Petition for NCAA Hockey at Rutgers!

[getmyjive11]

Because the goal is to field winning teams, not just have teams. If the goal is to just have the team, then the club team already exists.

Also - you are kidding yourself if you think that the petitioners are going to come up with $2-3 million (renting the arena costs money. Travel will be slightly more expensive than PSU_Nuts numbers, since we are futher away) EVERY year. They almost surely wont come up with that money for just one year.

Like I said - its like the PAC idea. It seems great. There are dedicated and knowledgeable people working on the project. But for something like this you either need a sugar daddy, or an army of volunteers, and we almost surely have neither.

I doubt RU ever gets NCAA hockey. Too expensive. Not enough interest. Not enough chance of being good (NJ isnt Minnesota - there just arent enough recruits here to compete with the best in the biz.)

The biggest hurdle is the arena. It cost something like $88 million just for the arena at PSU, something that would undoubtedly be $100+ million in NJ. The ONLY chance I see this happening is if there is a new multi-purpose arena built to replace the RAC, and it just doesn't seem like that is on the near horizon. Like I said though, even then you would need at least $20 million to endow the scholarships and even more money to pay for the coaches and training staff.

Rutgers needs to focus on the sports they already have. Enhance the facilities and get them all up to par for the Big Ten before even contemplating a hockey team. It probably shouldn't even be considered for 20 years.

 

[getmyjive11]

It is far from a perfect scenario, but what if Rutgers played games at the Trenton arena or Princeton or Bridgewater (even Newark) while searching for sponsors for a downtown arena? I love the idea of the tri-state teams possibly contributing. 25 million from Rangers, Devils, Flyers, and Isles would be feasible if things were creative with marketing aspects (not just ads, but special Rangers fan nights, team development camps, pre-season facility use, etc.)

As mentioned, New Jersey has been developing a list of NHL players in the past 15 years and we've started to include actual STARS on that list like Johnny Gaudreau who is one of the finalists for rookie of the year, James Van Riemsdyk, and Bobby Ryan.

If Rutgers can begin competing better across the board in Big Ten sports over the next few years, is it far-fetched to think the conference might want to help Rutgers start a program? They already know how fertile the area is for recruiting in many sports. I'm sure some of the teams already are keeping an eye on New Jersey for hockey as well.

And the comment about Penn State being the team they watch is dead on. They may want to play for traditional teams like Michigan, Wisconsin or Minnesota -- but those who want to be in an area where their parents could drive to some games will look at PSU. The longer PSU has the only game in town, the worse it will be for Rutgers.

I think the wildcard might actually be Maryland. With the money they get from Under Armour... if the Capitals are interested (and Ted Leonsis is a HUGE sports fan who loves the area) they might wind up having the money to move from club to conference faster than one would think.

NJ is not as good as you are making it out to be in hockey. PSU doesn't even have a NJ player on the roster. Considering that their coach used to be at Princeton, that tells you all you need to know about the talent level in the state.

Talent is generally found in basic regions. Minnesota, Boston and Canada. Sometimes you can find a kid in Michigan or Wisky, but those three areas are where most teams focus. PSU will always have a few PA kids on the team, but doubt you will see many from NJ.

If Rutgers would field a team, they would have to worry more about Princeton than PSU in regards to keeping kids at home.

 

[RM60]

There have been countless threads here about hockey, and while most of the posters are well-meaning, few have any real knowledge of what it actually would take to start a program and be competitive in D-1. The bottom line is money. Secondarily, money. And third, money.

With financing, there is little doubt that RU could have a great chance to fit in the B1G, which is actually NOT a great conference for the sport at this time. The end of season PairWise Rankings had Minnesota at #10 and Michigan #19. Way down the list you'd find Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State in the 30's. There are only 59 schools competing at the D-1 level.

Recruiting "at home" is a fairly insignificant issue. Most of the very best kids, wherever they're from, play juniors either in Canada, or in leagues across the US. And every single athlete would need to be a scholarship player. Those who believe you could start a program with walk-ons and build it, playing at a rink in Bridgewater or off-campus elsewhere, are suggesting a recipe for disaster.

Again, huge gifts totally well into the 9 figures, would be needed to make this happen. Nonetheless, I'll sign the petition.

 

[robcac26]

Cali how do you know there is no money for it. No question B1G hockey is among the best but even now at the club level Rutgers hockey has done well. Key is having an on campus ice arena that can also generate income and be usable and available for all students. In this regard it would be able to generate some income and have some practicality. View this in opposition to some of the other team sports like tennis, golf or even field hockey which generate little income and whose facilities are of limited use for students.

The group would do well to share some planning details as to how much $$ is needed and how much income an arena could generate to help offset expenses snd potential use by students.

It wouldn't even need to be just for students, it can operate like a normal local rink and be in use every single day with contracts with high school teams, youth travel teams, in-house hockey and learn to skate programs, adult league, etc. I am 100% sure that the people behind this project have experience running this stuff and are well aware of this. The current head coach has run travel and high school teams and leagues for years and is also the hockey director at Prudential Center.

I don't know the details as to how they plan on doing this or how close they are, but they are apparently working on securing the funding, which they obviously understand is the main hurdle, but if they use a new arena as a local rink, they wouldn't need to pay for ice time and the profits of everything else that uses the ice could offset the costs in the long-term. I agree it would be nice if they would share some of the details since funding is of course the big question mark with this. While this petition clearly isn't the be-all end-all main focus of the project, I think it has some importance in creating quantifiable evidence that there would be support behind a Rutgers hockey team if the funding is somehow secured, and I think whoever the money would come from is more likely to put it towards a team if they see that there is in fact support. It hit 1000 signatures on the first day.

 

[mikefla]

I would like to see RU have a hockey team but for now I will just follow my ranked Cornell Big Red hockey(and lax and wrestling and NCAA champ polo team)

It wasnt long ago many of you were pouring out negatives about the wrestling team. Its what you guys do.

One thing I can ALWAYS count on is Rutgers fans(at least the few that make up this board) will ALWAYS think small. meh.....

 

[Caliknight]

Cali how do you know there is no money for it. No question B1G hockey is among the best but even now at the club level Rutgers hockey has done well. Key is having an on campus ice arena that can also generate income and be usable and available for all students. In this regard it would be able to generate some income and have some practicality. View this in opposition to some of the other team sports like tennis, golf or even field hockey which generate little income and whose facilities are of limited use for students.

The group would do well to share some planning details as to how much $$ is needed and how much income an arena could generate to help offset expenses snd potential use by students.

Rutgers has notoriously stingy donations from alums/fans, but somehow you believe there might be people willing to donate the tens of millions it would take to start two hockey programs and build an arena, which is what it would take to compete? I know because I see what goes on with other sports at the school.

The idea that there are massive donors sitting on the sidelines for ice hockey is as ridiculous as starting a program with no facility or scholarships.

 

[getmyjive11]

It wouldn't even need to be just for students, it can operate like a normal local rink and be in use every single day with contracts with high school teams, youth travel teams, in-house hockey and learn to skate programs, adult league, etc. I am 100% sure that the people behind this project have experience running this stuff and are well aware of this. The current head coach has run travel and high school teams and leagues for years and is also the hockey director at Prudential Center.

I don't know the details as to how they plan on doing this or how close they are, but they are apparently working on securing the funding, which they obviously understand is the main hurdle, but if they use a new arena as a local rink, they wouldn't need to pay for ice time and the profits of everything else that uses the ice could offset the costs in the long-term. I agree it would be nice if they would share some of the details since funding is of course the big question mark with this. While this petition clearly isn't the be-all end-all main focus of the project, I think it has some importance in creating quantifiable evidence that there would be support behind a Rutgers hockey team if the funding is somehow secured, and I think whoever the money would come from is more likely to put it towards a team if they see that there is in fact support. It hit 1000 signatures on the first day.

Even with an multipurpose arena, Rutgers would still need a practice facility. If it is a community ice rink, that is fine, but it's going to be a real challenge to attract talent to Rutgers when most of the other schools in the conference have some of the nicest dedicated ice hockey arenas in the nation (PSU, Michigan, MSU, and Minny). It would be an uphill battle.

 

[BigLou]

If the Devils, Rangers, Islanders, and Flyers got together and gave $50 million each, then this could happen.

Why on earth would these teams do such a thing?

 

[robcac26]

Even with an multipurpose arena, Rutgers would still need a practice facility. If it is a community ice rink, that is fine, but it's going to be a real challenge to attract talent to Rutgers when most of the other schools in the conference have some of the nicest dedicated ice hockey arenas in the nation (PSU, Michigan, MSU, and Minny). It would be an uphill battle.

You can practice and play in the same arena, and many local facilities even have two rinks. BSA has two rinks and is constructing another two. You can have one rink be a nice arena-style setup designed for the Rutgers teams and the other with bleachers for more local events. I believe Codey is arranged as such.

 

[getmyjive11]

You can practice and play in the same arena, and many local facilities even have two rinks. BSA has two rinks and is constructing another two. You can have one rink be a nice arena-style setup designed for the Rutgers teams and the other with bleachers for more local events. I believe Codey is arranged as such.

My understanding is that they are looking to add hockey with the additional of a multi-purpose facility. If they build an aux. rink with that facility, that would be ideal, but they cannot use the main arena to practice if it would be supporting basketball as well.

 

[Caliknight]

Why on earth would these teams do such a thing?

They wouldn't. I like thinking out of the proverbial box, but sheesh.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Why on earth would these teams do such a thing?

An owner gave Penn State $100 million for them to start D1 Hockey. The point was that that will never happen to us.

 

[Caliknight]

He isn't just an owner. He is a Penn St. alum and booster. He bought the Sabres after he made the donation of $100MM to fund the programs and facility.

Much different than suggesting that owners of hockey teams in the area with no affiliation to Rutgers would just donate $50MM each because some other guy did.

Ridiculous is a nice word.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I believe I read somwhere B1G kicks in money for any B1G for any B1G school that starts a hockey program and has adeqaute facilites. It might even have to be on campus.

 

[robcac26]

Yeah I might be the most hopeful person here, but no pro team is going to donate to something that would compete against their own market share of hockey fans' entertainment dollars.

 

[DHajekRC84]

wouldn't RU also be required to field a women's team or another women's program under Title IX? (or are we already plus 1 on the women's side?)

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

He isn't just an owner. He is a Penn St. alum and booster. He bought the Sabres after he made the donation of $100MM to fund the programs and facility.

Much different than suggesting that owners of hockey teams in the area with no affiliation to Rutgers would just donate $50MM each because some other guy did.

Ridiculous is a nice word.

Maybe my allegory fell short... but it is ridiculous, that is the whole point. That is just what I was trying to say.

 

[getmyjive11]

I believe I read somwhere B1G kicks in money for any B1G for any B1G school that starts a hockey program and has adeqaute facilites. It might even have to be on campus.

The BTN gives out an extra 2 million for all teams that have hockey programs.

 

[getmyjive11]

He isn't just an owner. He is a Penn St. alum and booster. He bought the Sabres after he made the donation of $100MM to fund the programs and facility.

Much different than suggesting that owners of hockey teams in the area with no affiliation to Rutgers would just donate $50MM each because some other guy did.

Ridiculous is a nice word.

It should also be noted that Pegula is worth $3.8 Billion which is about half a billion more than UMD's sugar daddy, Kevin Plank. Those guys don't exactly grow on trees and I can't imagine any of them having much interest in college hockey.

 

[derleider]

wouldn't RU also be required to field a women's team or another women's program under Title IX? (or are we already plus 1 on the women's side?)

The rules are more complicated than that - but yes, in essence we would need to field another womens teams. Hockey would be the logical choice, given that we would be making a huge commitment to the sport, but I guess it could be something else if we thought it would be cheaper or more likely to be successful.

 

[NittPicker]

It would be pretty cool to see Rutgers have a D1 ice hockey program but as everyone has pointed out, a lot of money will be needed if you want to do it right. If it ever happens please suggest to your AD it should not be in a multi-purpose facility. Pegula Ice Arena is hockey only and has two sheets of ice under one roof. When not being used by PSU, the secondary rink is used as a community rink for youth hockey, public skating, etc. Two dedicated sheets of ice is a big deal. Having ice time cut because other events need to be held would be holding back the potential in the opinion of some. Hopefully someday you guys can make it happen.

 

[AdamsGarden]

While I would love to see hockey at Rutgers, I'd rather we figure out how to be successful within the programs we have at the university now - first - before we go down the road of adding/ re-instating programs.

Based on year 1, we have a ways to go. This is just too early.

 

[Upstream]

If you don't want a hockey team, then don't sign the petition.

OK, I won't sign that petition.

Where do I sign to indicate that I think this is a ridiculously bad idea at this time, and would syphon off scarce resources from an athletic department that is struggling to field championship-level teams and running the largest deficit of any D1 public school (and more than twice the deficit of the next P5 school).

 

[Caliknight]

You don't need a petition for that Upstream. The AD gets it. Hockey is a pipe dream at RU, unless a massive donor comes in like PSU had, which is also a pipe dream.

 

[Scarlet Pride]

Wait does this mean we can get the Knicks and Nets to kick in 25 million each too? We are well on our way to a new RAC!

 

[ScarletDave]

The shame is they don't even realize how even this will hurt us. Can't wait for the SL article about how the team petitioned the AD and we shot them down because we are in so much debt, spend so much taxpayer money, etc why give the media any more ammo.

 

[e5fdny]

While I would love to see hockey at Rutgers, I'd rather we figure out how to be successful within the programs we have at the university now - first - before we go down the road of adding/ re-instating programs.

Based on year 1, we have a ways to go. This is just too early.

And the only one of those should be Men's Swimming.

 

[Knight_Light]

The rules are more complicated than that - but yes, in essence we would need to field another womens teams. Hockey would be the logical choice, given that we would be making a huge commitment to the sport, but I guess it could be something else if we thought it would be cheaper or more likely to be successful.

All depends on RU's Title IX current scholarship ratio.

Div I Men's(and women's) Hockey has a total of 18 scholarships (can be divided up by 27 membered squads).

RU could add other women scholarship sports like Fencing, Rifle, Water Polo, etc...that would most likely be much cheaper than Women's Hockey.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Rutgers wouldn't add a non Big Ten sport.

This is not happening so it doesn't matter.

 

[lighty]

NJ is not as good as you are making it out to be in hockey. PSU doesn't even have a NJ player on the roster. Considering that their coach used to be at Princeton, that tells you all you need to know about the talent level in the state.

I'm NOT saying New Jersey is a hotbed for hockey talent, but there's little doubt it's light years ahead of where it was 15-20 years ago. In the 80s, only a handful of high schools (generally the Catholic schools) fielded teams. Today, there are teams everywhere.

In recent years, we not only are seeing NJ kids drafted in the NHL but becoming STAR players. The talent is improving and it's quite obvious to see. With more kids getting the chance to play in high school, the talent will only improve. Why are the areas you mentioned so much better than here? Because kids in areas like Minnesota ALWAYS had hockey in schools. We're just beginning to get to that point.

 

[RutGuy]

BUMP

 

[Ronnie_B]

If Tim Pernetti was still the AD and none of that crap with Mike Rice went down, we might have had a chance at a Division One hockey program. In fact I remember TP talking about starting a hockey program at RU. Damn shame.