Thanks for the numbers, Cory -- even if it is a rather invidious comparison
between CCCC's capacity and that of the Alfond. :)  I dare say that fewer of
the fans at the Alfond sit on their hands -- although there are some student
faniaks who grouse mightily at the lack of vocal support from the "geezers"!
It's nice to see that the numbers in Portland have picked up because I do
remember many trips to Spring Street when one could have had most of the
good seats in the house for lack of attendance.
        One game a year -- I've agreed with that all along.  I just don't
cotton to people who think this team or this program or this University
"owes" something to people who weren't on the bandwagon when the team won 12
games in a season -- but sure do want to be "seen with the winners" now that
they are a dominant college hockey team.
        Jaundiced?  Perhaps ... but, more likely realistic, too.  I remember
a losing streak back a few years when Shawn said to me, "Hear those
'snapping' sounds?  That's the people jumping off the bandwagon.  They'll be
back when it is fashionable to be a part of the 'winners', too.  You can
count on it!"  Sorry, guys, those are fair-weather friends who only care
what Maine Hockey can do for them ... we don't play that way in Orono. :)
Nonni

> "Where are all those Portland area fans when Maine plays at the CCCC? Oh,
> sorry, forgot -- the
> opponent wasn't worthy of their precious time." -Nonni
>
> "The Maine men's ice hockey team picked up a 6-1 win over Vermont on
Sunday
> afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,901 at the Cumberland County
> Civic Center." -HockeyEastOnline.com Recap Of Last Portland Game
>
> You are right Vermont wasn't much competition, but you are wrong in asking
> where the fans were. They were in the stands. In fact, attendance figures
> have been steadily climbing to the point of sell out. It seems since 98-99
> season the Portland game has drawn the largest crowd for a Maine hockey
> game. Granted, Alfond can hold only 5600 fans. BUT this means that for the
> past 5 seasons the Portland game has drawn more than 5600 fans. And the
last
> two seasons were sell out, I believe.
>
> Now, I agree having only one game away from Alfond is the right way to go.
> But at the same time you can't say that Portland area fans stay home when
> there isn't good competition when clearly they are selling out the place
now
> with weak competition(Vermont).
>
> -Cory
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Maine Hockey Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of nonni daly
> Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 3:50 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: never hurts to try
>
>
> > So are season ticket prices reduced given the two games in Portland?  If
> > they are not I would imagine that the proceeds from the ticket sales
from
> > the CCCC will more than make up for the cost of travel from Orono to
> > Portland and back.
>
> As was posted, the packages were offered to season ticket holders with or
> without Portland tickets ...
>
>
> > PS:  I knew I should have left the 'taxpayer' issue out of my previous
> > diatribe.
> > However there are almost certainly more Maine hockey fans within
traveling
> > distance to the CCCC than there are season ticket holders.  Come on
Nonni,
> > give us a break down here. You can still travel to Portland to see the
> > games.  Most of us can't go to games in Orono because the season ticket
> > holders have almost all of the seats tied up!  It's only two games!
Don't
> > be so selfish!
>
> Well, I have to assume you forgot to append the little smiley face after
> this last sentence ...
>     There may well be more Maine hockey fans within traveling distance to
> the CCCC than there are season ticket holders.  After all, the Alfond only
> holds 5600 for hockey and sells out about every game.  Where are all those
> Portland area fans when Maine plays at the CCCC?  Oh, sorry, forgot -- the
> opponent wasn't worthy of their precious time.
>      The season ticket holders have all the seats tied up because it is
> those local season ticket holders who have helped to pay the bills and
> support the program for going on 28 years ... now that the team is a
> perennial national contender, we continually have to hear the whining of
the
> Precious Portlanders that they "deserve" to have more games down there.
> Where were they in the mid-80's?  Oh, sorry, forgot I asked that one
before.
>     Only two games?  When do we get to "only three games" -- or "four" --
or
> "half of the season should be played in Portland in the new megarink".
> Kinda like letting the nose of the camel under the tent, isn't it?  Next
> thing you know you are knee deep in camel dung!
>     Orono is the home of the Black Bears, irrespective of sport.  A game
per
> sport at another venue is enough to ask of a bunch of kids who travel
major
> distances to play half of their games each season.  They are still
students
> with full-time academic responsibilities, too.  They feed off the local
fans
> and appreciate the support they get.  Quite frankly, I have heard more
than
> one, in more than one sport, talk about the fans who sit on their hands in
> Portland ...
> So, I have no problem with my take on this and fail to see why any of it
is
> "selfish"
> And, no, I didn't leave off the smiley face ...
> Nonni
>