On January 18, the puck drops.
In a little over a month, Watson Ice Arena will officially replace Dayton Arena as the venue for Bowdoin hockey teams.
"I'll have fond memories of [Dayton] but, honestly, it's fallen down," Director of Athletics Jeff Ward said. "If we didn't open this new rink, we'd be in big trouble in a real hurry. Dayton is a great place to watch a game, but Watson is going to make people forget it awfully quickly."
The new arena, named for former men's hockey coach and Director of Athletics Emeritus Sid Watson, will serve the same groups that have used Dayton in the past, in addition to a few others. The rink itself will be used by the Bowdoin Men's and Women's Hockey Teams, Intramurals, local high school teams, and community skating and hockey programs. The arena's facilities, which include larger locker rooms, will also be used by men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse and softball.
Both men's and women's hockey will begin practicing in the new building upon their return from Winter Break.
According to Capital Projects Manager John Simoneau, who was largely responsible for collaboration between Bowdoin and contractors who worked on the building, Watson will be much improved in comparison to Dayton Arena. Larger locker rooms will now allow all hockey players their own locker, and an athletic training room will provide more space for treatment. The new arena will also include a surround sound system, a press box with better visibility and improved ice with additional refrigeration and dehumidification abilities.
Although the seating capacities in the two arenas are nearly identical, Watson will have seating on all four sides, including stadium chairs along the sides of the rink. An upper concourse will also provide standing room for the stadium's best sightlines.
Before construction began in September 2007, Bowdoin registered the arena as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building project. LEED Green Rating Systems, introduced by the United Sates Green Building Council, is a voluntary approach to creating efficient and sustainable architecture. Simoneau said that the ratings focus on five main criteria: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resource selection, and indoor environmental quality. In constructing Watson Arena specifically, this has led to the incorporation of plumbing fixtures that conserve water use, energy savings, a composition of 30 percent recycled content and 82 percent construction waste diverted for recycling.
As for Dayton Arena, plans have been made to raze the building to create additional parking in the near future. In the long run, the space may be used to create another academic building central to the campus.
"There's a certain generation of Bowdoin student athletes that are very fond of Dayton," said Sports Information Director Jim Caton. "There are several great memories of phenomenal games and exceptional performances by great players. However, over the past few years, it's just become less functional."
"There will be nostalgia on the night we close [Dayton] and play our last game there, but I think as soon as we drop the puck [at Watson], some of that will be forgotten."
Simoneau added that he personally felt an affinity for older rinks like Dayton. "They have a certain feel and intimacy that is hard to create in a modern facility," he said.
But the new rink will offer state-of-the-art amenities, offering a different experience for both players and fans. "It's going to be one of the nicer rinks in the country," men's hockey Assistant Coach Bill Riley said. "I think the hockey players feel pretty humbled to be moving into a rink like that."
"There's a lot of history in Dayton, which we'll definitely miss, although it's time logistically for a new rink," said Leland Fidler '10. "Everyone will miss Dayton and what it has to offer."
Alex Fahey '12, a women's ice hockey player, concurred with Fidler. "It's definitely bittersweet," she said. Caton also expects Watson to increase publicity for Bowdoin hockey. "Having a facility like this will definitely draw regional and local attention," he said.
The building will be christened with an Opening Ceremony at 4 p.m. on January 18 between its first featured women's hockey game against Hamilton at 2 p.m., and its first men's hockey game against Williams at 5 p.m.
Tickets are required to attend the first events in the new arena, since large crowds are anticipated. Five-hundred tickets have been set aside for students and will be available for free beginning December 15 at the Information Desk in Smith Union.