When UConn announced the plans for a new on-campus hockey rink, there was a sizable backlash from fans over the size of the arena. Instead of the original plan and Hockey East standard of 4,000 seats, the plans called for a much smaller capacity of just 2,500. However, UConn men’s hockey coach Mike Cavanaugh believes the plan make sense based on the state of the program.
“A lot has been made with a 2,500-seat facility,” he said. “Me personally, I think with the economic climate in our state, it’s fiscally responsible. We’re still going to play games in Hartford, I think we’d be crazy not to, especially with the way our attendance was towards the end of last season when we were putting into 7,000 people into the [XL Center].