TD Banknorth Garden will be packed tonight as fans, students and alumni stream in to cheer for Boston hockey bragging rights as part of the 54th annual Beanpot tournament.
Many will be decked out in face paint, jerseys, signs and noisemakers trying to make their presence known.
Boston University won last year’s two-week competition, which some students say will affect the level of team pride and rowdiness between BU, Boston College, Harvard University and Northeastern University.
“I think it’s unique because you can drive to all four schools in 15 minutes and hockey is one of their biggest sports,” TD Banknorth Garden Events Vice President Steve Nazro said.
Nazro said there will be 17,000 people at each sold-out game at the Garden, and the crowd will be made up of about 60 percent alumni and 40 percent students.
One option for hockey fans without tickets is to watch the game from Game On!, a restaurant under Fenway Park, Terrier Pride Program Coordinator Sharon Dow said.
Although this is Game On!’s first Beanpot, Dow said they already hosted two BU vs. BC game viewings, each drawing 400 to 500 attendees.
“It’s sort of a game away from the game,” Dow said. “There’s a lot of overflow of people interested in seeing the game, so we want to get the community together to watch it.”
The game will also be on big screens in the George Sherman Union, Student Activities Office Programs Coordinator Dana Marcinek said.
“There will be free food, giveaways and hockey nets so you can shoot around,” Marcinek said. “In the past, people came with faces painted, wearing BU stuff.”
Marcinek said although 1,000 students went to the SAO Beanpot party before cable was offered in residences, she expects good energy from about 500 students this year.
However, those who cannot watch the game on cable can hear the game on WTBU, BU’s student radio station, WTBU Sports Director Mark Mirlocca said.
The College of Communication senior said since WTBU is broadcast over the web, parents and students who are studying abroad turn to WTBU for its “biggest broadcast of the year.”
Mirlocca said the program this year would include pre-recorded interviews with hockey players, Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore and a hockey writer for >.
The Beanpot is also the best opportunity to showcase the Pep Band, Athletic Bands Director Chris Parks said.
“It’s a great event for us to show what we can do with the funds given us,” he said. “We try to give the team and fans the same game day experience they have at Agganis.”
Parks said although the 50 musicians from the Pep Band who go to the Beanpot are never seated with the BU fans, they are “part of the big picture that makes the whole event a very exciting one.”
College of Arts and Sciences senior Ashley Ceno said she has been to every Beanpot since she came to BU.
“There’s just something special about the Beanpot,” she said.
She said she likes to see the hockey fans “come out of the woodwork.” Compared to regular hockey games, she said she sees more signs and face-painting at the Beanpot.
“It’s Boston bragging rights,” she said. “It gives you something to be proud of.”
David DeLaurentis, a member of the BU fan section the Dog Pound, said he plans to go to the Beanpot.
“We call it the BU invitational because we won it so many times compared to the other schools,” the College of Engineering senior said. “It’s a special event and you want to say your school’s the best in town in hockey.”
DeLaurentis said when BU won the Beanpot last year, traditions such as chanting “BC sucks” got changed to “Huskies suck,” referring to Northeastern’s mascot.
“We’re really loud, and at the Beanpot we’re a couple decibels louder,” he said.
“The number one goal [in the Dog Pound] is to keep the team fired up,” DeLaurentis continued. “We all have the same feelings as the players. Before game time, you get those butterflies. You got to get your game face on.”