Don’t know if any of you saw the series of stories that ran Sunday in both the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang on athletics facilities at the University of Wyoming. It was a look back at what the school’s $38 million Athletics Facilities Campaign went towards, and what lies ahead in terms of facility construction and upgrades.
The following is a comment posted on the WTE website from one of the articles:
“At some point soon, the (Arena-Auditorium) needs to be refurbished so a college regulation hockey rink can be installed. Movable seating and the ice infrastructure are among some of the improvements that will be needed. An ice rink will allow UW to create men’s and women’s NCAA hockey squads as well create a desperately needed facility for youth in the community. It will also open up additional tourist opportunities in the winter months. Perhaps down the road an outdoor game could be held at (War Memorial Stadium) in January featuring some high profile schools in a four-team tourney. ”
What do you think about that?
While nice in theory, don’t expect that to happen.
Athletics Director Tom Burman said while there is no intention right now to cut any sports at UW, there also are no plans to add any, either.
But even if hockey was added, the A-A isn’t the place based on how it was built. The floor doesn’t come out and I’m not sure the size of it would be conducive to a hockey rink. More than likely an entirely new hockey facility would have to be built, and that costs big money. … money UW doesn’t have.
But it doesn’t hurt to dream, right?
Still, an interesting comment by the reader.
Here are the links to some of those stories:
http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/05/02/sports/19sports_05-02-10.txt
http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/05/02/sports/20sports_05-02-10.txt
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I believe having college hockey is long overdue at the University of Wyoming. While it will be a challenge to get a facility built in the next few years, there will come a time when Wyoming will be flush with revenues again (probably from wind and solar resources as well as higher priced royalties from fossil fuels). When that time is right, leaders and voices in the state like Bobby Gagliardi need to step up and help with the push to get it done and allow the programs to get off the ground. Having college hockey at UW would be tremendous, as the game reflects the hard working, tough resilience, and dogged determination of the Wyoming people. And it would be a big win-win for Laramie and Albany County. An NCAA regional could easily be swung in Laramie for college hockey, whereas there is zero chance of any postseason basketball games being conducted by the NCAA there.
Hi George and thanks for the comment and interest in the blog.
Perhaps one day there will be hockey at UW, but I highly doubt it. If men’s hockey was started, a similar program for women would also have to be created due to Title IX gender equity laws. That isn’t a bad thing, but yet another significant expense. We’ve gone over the facility issue. But even though starting a program sounds cool and exciting, it’s not easy. And I’m not so sure hockey would go over that well here. I don’t dislike hockey, but I certainly don’t consider myself an expert on the sport, either.
Youth hockey is picking up steam in the state, and the club hockey team at UW has had some success. But all that doesn’t translate into an NCAA-caliber program. Again, maybe one day we will see it, but I think UW has much bigger issues to face with the existing programs it has.
Still, your points are well taken and greatly appreciated.
RG
Interesting thoughts by this commenter and interesting articles you wrote. It’s always a balancing game…or not. Seems like most of the money goes to the big “programs” and the little guys get left behind unless they have some kind of success. Even then perhaps not. What remains to be seen is what happens if UoW joins the BCS. Where does that money go? Does it just go to football?
That money will go everywhere, not just football. Will go to paying bills, salaries, debt, etc. Would be a nice problem to have and I would imagaine some might be earmarked for football, but it certainly wouldn’t all be.