The Virginia Tech Athletic Department is planning to build a new indoor football practice facility on campus. Recently, the University decided that it will not be built in Stadium Woods and an alternative location is on Washington Street where the tennis courts and roller hockey rink are currently located. If they do decide to build the football facility in this location we ask that replacement tennis court and roller hockey rink facilities be constructed BEFORE any demolition begins. This is the only way to preserve our clubs and accommodate the hundreds of students who use those facilities on a regular basis.
The Roller Hockey Club at Virginia Tech (RHCVT) had their previous rink torn down in the spring of 2008 to make room for the Hahn Hurst Basketball Practice Center. At that time, the Athletic Department ensured the club that a new rink space would be built to replace it. However, it took three and a half years of advocating and waiting for a new rink space to be constructed. Rovito Rink was established in the fall of 2011 with the help of donations mostly from current students and alumni. The rink is named in honor of Tom Rovito, one of the founding RHCVT members who passed away at a tragically young age in 2009.
Our Club cannot withstand another hiatus with nowhere to play, especially after we just had the new rink built. Rovito Rink is not only a place where over 130 members of the Virginia Tech community come to play hockey in an organized league, have fun, and relieve the everyday stresses of college and work life, but also a place where lifelong friendships are established. In addition, it is home to the Virginia Tech Roller Hockey Travel Team which recently became an official Virginia Tech sport club and needs the rink to practice. On top of all this, it is currently the only roller hockey rink in all of Southwest Virginia and serves as a memorial to a fallen Hokie.
The Virginia Tech Men’s and Women’s Club Tennis Teams use the tennis courts to practice and host intercollegiate matches and tournaments. The courts are also used for Rec Sports intramural tennis matches and by hundreds of other Virginia Tech students and local residents.
Please sign this petition in support of the roller hockey rink and tennis courts which serve a large part of the Virginia Tech and surrounding communities. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
June 1, 2012
April 5, 2012
I really thought this might just be a small note among friends, but seeing a hundred names here is honestly overwhelming. You all clearly care as much as I do about keeping these facilities alive for our community.
Reached 100 supporters
April 2, 2012
7 Comments
I see people playing tennis all the time on those courts, it would be a major loss to the entire campus. Plus I'm a hockey player and want a place to play, so please don't take it away.
dont tear down rovito!! we worked too hard to build that place up after the last one was destroyed.
HOKIE NATION DESERVES BETTER. KEEP THE RINK.
seriously? again? the hockey team literally just got their rink back a few years ago. find somewhere else to put the football stuff.
these tennis courts are literally the only ones near the dorms. where are we supposed to go now?
I am the Mother of Tom Rovito, for whom this Rink is named. When Tom traveled from Connecticut to begin his studies at Virginia Tech in August 1996, he brought his roller blades and Hockey Stick. With them he found life-long friends, adjusted to College life, got exercise and had fun. The History of the Club notes how hard the members worked, from 1996 to now, to build and keep a physical space to meet and play on Campus. Even after Tom graduated and moved to Colorado, he and his friends worked to keep the Club going. Tom kept the statistics. He urged others to stay involved. Newer waves of students kept it running. I met some of Tom's friends when I visited him at Virginia Tech. I met with some of them again when I visited him in Colorado, where four friends had moved to pursue their careers. And I saw them again when these lifelong friends flew or drove to Connecticut to pay their respects to him, and to comfort our family. We will never forget. They have become my friends too. When this current Rink was proposed, there was a grassroots effort to raise money for the Equipment and structures. Money came in from students $2 and $5 at a time. Money came in from friends and families $100 and $500 at a time. It came from Tom’s lifelong friends too. They wanted to keep it going. This Club and the physical space to play is for the "everyday" person. Anyone can play. At any skill level. This is a story about "love of the game." This is a story about lifelong friendship. And the Roller Hockey Club at Virginia Tech was where it started. Thank You for hearing me, Nancy Rovito
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
The Virginia Tech Athletic Department is planning to build a new indoor football practice facility on campus. Recently, the University decided that it will not be built in Stadium Woods and an alternative location is on Washington Street where the tennis courts and roller hockey rink are currently located. If they do decide to build the football facility in this location we ask that replacement tennis court and roller hockey rink facilities be constructed BEFORE any demolition begins. This is the only way to preserve our clubs and accommodate the hundreds of students who use those facilities on a regular basis.
The Roller Hockey Club at Virginia Tech (RHCVT) had their previous rink torn down in the spring of 2008 to make room for the Hahn Hurst Basketball Practice Center. At that time, the Athletic Department ensured the club that a new rink space would be built to replace it. However, it took three and a half years of advocating and waiting for a new rink space to be constructed. Rovito Rink was established in the fall of 2011 with the help of donations mostly from current students and alumni. The rink is named in honor of Tom Rovito, one of the founding RHCVT members who passed away at a tragically young age in 2009.
Our Club cannot withstand another hiatus with nowhere to play, especially after we just had the new rink built. Rovito Rink is not only a place where over 130 members of the Virginia Tech community come to play hockey in an organized league, have fun, and relieve the everyday stresses of college and work life, but also a place where lifelong friendships are established. In addition, it is home to the Virginia Tech Roller Hockey Travel Team which recently became an official Virginia Tech sport club and needs the rink to practice. On top of all this, it is currently the only roller hockey rink in all of Southwest Virginia and serves as a memorial to a fallen Hokie.
The Virginia Tech Men’s and Women’s Club Tennis Teams use the tennis courts to practice and host intercollegiate matches and tournaments. The courts are also used for Rec Sports intramural tennis matches and by hundreds of other Virginia Tech students and local residents.
Please sign this petition in support of the roller hockey rink and tennis courts which serve a large part of the Virginia Tech and surrounding communities. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
June 1, 2012
April 5, 2012
I really thought this might just be a small note among friends, but seeing a hundred names here is honestly overwhelming. You all clearly care as much as I do about keeping these facilities alive for our community.
Reached 100 supporters
April 2, 2012
7 Comments
I go to the University of Maryland and as the current President of Maryland Club Roller Hockey, seeing our brethren club VT Roller Hockey's rink come down would be terrible news.
I see people playing tennis all the time on those courts, it would be a major loss to the entire campus. Plus I'm a hockey player and want a place to play, so please don't take it away.
dont tear down rovito!! we worked too hard to build that place up after the last one was destroyed.
HOKIE NATION DESERVES BETTER. KEEP THE RINK.
seriously? again? the hockey team literally just got their rink back a few years ago. find somewhere else to put the football stuff.
these tennis courts are literally the only ones near the dorms. where are we supposed to go now?
I am the Mother of Tom Rovito, for whom this Rink is named. When Tom traveled from Connecticut to begin his studies at Virginia Tech in August 1996, he brought his roller blades and Hockey Stick. With them he found life-long friends, adjusted to College life, got exercise and had fun. The History of the Club notes how hard the members worked, from 1996 to now, to build and keep a physical space to meet and play on Campus. Even after Tom graduated and moved to Colorado, he and his friends worked to keep the Club going. Tom kept the statistics. He urged others to stay involved. Newer waves of students kept it running. I met some of Tom's friends when I visited him at Virginia Tech. I met with some of them again when I visited him in Colorado, where four friends had moved to pursue their careers. And I saw them again when these lifelong friends flew or drove to Connecticut to pay their respects to him, and to comfort our family. We will never forget. They have become my friends too. When this current Rink was proposed, there was a grassroots effort to raise money for the Equipment and structures. Money came in from students $2 and $5 at a time. Money came in from friends and families $100 and $500 at a time. It came from Tom’s lifelong friends too. They wanted to keep it going. This Club and the physical space to play is for the "everyday" person. Anyone can play. At any skill level. This is a story about "love of the game." This is a story about lifelong friendship. And the Roller Hockey Club at Virginia Tech was where it started. Thank You for hearing me, Nancy Rovito
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 750 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I go to the University of Maryland and as the current President of Maryland Club Roller Hockey, seeing our brethren club VT Roller Hockey's rink come down would be terrible news.