Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena
Encyclopedia
The Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena, known colloquially as "The Ritter", is an ice arena
on the campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology
in Henrietta
, a suburb
of Rochester
, New York
, United States
. It is home to the RIT Tigers
ice hockey
teams and the Genesee Figure Skating Club. Its official capacity for ice hockey games is 2,100.
The building was erected in 1968 when RIT moved from downtown Rochester to a new suburban campus in nearby Henrietta. Frank Ritter, a furniture maker famous for his dental chairs, helped found the Mechanics Institute, a forerunner of the Rochester Institute of Technology, in 1885. The Ritter-Clark Arena on the downtown campus had previously been named in part for Frank Ritter. Frank Ritter Shumway
, Ritter's grandson and a major figure in U.S. Figure Skating
, was a generous benefactor of RIT, and he ensured that the ice rink
on the new campus was named for his grandfather.
The arena is also home to the Genesee Figure Skating Club, founded in 1955 by F. Ritter Shumway.
The ice surface measures 85 feet by 185 feet (26 m by 56 m), with the goals at the north and south ends. The home bench, scorer's table, and penalty box
es are on the west side; the visiting bench is on the east side, with the men's and women's home locker rooms underneath the east bleachers. The Pike Press Box
(room for 16 with 5 telephones and ethernet access) and the President's Box (stadium-style seating for 16) are two stories up from the ice surface, on the south side of the rink.
A new scoreboard
was purchased and installed in time for RIT's inaugural Men's Division I season, 2005-2006. Previous renovations in 2000 improved the lighting, acoustics
, and concessions in the arena. In 2010, the Institute announced a $3.5 million expansion project to include new locker rooms, offices, video rooms, and training rooms.
The arena was ranked the second-best rink in the ECAC West
(out of six) in 2003. http://www.uscho.com/news/id,6095/ThisWeekintheECACWestFeb62003 (The only better rink was the Utica Memorial Auditorium
, which is a professional-level hockey arena.) The Ritter is the third-highest-capacity rink in Atlantic Hockey
(behind Army's Tate Rink
and Air Force's Cadet Field House Ice Arena
and tied with Niagara's Dwyer Arena
). In 2009, USCHO.com national columnist Dave Starman wrote that the Ritter was "A Great Atmosphere More Should Experience", explaining: "Between the pep band, the small size of the arena (2,100), and perhaps the best public address announcer in college hockey, the RIT Tigers have created a buzz on campus that more people should see on a national broadcast."
Rochester Institute of Technology is currently in the fundraising phase of building the Gene Polisseni Center
, which will be the eventual replacement home to the varsity hockey programs. RIT has stated that Ritter will remain open even after the varsity hockey programs move to the new center
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
on the campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
in Henrietta
Henrietta, New York
Henrietta is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Rochester. The population was 42,581 at the 2010 census. Established in 1818, the town is named after Henrietta Laura Pulteney, Countess of Bath, daughter of Sir William Pulteney, 5th Baronet, a major British...
, a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is home to the RIT Tigers
RIT Tigers men's ice hockey
The RIT Tigers men's ice hockey team is one of two hockey teams representing Rochester Institute of Technology in suburban Rochester, New York. The school's men's team competes in the Division I Atlantic Hockey conference. The team has won two national championships, one each at the Division II and...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
teams and the Genesee Figure Skating Club. Its official capacity for ice hockey games is 2,100.
The building was erected in 1968 when RIT moved from downtown Rochester to a new suburban campus in nearby Henrietta. Frank Ritter, a furniture maker famous for his dental chairs, helped found the Mechanics Institute, a forerunner of the Rochester Institute of Technology, in 1885. The Ritter-Clark Arena on the downtown campus had previously been named in part for Frank Ritter. Frank Ritter Shumway
F. Ritter Shumway
Frank Ritter Shumway was a major figure in figure skating in the United States.From 1951 to 1965, he was president of the Ritter Company, a dental chair manufacturer founded by his grandfather Frank Ritter, and later led the company's successor, the Sybron Corporation...
, Ritter's grandson and a major figure in U.S. Figure Skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
, was a generous benefactor of RIT, and he ensured that the ice rink
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
on the new campus was named for his grandfather.
The arena is also home to the Genesee Figure Skating Club, founded in 1955 by F. Ritter Shumway.
The ice surface measures 85 feet by 185 feet (26 m by 56 m), with the goals at the north and south ends. The home bench, scorer's table, and penalty box
Penalty box
The penalty box is the area in ice hockey, rugby league, rugby union and some other sports where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest...
es are on the west side; the visiting bench is on the east side, with the men's and women's home locker rooms underneath the east bleachers. The Pike Press Box
Press box
The press box is a special section of a sports stadium or arena that is set up for the media to report about a given event. It is typically located in the section of the stadium holding the luxury box. In general, newspaper writers sit in this box and write about the on-field event as it unfolds...
(room for 16 with 5 telephones and ethernet access) and the President's Box (stadium-style seating for 16) are two stories up from the ice surface, on the south side of the rink.
A new scoreboard
Scoreboard
A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game or match. Most levels of sport from high school and above use at least one scoreboard for keeping score, measuring time, and displaying statistics. Scoreboards in the past used a mechanical clock and numeral cards to...
was purchased and installed in time for RIT's inaugural Men's Division I season, 2005-2006. Previous renovations in 2000 improved the lighting, acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
, and concessions in the arena. In 2010, the Institute announced a $3.5 million expansion project to include new locker rooms, offices, video rooms, and training rooms.
The arena was ranked the second-best rink in the ECAC West
ECAC West
ECAC West is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division III as a hockey-only conference.-Members:* Nazareth College will join the league with a men's team starting in 2012....
(out of six) in 2003. http://www.uscho.com/news/id,6095/ThisWeekintheECACWestFeb62003 (The only better rink was the Utica Memorial Auditorium
Utica Memorial Auditorium
Utica Memorial Auditorium is a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Utica, New York, with a capacity of 5,700 for concerts.It was built in 1959 on the site of the old Erie Canal. When it was completed, the "Aud" was one of just three arenas built without obstructed views. It hosted the 1962 NCAA...
, which is a professional-level hockey arena.) The Ritter is the third-highest-capacity rink in Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey–only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey has no women's...
(behind Army's Tate Rink
Tate Rink
Tate Rink is a 2,648-seat hockey rink in West Point, New York. It is home to the United States Military Academy Black Knights men's ice hockey team. It was built in as part of the Major Donald W. Holleder Center athletic complex, which also includes Christl Arena. Army's first game in the arena...
and Air Force's Cadet Field House Ice Arena
Cadet Field House Ice Arena
The Cadet Ice Arena is a 2,502-seat hockey rink on the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is home to the Academy's Falcon ice hockey team. It was built in 1968, and is part of the Cadet Field House, which also includes Clune Arena. The team now...
and tied with Niagara's Dwyer Arena
Dwyer Arena
Dwyer Arena, officially named Robert and Concetta Dwyer Arena, is a 2,100-seat hockey rink in Niagara University's campus ....
). In 2009, USCHO.com national columnist Dave Starman wrote that the Ritter was "A Great Atmosphere More Should Experience", explaining: "Between the pep band, the small size of the arena (2,100), and perhaps the best public address announcer in college hockey, the RIT Tigers have created a buzz on campus that more people should see on a national broadcast."
Rochester Institute of Technology is currently in the fundraising phase of building the Gene Polisseni Center
Gene Polisseni Center
The Gene Polisseni Center is a planned ice arena that will reside on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus in Rochester, New York. RIT is currently in the fundraising phase of the project. Fundraising was started with a $1 million USD donation from Stephen and Vicki Schultz...
, which will be the eventual replacement home to the varsity hockey programs. RIT has stated that Ritter will remain open even after the varsity hockey programs move to the new center