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I heard the White Bear will be playing home games at the new arena being built that has a small seating area. Please someone tell me this isn't true, there is to much tradition at Aldrich.

Vadnais Heights decided to get into the arena buisness with a 2 sheet complex (1 main and 1 practice rink) at corner of Hwy61 and Cty rd E.
The city council approved all related votes by 4-1 majority.
This will also have a full size Dome (don't know if that went all seasons though)
See www.wblhockey.com

formerlybackofnet wrote:I heard the White Bear will be playing home games at the new arena being built that has a small seating area. Please someone tell me this isn't true, there is to much tradition at Aldrich.

The problem with Aldrich, I have been told, is that the facility fees are so high that the WBL program doesn't get to keep enough of the proceeds to fund the program. I don't know that the new facility will allow the program to keep more of the gate, but that's the assumption. Also, I don't know whether the new facility will be completed in time for the season opener.

1,000 capacity max seems a bit small. I suppose for most games that would be sufficient, but for the big rivalry games, better get there a day ahead. Parking doesn't look very expansive either. Looks like it will be a nice facility though. I see they have the area fenced off already and some construction equipment on site.

At the 11th hour the arena seating capacity on the main rink may have been increased to 1200.??..don't quote me on that. The online plans through wblhockey are not the most current ones.

If you don't get a seat, grab a pizza and a pitcher of beer.

Good! Aldrich is officially 100% ours now as it should be.

When will they start play there? Is it seriously only 1200 seats cause there is no way a hill-white bear game will be able to be played in that small of an arena. You'd have to buy tickets a month and a half in advance. I mean, the two student sections combined are about that amount alone.

Northsider wrote:Good! Aldrich is officially 100% ours now as it should be.

When will they start play there? Is it seriously only 1200 seats cause there is no way a hill-white bear game will be able to be played in that small of an arena. You'd have to buy tickets a month and a half in advance. I mean, the two student sections combined are about that amount alone.

I would hope it would be played at Aldrich then!

The latest I have heard was that the WBL-HM games will still be at Aldrich.

This arena is a great thing for WBL. It will be nice for them to have a true "home ice" in the WBL area, with Bear colors, logos, etc. It will be adjacent to a sports bar (Sak's) and eventually a strip mall.

One problem with Aldrich was that the WBL program did not receive any of the gate or concessions.

As for the when, I believe they are turning dirt this month and the expected opening is in November? Not certain, but that rings a bell.

Does Hill recieve any of the gate or concessions from Aldrich or do we have to pay the county to use the place? Just wondering.

Now we can remove that ugly little black and orange banner hanging on the southwest corner of the arena. Maybe we can hang some nice section championship banners up on the ceiling over the ice like they have at Wakota. And we can also shift the state champion banners front and center under the concession stand like they deserve to be. The seats and general color scheme is already green so that works out well.

Northsider wrote:Does Hill recieve any of the gate or concessions from Aldrich or do we have to pay the county to use the place? Just wondering.

Now we can remove that ugly little black and orange banner hanging on the southwest corner of the arena. Maybe we can hang some nice section championship banners up on the ceiling over the ice like they have at Wakota. And we can also shift the state champion banners front and center under the concession stand like they deserve to be. The seats and general color scheme is already green so that works out well.

Shouldn't Hill-Murray be getting a new stadium with less seats, seeing as they can hardly break 25% attendance at a non-rivalry game...

But seriously, I look forward to the new arena, and they day that other schools can stop cheering "Where's your banners?" and pointing to those pesky green ones....

InigoMontoya wrote:If you don't get a seat, grab a pizza and a pitcher of beer.

I drive by it twice a day. That's as close as I will get to it when the HS is playing there.

So, that's one more available seat inside the new arena in my place, because this dude will be having beer and pizza, and will not contribute one penny of revenue towards the HS team until a new regime is in place, and I know I am not the only one who feels that way...

Goldfishdude wrote:

InigoMontoya wrote:If you don't get a seat, grab a pizza and a pitcher of beer.

I drive by it twice a day. That's as close as I will get to it when the HS is playing there.

So, that's one more available seat inside the new arena in my place, because this dude will be having beer and pizza, and will not contribute one penny of revenue towards the HS team until a new regime is in place, and I know I am not the only one who feels that way...

Yup, it's not the kids, it's all about you right?

Yup, it's not the kids, it's all about you right?

IMHO, the kids should not be drinking beer.

InigoMontoya wrote:

Yup, it's not the kids, it's all about you right?

IMHO, the kids should not be drinking beer.

Yet another thing to blame underage drinking on:

The parents, public school, and the HS Hockey Forum.

formerlybackofnet wrote:

Goldfishdude wrote:

InigoMontoya wrote:If you don't get a seat, grab a pizza and a pitcher of beer.

I drive by it twice a day. That's as close as I will get to it when the HS is playing there.

So, that's one more available seat inside the new arena in my place, because this dude will be having beer and pizza, and will not contribute one penny of revenue towards the HS team until a new regime is in place, and I know I am not the only one who feels that way...

Yup, it's not the kids, it's all about you right?

El Contrair, formerly..... I have contributed nearly $3K towards the HS program the past couple years, between team fees, golf hole sponsorships, and snack products my business donated that were a direct benefit for the kids. That has ended until further notice.

I will continue to support the thousands of kids that play youth hockey thru the WBL system and will enjoy many events and tourneys they have, and support the youth coaches.

This arena isn't being built just for the HS team.

A new tradition in White Bear Hockey starts today with a soft opening of the Vadnais Heights Sports Complex. Looking at the schedule for the HS Boys I see that the Hill Murray game on Dec 23rd is scheduled for the new rink. Get your tickets early. I have no idea if it will still play there but seating cap is 1200-1500 (400 on visitors side and 800-1100 on home side) + standing.
Should be fun for those on the ice with a packed house.
Having White Bears home rink in their own back yard should double the attendance they had at Aldrich

The H-M schedule shows the Dec 23rd game as Aldrich. I have heard that the boys will still be playing at Aldrich this year. The girls will be in the new rink.

I hear the inside of the arena has Green and Yellow striping!

buzzershot wrote:I hear the inside of the arena has Green and Yellow striping!

I'm pretty sure its yellow/tan with a green stripe. Are those the colors of Vadnais Heights? I'll have to check the water tower next time I drive by.

Sounds like a nice rink. Will there be an interview room for the Hill coaches to screen potential players from the WB Roster?

I heard you can walk into the bar w/o going outside.

old goalie85 wrote:I heard you can walk into the bar w/o going outside.

Sounds like hockey in Canada

I see that the H-M and WB schedules now both say that the Dec 23rd game is scheduled for the new Vadnais Heights rink.

WB6162 wrote:Sounds like a nice rink. Will there be an interview room for the Hill coaches to screen potential players from the WB Roster?

Given the status of both programs, we no longer need the booth...they just keep coming to us.