Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

Now that we've been given one year to get things turned around, can we push the University to open up the renovations fund again?

I hate to say this but I wouldn't put too much faith in the one year extension. I am afraid that the following year we will be facing the same issue and will be a year to year situation.

I point to this section of Christopher's letter he sent out that worries me:

Over the last few weeks, we have developed various potential budget reduction models and studied their potential impact on our department. Rather than eliminating any sports, in the coming year budget cuts will be made throughout the athletics department. This will significantly affect all 18 of our sports and support areas.

Fans may remember that two years ago we went through an extensive strategic planning process for the future of BGSU Athletics. Unfortunately, that plan is no longer sustainable given how the overall financial landscape has changed.

In the coming months, we will focus on the budget direction for fiscal year 2011 and beyond. As we head into new budget territory, BGSU undoubtedly will face more tough choices concerning competitive Division 1 Athletics.


The very last sentence tells me that hockey will be on the chopping block again next year and every year for as long as we can see. I just don't see a whole lot of hope for the hockey program.

I hope I'm wrong.

I think the fact they were considering cutting hockey because of budget concerns signals that spending even more on renovations is a ways off

Any money for renovations will have to come from donations. The Stroh should also be back min the picture for hockey. The arena could be run privately for youth hockey etc.

The donations are there if the university will accept them....

The donations will be there, If the university will accept them, with the ristrictions that will be put on the donations.
1. The money will go to approved renovations - not an Athletic Department Black Hole.
2. If the arena or hky program is eliminated in the next 10 - 15 years the University will return donations to donors. 100 % if in the 1st 5 years;
90 %in the 6th year, 80 % if terminated in the 7th year etc
3. A committee will assist the Ath Dept the planning, construction and spending

we need:
1. $ 1 million for Ice, lights, sound, and paint
2. a new coach, as GG says a shot of adrenalin in the program ( Reirden)
3. The trustees have to instruct the Atl Dept that Hockey is a priority again; we have to help the trustees with this decision.
4. major renovation

Puckhead wrote:The donations will be there, If the university will accept them, with the ristrictions that will be put on the donations.
1. The money will go to approved renovations - not an Athletic Department Black Hole.
2. If the arena or hky program is eliminated in the next 10 - 15 years the University will return donations to donors. 100 % if in the 1st 5 years;
90 %in the 6th year, 80 % if terminated in the 7th year etc
3. A committee will assist the Ath Dept the planning, construction and spending

we need:
1. $ 1 million for Ice, lights, sound, and paint
2. a new coach, as GG says a shot of adrenalin in the program ( Reirden)
3. The trustees have to instruct the Atl Dept that Hockey is a priority again; we have to help the trustees with this decision.
4. major renovation

I'm not sure that they would go for demand #2 but I've never been involved in donation negotiations of this magnitude.

Need #2 probably isn't going to happen this year as they can't afford another buyout but should definitely happen when Pooch's contract is up. Not renewing/extending him is free.

Puckhead wrote:The donations will be there, If the university will accept them, with the ristrictions that will be put on the donations.
1. The money will go to approved renovations - not an Athletic Department Black Hole.
2. If the arena or hky program is eliminated in the next 10 - 15 years the University will return donations to donors. 100 % if in the 1st 5 years;
90 %in the 6th year, 80 % if terminated in the 7th year etc
3. A committee will assist the Ath Dept the planning, construction and spending

we need:
1. $ 1 million for Ice, lights, sound, and paint
2. a new coach, as GG says a shot of adrenalin in the program ( Reirden)
3. The trustees have to instruct the Atl Dept that Hockey is a priority again; we have to help the trustees with this decision.
4. major renovation

There should be a revision to #2. If the Ice Arena is eliminated, they can keep the money if it goes towards building a new arena

Is there any possibility of making the Stroh Center a dual-purpose facility?

when the stroh center plans were announced they said that a dual purpose would be too expensive.

rood wrote:when the stroh center plans were announced they said that a dual purpose would be too expensive.

Probably very expensive to maintain...

So let me get this straight - the ice arena is the reason they are considering dropping the program? I see some cosmetic issues that need to be addressed, but I don't see why those can't be addressed incrementally. I mean, a new coat of paint would do that place wonders. What about a "buy a chair" donation to improve the reserved seating? The CCHA school and Olympic Flags could be replaced with newer, fresher designs. None of those things would be horribly expensive.

I think both for the purpose of getting the project done, and taking a gun out of the hands of BGSU, this must come about as a public-private enterprise.

The land the arena sits on is obviously that of BGSU. Having said that, it is therefore land that belongs to the state of Ohio, and thus pressure might be brought to bear against the University. The land can not be sold by BGSU without some trustee action at the least, and almost certainly approval from the Ohio Board of Regents, and possibly the state legislature.

The OBR are not going to want to get mixed up in a local fight. The state, from the governor on down are pushing Universities to cut costs. And simply put, nobody at BGSU wants to risk the anger of motivated BGSU alumni in political office.

The University has the failure of the Research Enterprise Park across I-75. Can they politically afford to take a large group of well funded, organized community, alumni, and business interests telling them they would be willing to fund the renovation, expansion, and operation of a facility BGSU has empirically demonstrated a nearly 30 year lack of will to keep?

If they cop the excuse the land can't be severed from the University, you bring pain from Columbus down on them. If they want a pretty penny for the land, you ask exactly what plans they have for it, since to keep it open for anything, you will have to spend handsomely just o keep it functional.

The only course of action the University has without varsity hockey is to close the building. And that is not something they would want to admit too.

It would be one thing if this were just about BGSU hockey, but it is not. What sanctifies this campaign is that you have: BGHS Hockey, BGYH, Curling, figure skating interests, BGSU Club hockey, BGSU classes, etc.

With a focus on the non-University affiliated community groups, you have a massive interest in not gutting the activities and culture of an entire city. The Bowling Green Community Center, despite being located on the edge of no place, has thrived. There is a clear core of competency and desire for what a renovated and expanded facility would provide.

If BGSU can't deal with its own problems, maybe the state needs to be pressed for force them too.

dstubb,

all cosmetic issues will be addressed much later. first they have to take care of the guts of the arena as well as the roof, both of which have been deteriorating for a very long time

ziggy z wrote: both of which have been deteriorating for a very long time

Entropy is a harsh mistress.

dstubb wrote:

rood wrote:when the stroh center plans were announced they said that a dual purpose would be too expensive.

Probably very expensive to maintain...

So let me get this straight - the ice arena is the reason they are considering dropping the program? I see some cosmetic issues that need to be addressed, but I don't see why those can't be addressed incrementally. I mean, a new coat of paint would do that place wonders. What about a "buy a chair" donation to improve the reserved seating? The CCHA school and Olympic Flags could be replaced with newer, fresher designs. None of those things would be horribly expensive.

They can throw a million into it to repair all of its issues and you would never tell by looking at it. The compressors have NEVER been replaced and are kept running using bailing wire and hand made parts because no one makes parts for them anymore. The roof leaks like a sieve, there are some structural issues, etc., etc.

After that we get to those other items that are a concern such as the sound system and lighting. (Anyone notice that they're now replacing those nice, high intensity fluorescent bulbs at center ice with standard fluorescent bulbs....so much for that small improvement).

There is a lot that is in desperate need of repair in the ice arena and needs to be addressed before any aesthetic changes can even be considered.