Bentley Begins Process to Build On-Campus Rink

[Snively65]

Thanks for reviving this thread, schiegs. I think that plans for the on-campus rink will move forward regardless of the capital campaign's outcome, as those usually are multi-year affairs, I think. My understanding is that the donations for construction were not the problem, but rather the hurdle was Bentley's commitment to the long-term maintenance costs. With the building now designated as a multi-purpose events center, perhaps part of that constraint has been mitigated?

Just learned this morning that a recently completed external accreditation review identified the need for an events center on campus with a seating capacity greater than 450 (that is the capacity of the largest lecture hall at Bentley).

[schiegs]

Lifted from the newest Bentley thread, posted by The Top Shelf;

The Bentley student newspaper, The Vanguard has some good details on the proposed new arena, including renderings.

https://issuu.com/bentleyvanguardonl...full_newspaper

[Yuppie Scum]

Lifted from the newest Bentley thread, posted by The Top Shelf;

The Bentley student newspaper, The Vanguard has some good details on the proposed new arena, including renderings.

https://issuu.com/bentleyvanguardonl...full_newspaper

Wow, that document viewer is hard to use on a laptop.

[The Top Shelf]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/c...w_hockey_arena

An update from the Herald

[Snively65]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/c...w_hockey_arena

An update from the Herald

I heard though the grapevine at Fenway Sox game on Tuesday night that the town of Waltham's main concern when presented the ice arena plans was traffic and parking, so perhaps the 50-year flood plain is no longer a problem, given a footprint where the tennis courts are now located adjacent to Beaver Street. There is a multi-deck parking garage within 100 meters of the tennis courts, but I am not sure whether another level could be added to the deck, if necessary. My understanding is that the Bentley BOT meets later this month, when my guess is the arena will be discussed yet again.

[schiegs]

It's official. BOT voted to build the arena. Groundbreaking this fall, opening game January of '18.

[Snively65]

It's official. BOT voted to build the arena. Groundbreaking this fall, opening game January of '18.

Bentley's centennial anniversary is 2017, so maybe the arena will be part of the launch of a long-overdue capital campaign?

[schiegs]

Bentley's centennial anniversary is 2017, so maybe the arena will be part of the launch of a long-overdue capital campaign?

Precisely. The "Be Best" campaign is in the quiet phase right now, and will go public after the Centennial year ends in late 2017/early 2018. $100 million, with $10 million for the arena. The remaining $35 million will come from bond proceeds.

$45 million
3000+ seating, 2500 for hockey
Lots of glass around the exterior
Two large beacons along the Beaver St side
Similar configuration to Bright
No suites, but a function facility overlooking one end

[schiegs]

The blueprints of the arena had a large section titled "Future Women's Program."

[Buckeye22]

The blueprints of the arena had a large section titled "Future Women's Program."

Are there renderings online anywhere?

[schiegs]

Are there renderings online anywhere?

Not yet. They might release something next week, but I'm not certain.

[Snively65]

Are there renderings online anywhere?

See Vanguard article link that schiegs provided about 10 posts above.

[Chuck Murray]

Interesting timing ... can't help but think they're also possibly posturing for the soon-to-be-vacant HE slot.

[schiegs]

Interesting timing ... can't help but think they're also possibly posturing for the soon-to-be-vacant HE slot.

They are certainly aware of the movement, to say the least.

[Buckeye22]

Interesting timing ... can't help but think they're also possibly posturing for the soon-to-be-vacant HE slot.

They are certainly aware of the movement, to say the least.

Wouldn't a capacity of 2,500 for hockey be too small for Hockey East? I know when UConn joined HE one of the problems with their on campus rink was that it was too small to host HE conference games. According to this article UConn's rink, which seats 2,000, seats "less than half of that required for a Hockey East school to host conference games."

[schiegs]

Wouldn't a capacity of 2,500 for hockey be too small for Hockey East? I know when UConn joined HE one of the problems with their on campus rink was that it was too small to host HE conference games. According to this article UConn's rink, which seats 2,000, seats "less than half of that required for a Hockey East school to host conference games."

The two situations are apples and oranges, but obviously exceptions can be made. Perhaps the use of the XL Center was factored in?

In the end, I think Bentley is a long-shot at best for any HE inclusion.

[Chuck Murray]

As long as Merrimack remains a part of Hockey East, it leaves the door open for all kinds of otherwise seemingly unrealistic possibilities to fill the opening soon to be left by NICC. It's not like Providence's building is exactly up to standards capacity-wise, for that matter. I'm not holding my breath for Bentley getting into HE anytime soon, but the new building and the gradual uptick of them scheduling NC games against HE teams is certainly sending a strong signal from the corner of Beaver & Forest.

[Snively65]

As long as Merrimack remains a part of Hockey East, it leaves the door open for all kinds of otherwise seemingly unrealistic possibilities to fill the opening soon to be left by NICC. It's not like Providence's building is exactly up to standards capacity-wise, for that matter. I'm not holding my breath for Bentley getting into HE anytime soon, but the new building and the gradual uptick of them scheduling NC games against HE teams is certainly sending a strong signal from the corner of Beaver & Forest.

".....scheduling [and winning some] NC games against HE teams....."

[Yuppie Scum]

".....scheduling [and winning some] NC games against HE teams....."

How the hell did they beat Northeastern?? College Hockey is weird.

[Snively65]

How the hell did they beat Northeastern?? College Hockey is weird.

Jayson Argue stopped 89 of 92 shots that weekend; Derrick Roy only faced 11 shots on the Friday game at Matthews and let three by Andrew Gladiuk go in. Kevin Roy picked up one assist on the weekend, but Max French was still on the shelf for the beginning of the season. Definitely the high point of the season for the Falcons.