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Work to do, but LaBahn a step forward BEHIND THE DESK BARRY ALVAREZ • UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS L ast weekend, we took 80 of our donors to Omaha and Lincoln. On Saturday, we toured the cam- pus and the Nebraska people were gracious enough to take us through all of their facilities. I wanted our donors to see what we're competing against in recruiting. I think they were very impressed by what they saw. They're adding on to the upper deck at Memorial Stadium; a combination of club seats, suites and general public seating. The east stadium renovation will be completed by the start of the 2013 football season and it will in- crease the capacity to over 90,000. As I understand it, the entire proj- ect is already paid for. We're planning on following up by inviting those donors who made the trip with us to Nebraska to tour our facilities in Madison. They can make their own comparisons. Obviously we're in the process of doing some really good things here, and we're absolutely going in the right direction. But now, more than ever, we still need help and the sup- port of our donors. This week, our men's and women's hockey teams moved into LaBahn Arena. I'm so happy with the way the place turned out. The locker rooms look great and our fans will love the intimacy of the ice rink. They'll be right on top of the action and really into the game. Having a first-class facility like LaBahn Arena takes a little pres- 12 » VARSITY OCTOBER 4, 2012 sure off the Kohl Center, too, and it should keep our basketball teams on the court instead of the practice gym. Plus, the new facility allowed for improved locker rooms and team areas for both basketball teams and our men's and women's swimming program. Some of our former hockey play- ers who are now in the NHL have toured LaBahn and they'd be the first ones to tell you that there isn't anything better in the country. I'll take their word since I was never around hockey before I got here. The first time I saw it played was at Notre Dame. When I grew up in Pittsburgh, there were no Penguins. When I went to Nebraska, there was no hockey. There was no hockey in Iowa, either, when I was coaching there. My first day on the job at Wis- consin, Pat Richter took me out to see the '90 team play, and I had a chance to meet some of the guys in the locker room afterward. That was my first real exposure. I tell this story all the time, but a few years ago, I walked on to the ice with Mike Eaves and he said, "Coach, how many times have you been on the ice?'' I said, "This would be my first time.'' I do appreciate the contact in hockey and there are reasons why we need to be competitive. I've told anyone who has asked that I've always felt it was impor- tant to have 23 strong sports. But as a businessman -- an ath- letic director running a department -- you have to be strong in your three revenue-producing sports: football, basketball and hockey. So we want to provide the re- sources necessary to be competi- tive in hockey. We understand how important it is historically for the community, the university and the state. All things considered, the timing couldn't have been better to cel- ebrate the 50th anniversary of the modern era of Badger hockey than with the opening of LaBahn Arena. It should be a special place.