This is the first in a four-part series about how students affect various aspects of Boston’s economy.
The college student by nature is a money-spending animal. While many internet-surfing, cell phone-chatting, iPod-wearing students try to save their money, there are many options for students searching this college town for the best deals in entertainment — and area businesses are certainly aware.
Remember the NHL?
With baseball season ending for New England with a whimper in early October, for the first time since 2002, Bostonians had an extra month in which they had to find alternative methods of entertainment instead of watching late-October baseball.
So what did Boston sports fans do? For some, “It’s called Bruins.”
The National Hockey League returned in October to the newly named TD Banknorth Garden — formerly the FleetCenter — with an aggressive marketing campaign to try to bring back the fans. After a lost season due to the NHL lockout, the Boston Bruins announced enticing ticket plans and huge discounts to draw back the less-than-faithful fans who might have forgotten the excitement of NHL hockey.
College of Arts and Sciences sophomore and NHL fan Emery Markles said the half-price Thursday night discounts for the $42 and $52 seats for students has helped bring back the fans.
“The Bruins aren’t even my favorite team,” Markles said. “I’ve been to three games so far this year and plan on going to more. I especially love the student discount Thursday nights. That’s a huge step for the Bruins because there are so many schools here. It’s great to have them back.”
The Shows Worth Seeing
A staple of Boston entertainment, the Boston Symphony Orchestra makes an effort to attract a younger crowd. At $8 each, the BSO releases a limited number of student rush tickets two hours before Tuesday night, Thursday night and Friday afternoon shows.
College of Communication sophomore Stephanie Shih said she bought regular-priced tickets to a show last year, but is looking forward to going back and purchasing discounted tickets.
“I would definitely go back again and get student rush tickets because it is not expensive,” Shih said. “The seats might not have the best view of the stage, but the whole hall has beautiful acoustics so wherever you’re sitting, you’ll still have a good seat.”
Other Boston theater venues also make student rush tickets available. The Wang Center releases tickets at $20 apiece two hours before performances. The Blue Man group, a staple of Boston nightlife performed at the Charles Playhouse, is slightly steeper, at $25 per ticket for Wednesday and Thursday night shows only.
Museums
For the second-straight year, the Museum of Science touted a comprehensive look at movie magic with its exhibit “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.” With a variety of hands-on exhibits and an up-close look at the technology behind the movie franchise, the museum provides a more intimate experience than last year’s Lord of the Rings exhibit.
On the other side of the city, the Museum of Fine Arts offered an extensive exhibit of the works of American landscape photographer Ansel Adams. The exhibit was drawn from the largest private holding of his collection, providing an opportunity to view his rarely seen works.
Both museums held college nights early in the semester, allowing anyone with a student ID to enter free. While admission to the MFA is always free to students, special exhibits can cost upwards of $20, except on college night.
COM sophomore Kate Yenrick attended college night at the MFA and said she was impressed with the effort the museum made to appeal to the college crowd.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity to take my peer advising group,” Yenrick said. “There were a lot of students at there, and the museum had lots of snacks and a few raffles.”
To Be a Kid Again
In the vein of appreciating the simpler joys in Boston, CAS sophomore Melissa Chumsky said she enjoyed Tomb, an Egyptian-themed puzzle-solving adventure located in the Fenway area of Boston. A two-for-one coupon — found in one of the thousands of coupon books distributed by Barnes ‘ Noble — allows students to get in for less than $10.
Designed for young teenagers, Tomb is a 40-minute interactive game complete with special effects and an engaging back-story based on a pharaoh who haunts a “recently discovered” tomb, according to Chumsky.
“Although Tomb is geared for is geared for a younger audience, it was a great weekend activity for a bunch of college kids who are willing to let go and be able to laugh at themselves,” Chumsky said.
Entertainment Zones
In this year’s most intriguing entertainment development, Mayor Thomas Menino announced during the height of his re-election campaign in mid-October a proposal to create alcohol-free “entertainment zones” in Boston, a plan that he hopes will appeal to the thousands of college students in Boston who cannot drink legally. Although the mayor did not announce the specifics of the plan, namely what exactly an “entertainment zone” would include, there are reports that the city would ask businesses such as coffeehouses and music venues at the Faneuil Hall marketplace and on Lansdowne Street to stay open later.
College of Engineering sophomore Keith McConnell said he would like to see the city create more open mic coffee shop venues that would appeal to minors, and also suggested that already existing clubs could play an important part in Menino’s plan.
“I think there are a lot of places that are 21-and-older that could extend their businesses and have sections specialized for minors at all times,” McConnell said.
Student Union President Jon Marker told The Daily Free Press in October that students should have the most important role in determining the success of Menino’s plan.
“If [Menino] wants to succeed, he is going to need a lot of input from students,” Marker said.
Menino’s initial announcement provided few details, and there has not discussed the plan publicly since October.
But Boston is a city practically designed for the 21-and-under demographic, so it is safe to say that for at least another semester, minors have found legal ways to entertain themselves.