Sorry Stephen,

The ONLY places in Hockey East that I have ever been able to sit behind
the bench as a visiting Maine fan is Merrimack and Northeastern.

AT BU there were times we had to sit on the bleachers under the press
box, now we are in Section 1, some of the worst seats in the house!

At BC while on the same side as the Maine bench, we sit from the Blue
line into the corner, not behind the bench.

At Providence both benches are on the same side, we're closer to Maine
bench but again blue line to the corner.

At UNH we are in the opposite corner of the Maine bench above the
tunnel that UNH comes out of!

At Lowell opposite side of the Maine bench, again from blue line in to
corner!

I have never been to UMass, but have heard that they stick students
above the visiting bench, maybe that has changed and others can
comment.

As a result I would not be critical about where Maine seats the
visitors, and as someone who only gets up to Orono a couple of times a
season, guess where I end up sitting, under the balcony too!  And to be
perfectly honest, they are not bad seats, get a great view of the
entire ice, close to the action, and as a Maine fan the noise around
you is great!

Bob Fitta
UMaine '83


On Mar 9, 2004, at 5:47 PM, Stephen St.Pierre wrote:

> Things may have changed, as its been 5 years since Ive been in the New
> England area.. but as I recall...every other teams visiting section
> was behind the visiting teams bench (not positive about UNH), so it
> appears that Maine is the only school not to accomodate opposing teams
> fans with decent seats..is that wrong? maybe, maybe not. But generally
> you would think that hockey east member institutions would try and
> treat visiting fans the same across the board.  I do remember way back
> when Maine Hosted Providence in the NCAA tourney, they were required
> to give up the seats behind the Providence bench to there fans.
>
> >From: nonni daly
>  >Reply-To: The Maine Hockey Discussion List
>  >To: [log in to unmask]
>  >Subject: Re: Playoff Tickets
>  >Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2004 15:31:33 -0500
>  >
>  >Two quotes from James Acheson:
>  >I am quite confident that our friends in Orono will continue to give
> the away teams the worst possible seats... and thus, this die hard fan
> will take what he can get.
>  >
>  >the seats that Maine gives the away teams are LOUSY, but at least we
> will get to see the game.
>  >
>  >Can only ask:
>  >And, there is some compelling reason to give the away teams good
> seats, thereby taking them away from potential season-long supporters?
>  >
>  >Nonni
>
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Bob Fitta
Director of Advertising
Harvard Magazine
617-496-6631