THE ISSUE: Hockey game cancelled once again due to fog
WHAT WE THINK: School needs to invest in AC system
"Disappointment" would sum up Friday night in one word. The men's ice hockey game against North Dakota was called off after the second period due to foggy conditions on the ice. Many fans viewed the first two periods as some of the best hockey play they have seen in recent history. And foggy ice put an end to it.
Yes, these were the same conditions caused by unseasonably warm weather that we experienced during the game against Boston University last year. And no, Boston College still hasn't addressed the problem.
In the early hours of Friday morning, a dehumidification system was installed in Conte Forum. Two large dehumidifiers were placed in the arena, and they were relatively effective in keeping the fog down. The University had not, however, acquired cooling systems for the dehumidifiers, which would put out warm exhaust after removing the humidity from the air. The school now has both dehumidifiers and the cooling systems for them on a rental basis.
The real solution to the problem in Conte is the installation of an air-conditioning system. BC opted out of installing air conditioning when Conte was built to save money - as is common when most universities build athletic facilities. But when a nationally televised game is cancelled due to bad ice conditions - a problem that has a tangible solution - it is an embarrassment to the University.
The benefits that an air-conditioned Conte would bring go beyond hockey games. Conte Forum is a rain site for Commencement, among other major events. As the weather starts to get warmer, the conditions in the arena can endanger the health of elderly spectators. The Church in the 21st Century Center holds many events in Conte that are open to the general public. Many have been overly warm, most notably the debate between Chris Dodd and Sam Brownback last year. A comfortable environment at Freshman Convocation is threatened by warm September days. And we all know what it feels like to stand among thousands of undergraduates at concerts in Conte.
Some estimates place the installation of an air-conditioning system at approximately $2 million. While this capital expenditure is large, it would greatly benefit the hockey team as well as every student, group, faculty member, and the University as a whole. Events could be held in comfort in Conte at any time of the year.
The University needs to install an air-conditioning system in Conte as soon as conceivably possible to prevent further embarrassment and make Conte a more comfortable venue for anyone who visits BC.
