Back in the late 80s and early 90s Alfond was clearly a frontrunner in HE
facilities. Now there are many arenas that are clearly better(better might
not be right word,more modern?) than Alfond.Lowell, Umass, UNH, BC all have
nicer arenas. I doubt you are going to see anything built to replace Alfond
unless some private donations get it going. My feeling is it has affected
recruiting and that will get worse as other new facilities come on.
 As far as UND goes, Ralph can build what he wants and there is no way you
are going to compete with that. I really want to go out there next fall
when Maine opens up their new Arena. For around 90 million it will be a
palace.

At 03:28 PM 2/18/01 -0800, you wrote:
>Maine fans,
>
>This was from HOCKEY-L and it is a description of North Dakota's new arena
>being built.  Aside from the fact this interesting, I post this for two
>reasons:
>
>1.  I believe Maine will be the first team to play North Dakota in this
>rink to start next season.
>
>2.  How much longer will Maine be able to compete recruiting-wise with
>buildings like this?  With BU opening a new rink too, I wonder if there
>has been any consideration of a new building at Maine?  How great is the
>need?
>
>> >
>> >   On Wednesday, I had the privilege of touring the
>> > new
>> > Ralph Engelstad Arena as a member of UND's marketing
>> > committee.   The tour was simply amazing.  I didn't
>> > take
>> > notes, so what I'm relating here is strictly from
>> > memory.  My apologies if I get any of it wrong.
>> >
>> >   The first big thrill was standing in Ralph
>> > Engelstad's
>> > private suite.  Okay, so the walls are about the
>> > only
>> > thing in it, but at least I can say I was there. :-)
>> >
>> >   Our tour guide told us that Engelstad personally
>> > visited 35 of the newest hockey arenas around the
>> > country
>> > and asked people what they would do differently if
>> > they
>> > could start over again.  All that advice is
>> > reflected in
>> > the design of UND's new arena.
>> >
>> >   While I was in the construction manager's trailer
>> > waiting for the rest of our group to arrive, I
>> > looked at
>> > the plans hanging on the wall. In the center was the
>> > plan
>> > for the main arena, which hadn't changed, but around
>> > the
>> > edges, you could see where new areas had been added
>> > and
>> > other areas had been revised.
>> >
>> >   The olympic-sized practice rink and an indoor
>> > loading
>> > and unloading area appeared to be late add-ons. The
>> > main
>> > entrance to the arena also looks as if it was either
>> > enlarged or redesigned.  It's no wonder that the
>> > cost has
>> > gone from $50 million up to $85 million.
>> >
>> >   The tour guide said that Engelstad approves every
>> > change made to the plans, which means that they fax
>> > him
>> > 20-30 times a day.  She also said that before any
>> > money
>> > is spent, they have to get at least three bids to
>> > make
>> > sure they're getting a good deal.  He doesn't waste
>> > a
>> > dime.
>> >
>> >  Now for the big news.  We were told that the
>> > Minnesota
>> > Wild has signed a 5-year contract to play pre-season
>> > games at the new arena.  I would love to be able to
>> > see
>> > an NHL game in Grand Forks, even if it is just a
>> > pre-
>> > season game.
>> >
>> >   There are so many things that dazzled me about the
>> > new
>> > arena that if I can remember half of them, I'll be
>> > doing
>> > well.
>> >
>> >   The new arena contains 48 suites that sell for
>> > $25,000
>> > each.  All of them have been sold!  Our tour guide
>> > said
>> > that they wish they would have put more suites into
>> > the
>> > arena because people are still asking to buy them.
>> >
>> >   Each suite contains two rows of seats.  One row is
>> > outside the suite and directly behind the crowd.
>> > The
>> > other row is inside the suite, which allows you to
>> > close
>> > a sliding glass door to screen out the noise of the
>> > game.
>> > If you're into crowd participation, you can sit in
>> > the
>> > outside seats. There's a restaurant in the arena and
>> > all
>> > suites will be able to place orders to it. Each
>> > suite
>> > also has its own bathroom and a bar.
>> >
>> >   Speaking of bars, the public lounge area at one
>> > end of
>> > the arena will have the largest free-standing bar in
>> > North Dakota.  There will be another lounge at the
>> > other end of the arena strictly for members of UND's
>> > Fighting Sioux Club.  Nobody will be allowed to
>> > drink in
>> > the main arena.  Also, the areas serving booze will
>> > be
>> > separated from the other concessions.
>> >
>> >   The weight room is huge.  Rather than treadmills,
>> > they
>> > will have exercise machines that simulate the
>> > skating
>> > motion.  There are also rehab facilities and
>> > equipment
>> > that will allow an injured player to get everything
>> > he
>> > needs without having to leave the building.
>> >
>> >   We were shown the extra-large hot tub, which
>> > hasn't
>> > been installed yet.  They had to get it in the
>> > building
>> > before it was completed because it wouldn't have fit
>> > through any of the doors.  The damn thing is almost
>> > as
>> > big as my living room!  Our guide said that the
>> > entire
>> > team could fit in the hot tub at the same time.  Why
>> > they
>> > would want to is a question that wasn't answered.
>> > :-)
>> >
>> >   There is also a hot and cold tub to help heal
>> > injuries.  It includes a video camera that allows
>> > trainers to observe how injuries are responding
>> > underwater.  Our guide wasn't sure why this was
>> > important, but apparently it is.  We were also told
>> > that a women's locker room is being included.
>> >
>> >   The olympic ice sheet will be made available for
>> > local
>> > teams to use and practice on.  It can be divided
>> > into
>> > three separate pee-wee and bantam-size rinks.  The
>> > locker
>> > rooms are being designed so that during tournaments,
>> > each
>> > participating team will have its own space for the
>> > entire event.
>> >
>> >   Another nice feature will be TV screens in the
>> > concession areas, lounges and -- get this --
>> > bathrooms.
>> > Almost anywhere you go in the building, you can keep
>> > track of what's going on in the game.
>> >
>> >   The main entrance to the arena will be very
>> > impressive.  It has a massive domed skylight over
>> > it.
>> > Besides the ticket office, there will be a pro shop
>> > to
>> > buy hockey equipment and Sioux sportswear.  Also in
>> > this
>> > area will be the UND Hockey Hall of Fame containing
>> > a display of UND's greatest players and videos of
>> > great
>> > moments in Sioux hockey history.  Dean Blais will
>> > have an
>> > office on the second level with windows overlooking
>> > the
>> > main entrance.
>> >
>> >   Running completely around the inside the main
>> > arena
>> > will be a digital display banner that will be used
>> > for
>> > advertising and to get the crowd fired up.  This is
>> > a
>> > feature found in many new NHL arenas.  There will be
>> > a
>> > huge scoreboard hanging in the center of the arena
>> > with
>> > four monster TV screens.
>> >
>> >   There will be a section for about 2,000 students
>> > and it
>> > is right next to the ice.  Engelstad felt it was
>> > important to keep the old arena's atmosphere by
>> > having
>> > the students involved in the games.
>> >
>> >   Although the main focus of arena events will be
>> > hockey
>> > and other ice-related activities, it will also have
>> > a concert stage and can be converted to play
>> > basketball. Our guide told us
>> > that the management of the Engelstad
>> > Arena would work with the management of the Alerus
>> > Center
>> > to coordinate events for both facilities to avoid
>> > competing against each other.
>> >
>> >   That's all I can remember for now, but I think
>> > it's
>> > enough to give you an idea of what the new Engelstad
>> > Arena will be like.  I can hardly wait!
>> >
>> >                --Pat
>> >
>> >
>> >
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>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> =====
>> Matt Sullivan
>> Group Insurance Specialist
>> The Sullivan Agency, LTD.
>> www.sullivanagency.com
>>
>> University of Minnesota Duluth, 1998
>> BU-LL-DO-G-S  GOOOOO Bulldogs!!!!
>>
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