Rick is absolutely correct about the availability of tickets for
Northeastern games.  Since 1986, not only has there not been a sellout
in the 6,000 seat rink, but the balcony has only been opened twice -
and that was for the two NC$$ first round games with Merrimack in
1988 (no sellout).  There are about 2,000 seats in the balcony and
4,000 down below.  The Huskies averaged 1,684 at home last season, so
for an average game you'll have over half the available seats empty.
That also means you can usually wander around till you find a seat you
like, provided it's not taken.  I suggest behind the visiting bench,
center ice, top row...though I prefer the seat I usually have - press
box, high above rinkside, where you can look straight down on everything.
We've gone over and over people's lists of their favorite places to
see a game...Matthews Arena is one of my favorites.
 
Something that always disappointed me about Northeastern was the
lack of fans.  Even when the 1987-88 team was making its run to a
Hockey East championship and NC$$ berth, it was difficult to get the
fans to show up.  One of the arguments has always been that despite
being one of the largest schools in Boston, NU is a commuter school
that also has half its student population on co-op at any given
time...but there is still a general lack of interest in the school's
sports teams.  Even the hoop team with Reggie did not sell out, except
for the 1987 NAC championship game vs BU.  The hockey team has its
diehards, but except for the first two Mondays in February when everyone
and his long-lost brother wants tickets, most students (and alumni)
couldn't care less, and that's too bad.
 
It was particularly sad when NU hosted Wisconsin in January 1987, and
the cheeseheads outnumbered the Huskie faithful...
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Mike Machnik           [log in to unmask]          [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                  *HMN* 11/13/93