gophers/ncaa

UofM Athletics is trying to pull the wool over the hockey fans' eyes. Most of the money brought in by the preferred seating "contributions" will go to the palatial new basketball practice facility and the badly needed baseball stadium. Yes, Mariucci will get a new scoreboard, but advertising will cover most of the cost of that anyway. The real problem is that football isn't pulling its weight, so the hockey and basketball fans get soaked instead. Has anyone asked the fans what they want?

Lets be smart about this. Hockey is the premier sport at U of M. Hockey base has lots of deep pockets and all can contribute to keep facility modern and competitive. Lot smarter than letting sport, football, decline and THEN try to fix it. Fighting Sioux would raise this $$$ in a month. Naysayers will rise up to say we can't do it. Baloney. Go, Gophers!

The Whioux's facility was paid for by Uncle Ralph.

not sure i want my tax $$$ buying the "wow factor"! if the don can't recruit the best players to the best hockey school in the country we need a new coach!!

Maybe your ND buddy Maturi can pay for your new scoreboard from his 2012-13 "salary?"

The latest shrine to jocks at Nebraska and the others at various schools that the U of M must compete with leaves the school with two choices. Engage in an arms race that they cannot win, or go the opposite direction – and take a page from the military recruiters for Navy Seals, Army Rangers or the Marines. Invite athletic recruits to the toughest boot camp they can imagine, knowing that if they survive, they will thrive, that they will be better prepared than their opponents in the coming season, better prepared for their professional career, and better prepared for life. Rather than investing in luxury locker rooms, invest in the best coaches. Rather than pampering the recruits with luxury facilities, take a look at how America’s best are trained in preparation for overcoming any adversary. As a recruit, I would be interested in the challenge. As the parent of the recruit, I would be interested in the long-term payoff.

While we're at it, I'm calling for Don to coach a team in the NCAA Hockey tournament before 2015.

Not all of the Hockey fans and supporters have deep pockets. I myself will be dropping my season hockey tickets due to the inability to pay the extortion to continue to sit where I do now. As a fan since 1971, we have THE most expensive tickets in the country. THat is not a good thing. If a new scoreboard is installed, all attendees will get will be more advertising and pleas for money at the U. THere is just no way I can support anything except a new sound system... you don't need to watch much on the scoreboard, the game is ON THE ICE!!!!

The improvements Lucia is talking about are, relatively speaking, pretty minor. It is a testament to how well Mariucci was built almost 20 years ago that they are "only" wanting a scoreboard, a comfy room for players and a nicer office for The Don. If the U can pay for the improvements through advertising and premium seating pricing (and not the student tickets) then go for it...get 'er done. If they are looking for $ from the athletic budget, the U's general fund or from the state...well...good luck...you're gonna need it! I'd say go talk to Mr. Sanford but dude already has bought naming rights to Bemidji St's shiny new arena.

I agree 100% with Lucia on this one, as a person who goes to fair share of games the scoreboard is terrible, even if they showed a replay (which is another issue) you can barely make out the players, much less the puck going in the net. I think a little money could really turn Mariucci into a nice rink. A little better food vendors, better organization of the concorse and the new scoreboard and you'd have it made in my opinion.