Rick McAdoo had mentioned in a post a few days ago that a
"Fan Fair" was being held in Providence in conjunction with the tourney.
 
According to the Providence Journal the Fair will be held at the
Rhode Island Convention Ctr (next door to the Civic Center) on Fri
from 10-10, Sat from 10-1 and 5:30-9:30 and Sunday from noon - 5.
Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for kids.  It will feature interactive
games, autograph sessions with former NHL stars (none are named)
and the first public presentation of the Hobey Baker Award.
 
One of the organizers is quoted saying the emphasis of the fair is on
family, not just hockey.  That is obvious from some of the other events(?)
being scheduled. They include trading card and pin vendors, batting
cages (huh?) basketball and football skills contests (double huh?)
temporary tattoos and face painting, miniature golf courses, dunk tanks
and continuous entertainment.  Other than the Hobey Baker it sounds
to me like it has very little to do with college hockey at all.
 
In the article the company that is putting on the fair are very up front
about their desire to keep fans and their $$$ in Providence rather
than having them head off to Boston or the Indian casino in nearby
 Ledyard, Conn. on the tourney's day off.  Apparently this type of
event has been very successful elsewhere.  The promoters say it
drew 35,000 at the SEC football championships.  They also say
they've been held in conjunction with Super Bowl XXXVIII and
last years B-ball Final Four in Charlotte NC.
 
It's a non-NCAA sponsored or sanctioned event, so if you don't
like the sounds of it you can't blame it on them.  And I'm not a
gambler so I can't supply directions to Ledyard.  (They should be
readily available in Providence for anyone interested.)
 
--Bill Schneller
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