Plattsburgh State hockey fans are going to be able to sit back, relax and enjoy this season -- literally. The Stafford Ice Arena has been made over, and it looks like a far more comfortable place.

The arena has long been one of the best places in Division III to hold hockey games. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has known this and has held tournaments here numerous times.

The NCAA, of course, is interested in generating revenue from these events, and Stafford was one of the best at that. The capacity of more than 3,000 -- and, inexplicably, as high as 4,000 for one event in the past -- was inviting, and so were the enthusiastic crowds.

As the arena has aged, however, it has become less attractive to attendees. The bleachers were worn out, and, frankly, bleachers are not the most luxurious seating in sports to begin with. That mode of accommodations has kept many people home instead of attending a game, which is too bad. Plattsburgh State hockey, both men's and women's, is consistently one of the most exciting entertainment offerings in the North Country.

Along with the growth of college programs in basketball, softball and soccer, Plattsburgh's hockey Cardinals are high on the list of the school's proudest products. Both the men and the women have provided that singular exhilaration that comes from winning a national championship, and seeing it happen live is a special, breathtaking experience.

Now, the arena is offering accommodations befitting the Class A Division III program it is. Individual seats have been installed, which will reduce the seating capacity but make for a much more comfortable experience for each person. Now, total capacity is just under 2,000, with 1,517 chairs. It's simple: Would you rather sit in a theater seat or on a wooden plank? And the size of the press box has doubled.

While the total seating capacity will be reduced, that is not as much of a factor as it might seem. Rarely did the arena actually fill up. Particular rivalry games sometimes filled it -- Oswego or Middlebury, for example. And playoff time brought out capacity crowds. To sacrifice those extra admissions once or twice a year is a worthy trade-off for comfort for all.

Plattsburgh is fortunate to have the work done before the calamities become known from the shrinking economy. Gov. David Paterson has already ordered harsh budget reductions in all areas of state government. Plattsburgh State will be subject to some very difficult inevitabilities. The Field House is one area in which significant revenue can be realized, so the new look and feel of the ice arena should become a boon. At least it is not subject to reappraisal.

Optimism over men's and women's hockey is always in full bloom this time of year. This season, however, there is more than just the usual hopes for success on the ice. This season, there will be a contented audience, even if the teams don't win every game.