2008 Woodie Awards
. . . But going to the Ryan Center will be worth the trip
Ryan Holt '09
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: Sports
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Progress. For Providence College, this word has been used to explain certain inconveniences both on and off campus. The lack of parking and the closure of rooms in Peterson Rec-reation Center to make way for the new athletic center and the reduced seating capacity for the Dunkin' Donuts Center are some of the challenges in the name of progress. PC faces a new obstacle concerns the Dunk, as the Friars will be forced to start the season elsewhere because of the renovations taking place.
The Friars will play these games at rival University of Rhode Island's home court, the Ryan Center, roughly 45 minutes away. Such a move has become a hot topic lately on talk radio and Internet message boards.
There certainly are drawbacks to playing at the Ryan Center. First, it is hostile territory. Do we really want to see Jamine "Greedy" Peterson's Friar debut on URI's home court?
How many fans will take the trip to Kingston? This is Rhode Island, and as anyone who knows local culture will tell you, many consider this distance burdensome and would be unlikely to make the trip. Others who attend the game make the trip from points farther than Providence. The added time it would take to get to Kingston may be a bit too much.
URI's campus, in contrast to the Dunk, is not surrounded by much by means of restaurants and shopping centers. Many make the Friars games part of their night, which may include dinner Downtown or shopping at the Providence Place Mall. Again, this may turn many more away.
There are also many positives about playing in Kingston. The Friars are already slated to play against URI in their annual battle for statewide supremacy in December; two games at that location may make that game a less intimidating experience. They would be more adjusted to the lighting, the rims, the backboards, and locker rooms because of these two games.
These exhibition games may be used to promote the team in the southern part of the state, a place where many root for URI and others are indifferent. Other college teams use the exhibition season as a time to widen fan bases by traveling to other locations in their home states.
The Friars will play these games at rival University of Rhode Island's home court, the Ryan Center, roughly 45 minutes away. Such a move has become a hot topic lately on talk radio and Internet message boards.
There certainly are drawbacks to playing at the Ryan Center. First, it is hostile territory. Do we really want to see Jamine "Greedy" Peterson's Friar debut on URI's home court?
How many fans will take the trip to Kingston? This is Rhode Island, and as anyone who knows local culture will tell you, many consider this distance burdensome and would be unlikely to make the trip. Others who attend the game make the trip from points farther than Providence. The added time it would take to get to Kingston may be a bit too much.
URI's campus, in contrast to the Dunk, is not surrounded by much by means of restaurants and shopping centers. Many make the Friars games part of their night, which may include dinner Downtown or shopping at the Providence Place Mall. Again, this may turn many more away.
There are also many positives about playing in Kingston. The Friars are already slated to play against URI in their annual battle for statewide supremacy in December; two games at that location may make that game a less intimidating experience. They would be more adjusted to the lighting, the rims, the backboards, and locker rooms because of these two games.
These exhibition games may be used to promote the team in the southern part of the state, a place where many root for URI and others are indifferent. Other college teams use the exhibition season as a time to widen fan bases by traveling to other locations in their home states.