Lynah’s ‘Great Wait’ reimagined for a new generation
By Jeremy Hartigan, Cornell Athletics
The wait for Cornell student tickets for men’s ice hockey is finally over and, for the first time in more than a decade, the line is back.
Cornell Athletics will bring back The Great Wait on Saturday, Sept. 19, as the traditional kickoff to student season ticket sales, but this year’s edition trades the overnight campout of Great Waits past for a single morning at Bartels Hall.
The Great Wait has been a Cornell tradition dating back to the 1970s. Students camped out, sometimes for days at a time, to secure a place in the Lynah Rink’s student section. It helped create a bond that made the Lynah Faithful one of the most acclaimed student sections in collegiate sports. The Great Wait went on hiatus during the early 2010s before returning in periodic revivals over the years.
Students can begin lining up at 7 a.m. for music and food giveaways, with the Cornell Marching Band performing live at 8 a.m. Ticket sales open at 9 a.m.; the first 200 students in line will receive free Cornell hockey t-shirts.
“The Great Wait was about so much more than purchasing season tickets. It was where students came together, learned the traditions of the Lynah Faithful and began building the sense of community that makes Cornell hockey so special,” said Laken Kelly, interim associate athletic director for engagement and partnerships. “It helped cultivate the passion and commitment for which the Lynah Faithful have become known, enduring across generations of Cornell hockey.”