....

 

[patriot2000]

My son and I frequently go to Delaware hockey games, who are ACHA-D1. Does this mean we might see them play Mason?!?

 

[ephoops]

https://arenadigest.com/2020/01/26/plans-for-new-sacred-heart-university-arena-unveiled/:

"Scheduled for completion in 2022, the new Sacred Heart University arena will feature a number of amenities for students and guests, including a pro shop, beer gardens, food venues, suites, meeting rooms and offices. The new arena will also serve as a classroom for SHU students studying in the areas of sports communication & media, sport management, hospitality and others. Construction will begin this summer."

"The building also will be used to host special events such as guest lectures, concerts, convocations and other activities open to students and the community. In addition, there will be ice skating time available to students, faculty, staff and community members."

I think they are trying to copy the Quinnipiac University model in college hockey. Quinnipiac averages about 3,000 fans for games. SHU (5,000 undergraduates) currently plays its home games at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT (seating ~8,500 for hockey) which is about 8 miles from Sacred Heart's campus.

 

[JDK]

What would stop us from trying to latch onto the Caps ice practice rink in Ballston (Arlington) ?

 

[FreeGunston12]

What would stop us from trying to latch onto the Caps ice practice rink in Ballston (Arlington) ?

They already play there and practice there some.

 

[Old Man]

Any chance Mason's team will play at the new ION training facility in Leesburg? It is gorgeous and one of the rinks is set up for hockey already ... and they serve beer there