Subject: Rescheduling of the 2009 Men's Ice Hockey Champion Banner Ceremony
Sender: Patrick Madden
Recipient: jparker@bu.edu , mlynch@bu.edu
Copy: nrowan@bu.edu , hockey@bu.edu
Date: 16.09.2009 14:41

Dear Directors Parker and Lynch:

I just learned that BU Hockey has moved its banner raising ceremony from October 20, the first home game and traditional event for banner raisings, to October 10, a holiday weekend and exhibition game. While the article at goterriers.com explains the rationale behind this date change, the announcement comes at a late time and has not given Terriers fans enough notice for them to plan to be at the Agganis, rather than elsewhere, over a holiday weekend. I am one of the people adversely affected by this change.

I've been a fan of BU hockey for well over a decade, and I contribute to the Friends of Hockey each year. I cheered the Terriers on through the regular season, then the regionals, and then in Washington DC last April through a game that appeared to be heading toward a bitter end. I was there to share in the celebration as BU snatched an almost certain victory away from Miami of Ohio. I watched the team play hard throughout the season and have tried to be there for these happy moments on the ice.

Unfortunately, my seat will now be empty for the happiest moment the Agganis has seen so far, the raising of the NCAA 2009 championship banner. I have made holiday plans that I cannot change without forfeiting airfare.

With due respect to the thought that you and the Athletics department have put into the decision to change the date, I offer that there was more than ample time to consider the relative merits of October 20th versus the 10th prior to the original announcement on August 21; and that with nearly four weeks now passed, it is too late to make this change. While changing circumstances may occasionally warrant schedule changes, in this case there are no factors that were not known prior to the original announcement, even if they were not adequately considered beforehand.

I ask you, please: to recognize that this late date change adversely affects your fans who lead busy lives yet still find time for BU Hockey; and to reconsider the date change and return the banner raising to October 20th. I feel that returning the date to October 20th would be a fan-friendly decision and the right thing to do given the time elapsed since the original announcement, the closeness of Columbus Day weekend, and the fact that fans rely on the accuracy of official announcements in order to fit BU Hockey into their lives.

Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Patrick Madden