Being a $70 billion business, the sports industry deserves only the best. American sports fans enjoy the luxury of some of the greatest sports stadiums in the world. The new Cowboys stadium and Giants stadium cost their owners over $1 billion dollars. Yes, BILLION dollars. The motive- if you build it, they will come. It's the motto that has even trickled down to being adapted in college sports.
While stadiums like Syracuse’s Carrier Dome are famous for their advancement, the NEC making it’s own strides to impress the sports landscape. And it’s much needed. Attendance has been infamously the biggest issue in the conference. Although the NEC is an average mid major conference -usually hovering around 25th out of 32- the attendance has constantly been last. The community and students simply don’t show up for games. You can’t blame the level of play because either way you look at it, it’s a division I conference. Even division III conferences get more consistant attendance.
Quinnipiac built themselves a gorgeous new state of the art arena that houses both their hockey and basketball teams. Their $50 million dollar investement was in hopes of increasing attendance and bringing in better recruits. Despite the millions spent, Quinnipiac's attendance has only risen slightly to 1,800 fans. Not the outcome they were looking for.
Soon, Sacred Heart will be looking to address their attendance issues with significant upgrades to the athletic facilities. An ice rink, swimming pool, and potentially upgraded basketball arena all seem to be in the plans for the future. But Quinnipiac built it, and nobody came.
Hopefully, Sacred Heart can get enough hype to get the athletic support that unites a campus. Unfortunately, judging by Quinnipiac failures, it seems culture cannot be changed. You’re school is either a sports school or not. You’re in a big conference or doomed. Only time will tell whether the investment can make this Park Avenue campus bleed pioneer red.
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