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It is long past time for the University to commit to improvements to the ice arena. It is unfair to the coaches and players to be forced to endure study after study after study while the ice arena falls apart. Recruiting must be impossible. An added sheet of ice, upgraded lockerrooms, and replacements for the 40 year old compressor and other antique equipment is essential to help the Falcon hockey program climb out of the cellar of the CCHA. Enough study - it is time for action!

Yes...we know..it's already been addressed by the AD, plans will be laid out in the new master facilities plan this year. Personally, I wouldn't be too surprised to see an arena built to accommodate both sports.

It has been [u]addressed [/u]before, but nothing has been done except four or five expensive studies with nothing to show for it. It is time for action - enough talk.

IMHO, AA needs a replacement before hockey gets anything major done beyond simple improvements. The Ice Arena is in better shape than AA at the moment. The locker rooms are supposedly light years ahead of what AA has and they that awesome lounge as well.

Falconboy wrote:IMHO, AA needs a replacement before hockey gets anything major done beyond simple improvements. The Ice Arena is in better shape than AA at the moment. The locker rooms are supposedly light years ahead of what AA has and they that awesome lounge as well.

I would maintain that the ice compressors should be replaced before anything is done to AA.

And 'that awesome lounge' was not paid for by the university, nor were the locker room upgrades that took place at that same time. That was all privately funded.

But you're speaking as a basketball fan and I as a hockey fan. Thus the difference in priorities of which building needs attention first.

they have even already spoken to the state about the bonds, and a major corporation maybe a sponsor, ( wonder ..how does this sound...coke...Hum BGSU COKE ARENA )they are just finishing up the ducks in a row to make the announcement I gather and will likely put it out for Archetural bid....i also heard that the REC Center is getting some much needed updates as a separate issue.
what more do want...I would just like to know the date

I think before you make a statement like that you need to look at the number of buckets around the ice arena each time it rains. Water leading in is a MAJOR problem. Also, the ice arena has one system AA does not, an ice making system. It has been said many times that this system is 40 years old the parts are not available and have to be made from scratch. Again, a MAJOR problem. You cannot have an ice hockey team without ICE. I am not trying to say one facility should be over another because each has their specific problems. But to say one does not have major issues and should be placed below the other is not correct.

I think you guys are talking about 2 separate things. I believe the decision has been made to go on AA replacement, (which is great) but hockey was left out and still NO DECISION on ice arena. We have won a national championship in hockey and could compete again, but not with this 40 year old barn.

I dont think the decision was made to do AA and not the ice arena. Both are in dire need of repair.
The more likely is that they are planing on a combination facility still, that will hold falcon Ice hockey practices and games and the basketball flooring put down for games and include patching the existing Ice arena roof for other skating activities and new compressors and a patch job on Anderson to a maintain it as a practice facility and for Volleyball.instead of the monster dream facility that did it all.

MacMan - I hope you are right, but I'm hearing differently around the ice arena.

As far as the recruiting goes, I hate to say it, but a friend of mine gave a tour to a hockey recruit and as soon as he saw the arena he said "I don't want to play there."
Now, knowing nothing of the equipment problems, I'm of the opinion that when the arena is packed, it's nothing short of awesome. If he had seen it when there was a crowd in there, I think he might have responded differently. Either way, that arena needs something, and soon.

I don't know where people are getting the idea of a hockey/hoops combo facility from. Everything I have read and heard leans directly away from that. Including information from our local azz member of the administration.

Sib Rib is very interested in a great convocation center and we will have one soon. When this convo center goes in, I would bet the drastic imporvements needed in the Ice Arena start happening. Doing things this way is the cheapest solution for the state and the university.

The Niz wrote: Sib Rib is very interested in a great convocation center and we will have one soon. When this convo center goes in, I would bet the drastic imporvements needed in the Ice Arena start happening.

That's a reasonable wager.

For the past several years, the administration has been buying a new ice arena one piece at a time when 40 year old equipment breaks. Case in point: the waterheater in the Zamboni room was very costly to replace.

It is nearly impossible to hold any hockey tournaments or figure skating or sync skating competitions when you only have one sheet of ice which must be scheduled around Falcon hockey. Lockerrooms are inadequate. You can't be putting teenage hockey players in lockerrooms without showers. Those events would bring in families who will be college age down the road as well as instant economic benefits.