There was a long article in the local paper a few weeks ago that stated
that if the NCAA is going to seek bids for another Eastern Regional next
year, that Rochester will be putting in a very serious effort to get it.

The person who now runs the Blue Cross Arena here is the same person who
runs the Pepsi Arena in Albany when they were very successful in getting
NCAA tournaments there (hockey, wrestling and basketball).  So, with his
contacts and reputation amongst the NCAA, he is going to try to get Rochester
the hockey East Regional.

The Rochester and Albany arenas are run by the same company that runs
the arenas in Philadelphia, i.e., the Spectrum Company or whatever it's
called.

The Blue Cross Arena has recently been renovated and now holds about 12,000
for hockey.  It's location could be a premium -- it is just as close to some
Western teams (Ohio and Michigan) as it is for Eastern teams, so it will
be a prime candidate to get the crossover games, and still be within
easy driving distance for the out of region folks as well as the in region
folks.  A full fledged airport and a short distance from the NYS Thruway
will make travelling easy.  And plenty of hotel rooms in the area.

They mentioned Cornell as a possible host.  Colgate could be a candidate
as well.  There is also Niagara and Canisius, but for 2003, they will be
tied up with the Frozen Four in Buffalo.

Russell Jaslow