FundRaising Going Well

[gmartin]

Sounds like the fundraising is going very well for Ice Arena Renovations.

Article says that BG will exceed its goal of the top-tier and be able to have a very nice arena. Thats great news!!

From the Sentinel-Tribune:

BG hockey fundraising receives position reaction
Written by By KEVIN GORDON Sentinel Assistant Sports Editor
Tuesday, 23 February 2010 10:02
Mike Pikul and Jack Vivian are familiar with the tradition of the Bowling Green Falcon hockey program.
They helped build it as a player and as a head coach, respectively.
Now, they're trying to raise money to help restore the program's winning tradition.
They're members of the "The "Bring Back the Glory" fundraising campaign and said the project is off to a good start.
The campaign already has received two major donations - $500,000 from BG native and Olympic figure skating champion Scott Hamilton and $250,000 from Vivian, the first head coach in Falcon history.
Committee members are meeting Saturday in BG to finalize their donations to the campaign and to prepare for the next phase of the campaign.
The next phase has the committee talking to Falcon hockey alumni, community members and supporters of the program who could be major donors.
Vivian said the campaign is expected to have raised $6-7 million by the end of the weekend, thanks to the donations of the committee members and the $4 million appropriated by the university and the state earlier this year.
The $4 million will be used for the renovation of the arena's infrastructure and ice-making equipment. The renovations are scheduled to start next month.
The campaign, announced in September, has a $5 million goal, including $2 million for scholarships in the first 18 months.
"The reaction from everyone ... Falcon hockey alumni, community members, supporters of the program," has been very positive," said Pikul, who is co-chairing the campaign with former teammate Garry Galley. "What the committee is doing now is raising the funds to endow the scholarships to solidify the program for many years to come."
The two played defense on the Falcons' 1984 NCAA championship team. Pikul's two daughters are attending BG, while Galley's daughter also is attending the university and his son will be a goalie for the Falcons starting with the 2011-12 season.
Hamilton is the committee's honorary chairman.
Saturday's meeting is being held in conjunction with a reception that night for former Falcon defenseman Ken Morrow, who played on the gold-medal winning United States Olympic hockey team in 1980. After the Olympics, he signed with the NHL's New York Islanders and helped the team to four straight Stanley Cups (1980-83).
The reception is from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Mileti Alumni Center. Morrow also will be recognized at the Falcons' home game that night at 7:05 against Michigan State.
"We've identified and have developed or established a list of alumni and community members as we move forward that we certainly want to contact and have discussions with," Pikul said. "It's still a five-year program.
"There are two parts to this, a short-term part and a long-term part. At the end of five years, what we're looking at is not being an end, but we want to make sure the journey continues to solidify the program for many, many more years."
Vivian, said the full plan to renovate the arena will take $10-12 million to complete. He added a moderate plan will need $7-8 million and a minimal plan would require $4.5 million.
Based on what the committee's heard so far, Pikul and Vivian believe they'll raise more than enough money for the top of the line plan.
"We don't have ($34.8 million) like Miami or $50 million like Notre Dame, but we're going to have an arena that looks great and is Bowling Green in every way," Vivian said.
"There's a plan and we're following it. It's not going to be easy and it's going to take some tenacity. We'd like to have the money right now, but it takes time and you want to show donors the tax advantages and the benefits that they'll receive because it's going to benefit everyone in the long run."
Miami moved into a new 4,000-seat arena for the 2006-07 season. ND is scheduled to begin play in a new 5,000-seat in the fall of 2011.
"The high end, absolutely, that's what the alumni want, to be able to attract the elite players and to get the program back to the elite level," Pikul said.
"I wouldn't venture a guess, but as an alum and a member of a close-knit organization with hockey, I think we would exceed our goals that have been communicated and set," Pikul said.
Pikul and Vivian have been encouraged by BG's play on the ice, even though it has won only five games overall and is next-to-last in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
"We knew it was going to be a tough year, based on everything that had happened É whether the program would even survive," Pikul said. "They've been in most games. They've been competitive. They work very hard and that's all that we can ask at this point in time.
"I'm very positive about where we started and where we are today," Pikul added. "We've got the right people in place. We're moving in the right direction to solidify the program for many years to come and to get it back to the elite level."

[toddpav]

This is outstanding news. And, the last quote in the article pretty much makes me believe that Williams will stay here. At least thats what I read into it.

[pdt1081]

Sounds like it's gonna be a great night to be at the Ice Arena Saturday. Wonder if there's any plans to advertise the time change for the game? Or if the only way people are gonna know it's at 7 instead of 5 is if they go looking for it......

[toddpav]

Sounds like it's gonna be a great night to be at the Ice Arena Saturday. Wonder if there's any plans to advertise the time change for the game? Or if the only way people are gonna know it's at 7 instead of 5 is if they go looking for it......

Yeah, the time change came out of nowhere. Not really sure where the publicity is with it, though. I'm not on campus regularly, though, so I can't comment on signs/news/etc.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Sounds like it's gonna be a great night to be at the Ice Arena Saturday. Wonder if there's any plans to advertise the time change for the game? Or if the only way people are gonna know it's at 7 instead of 5 is if they go looking for it......

Yeah, the time change came out of nowhere. Not really sure where the publicity is with it, though. I'm not on campus regularly, though, so I can't comment on signs/news/etc.

That is the one thing I have noticed about hockey time changes in recent years, there never seems to be publicity about them, unlike the other sports. For those who havent seen it the game time also changed for the game Friday at Sparty from 7:05 to 6:05. I do find it quite odds this info is never released in a story.

Now back to the article, fantastic read and great news all around, espcially the part where they expect to have enough money to have a top line plan to renovate the arena. I agree with you pdt, it'll be a great night in the arena Saturday, and I'm happy I'll be able to make it up for it.

[Falcon Fanatic]

This is outstanding news. And, the last quote in the article pretty much makes me believe that Williams will stay here. At least thats what I read into it.

I thought it sounded like that too. I hope "others" are also in agreement!!! I have had a ton of conversations with Willy throughout the year. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that he is the right coach to lead this team forward!!! He emphasizes, with the players, all the things you want a coach to do! He remembers what it was like to be a player and has molded his coaching into the kind of coach the players respect and will work hard for!!! And yes, the record does not reflect the changes we have seen throughout this season, but those of us who have been around the program for a LONG time, know that this team/porogram is on the right track and headed in the direction we want them to be!!!!

Regarding the fundraising article...AWESOME!! And this is all BEFORE they have sent out fundraising requests to the general fan base, ...like us!!!!

GO GREEN! GO WHITE! GO SUCK AN EGG!!!!
BEAT THE EGG SUCKERS!!!!!

[BGDrew]

This has been posted in the lobby of the Ice Arena. Pretty awesome to see it over half filled already.

[falconfan1999]

Fantastic news! I was at the game against Notre Dame on Saturday night and it was an awesome atmosphere! Fans were loud, the band was incredible and the team didn't look hot early on but look incredible in the 3rd period to get it tied up and sent into OT and eventually a shootout win! (Should have won in regulation, but having the 3 blind mice as officials doesn't help anyone....)

I will be donating when it comes time for those of us with only a few hundred to spare can give. I want to see us back where we belong, on top!

[FlagCityFalcon]

(Should have won in regulation, but having the 3 blind mice as officials doesn't help anyone....)

Just for the record, it wasn't even close...the net was off by a foot well before the shot.

[toddpav]

(Should have won in regulation, but having the 3 blind mice as officials doesn't help anyone....)

Just for the record, it wasn't even close...the net was off by a foot well before the shot.

The net was not only off its moorings, but it was like that for at least 15 seconds prior. Awful miss.

[pdt1081]

(Should have won in regulation, but having the 3 blind mice as officials doesn't help anyone....)

Just for the record, it wasn't even close...the net was off by a foot well before the shot.

First time or second? If you're talking about the first, they really must be blind to take 8 minutes and 3 officials to decide...

[toddpav]

First time. The time they took so long. It was off WELL before the goal. It wasn't off by a foot, though, but it was clearly off.

[NWLB]

It remains utterly impossible to overstate the fact that without Dr. and Coach Jack Vivian, we would not have a hockey team today. You could not have a more perfect person in all ways, than what he represents. I look at how perfectly he fit into so many parts of this process, and figures in the future of it, and simply put, nobody else could have pull so many pieces together.

Businessman Jack Vivian is the top authority in his industry, which is also the exact kind of person required to authoritatively speak to the who, what, where, when, and if questions. His resume is utterly unchallengeable.

Dr. Jack Vivian is a man of letters, earned from a "name" university. He can command a certain kind of respect among the academics he and others have to deal with during this period. Combined with his business resume, he is highly formidable.

Coach Jack Vivian knows the game of hockey in depth. He was BGSU's first coach and has an unchallengeable depth of personal experience only two others in history could match. He brings credibility to players he never personally coached as a true Hockey man. He brings credibility in working with community members as a known and completely trusted figure. His business creditability and trust with the community and administration mean he has unmatchable presence in "the room" with major donors and those skittish about giving money.

You simply can't conceive of somebody that has a more perfect mix to bring to the situation.

They really should consider naming the Arena after him.

[dforde]

I can hear the radio call next year.

"Good evening and welcome to Jack Vivian Arena on the campus of BGSU where the 17-4 BGSU Falcons take on the 5-16 Michigan Wolverines. This is a match up of first versus tenth in the CCHA as the BGSU icers look to extend their lead atop the CCHA"

It's not a dream, we will be good again and soon.

[Freddie]

I think it might take more than a year, but I like the way you think!

The ONLY possible scenario under which the arena should be named for anybody OTHER than Dr Vivian would be if someone coughs up a major wad of $$$...seven or eight figures!