2016 UConn Football Gameday Changes

[Drew]

Benedict tweeted he would be unveiling some game day changes for 2016 this morning on an interview with Bob Joyce- anyone know anything about this?

 

[Drew]

Of course @UConn07 has us covered!

 

[Drew]

 

[Drew]

This dude Benedict just gets it man:

 

[Drew]

For those with no twitter, a recap:

tailgating hours now extended from 4 hours before to 5 hours before the game. I wonder if this means season ticket holders get 6 hours to tailgate?

shuttles for students to/from campus are now FREE (thank the Lord)

ALL incoming freshmen get free tickets to the football games (another great move)

Concession prices for hot dogs and waters have been moved from $5 ea to $3 ea -- noted it was too high in price for a college game

Students can drive to The Rent and park there at a reduced rate-- next to the shuttles so all students are in one area

Be in your seats for kickoff


Man this guy just gets it. Having a football focused AD is going to do wonders for this program. I hope this leads to more crowds not just now but in the future too as these kids get older.

 

[Drew]

 

[pepband99]

The 4-to-5(-to 6?) hour move will need clarification, but the student bussing and free frosh tickets are a HUGE upgrade. Well done!

 

[Drew]

Dairy Bar truck will be at UConn football games this year:

 

[tykurez]

Benedict has been sensational thus far - has pushed all the right buttons.

(Full disclosure - I never had a problem with Warde)

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

 

[bmayuc]

I think they should essentially try to make the gameday experience like a tiny slice of storrs.

Name the gates after the dorms: Gate A becomes Jungle; Gate B is Alumni , C: Hilltop. Stuff like that. Costs almost no money, makes the place feel like home.

Have a UConn Food-service truck that just sells jalapeno mac n cheese (hahaha)

if you have fun with stuff, fans get that nostalgia and 6 weekends a year can attach to that sort of stuff. Especially for an off-campus venue, that novel can really get the blood pumping.

 

[Justin M]

The free buses are absolutely huge....to have students pay 49 bucks for student tickets is very reasonable....where it gets pushy is paying another 28 for buses to get to the game, but the catch is that the bus tickets sell out. All in all, great moves by Benedict.

Next thing I'd love to see them do is load the student tickets onto their student ID's so its just a swipe to get into the games...drunk college kids can be forgetful sometimes with paper tickets

 

[UConn07]

Full recap:

Benedict Unveils Game Day Changes – This is UConn Country

 

[uconnphil2016]

The free buses are absolutely huge....to have students pay 49 bucks for student tickets is very reasonable....where it gets pushy is paying another 28 for buses to get to the game, but the catch is that the bus tickets sell out. All in all, great moves by Benedict.

Next thing I'd love to see them do is load the student tickets onto their student ID's so its just a swipe to get into the games...drunk college kids can be forgetful sometimes with paper tickets

They did this a couple years ago, but it didn't work out so well because buying/selling tickets between students became a huge pain

 

[SubbaBub]

They did this a couple years ago, but it didn't work out so well because buying/selling tickets between students became a huge pain

Other schools don't have a problem. And with free frosh tickets, it undermines paying upperclassmen. That can be addressed later. Getting students to the game is priority number 1 after winning games.

 

[sportsart]

Other schools don't have a problem. And with free frosh tickets, it undermines paying upperclassmen. That can be addressed later. Getting students to the game is priority number 1 after winning games.

It will only undermine paying upperclassmen for 3 more years. I love it. Get em hooked for free (tickets and rides) and build that "gotta be there" mentality. These moves are just phenomenal. My guess is next year there will be more. Benedict gets an A+.

 

[BlueMAB]

All good moves by Benedict, next should be not just rewarding those in their seats for kickoff, but those who stay till the end too

 

[uconnell]

The fans that arrive early are not the ones that get into the stadium late. It is the "fans" that arrive late,every game, and are still grilling when I walk into the stadium. They are usually parked in the handicap pkg behind the video screen. I give them dirty looks and they can't help but notice people walking by them.

It's usually the same group every game.no sense of urgency, really bugs me.

 

[pepband99]

From Huskies In Top Shape To Take On Heat And Have Great Practice (emphasis mine):

Among the changes Benedict announced were:

• New and reduced concession prices for bottled water ($3 per bottle) and hot dogs ($3 each)
• For Blue Lot ticket holders, the ability to park anywhere in the Blue Lot during the first hour of tailgating (five hours before the game).
• Free bus transportation to game for UConn student - in the past there had been a charge • Free tickets to the Maine game for all incoming freshmen.
• A new student tailgate lot for those students that drive.

 

[sportsart]

From Huskies In Top Shape To Take On Heat And Have Great Practice (emphasis mine):

Among the changes Benedict announced were:

• New and reduced concession prices for bottled water ($3 per bottle) and hot dogs ($3 each)
• For Blue Lot ticket holders, the ability to park anywhere in the Blue Lot during the first hour of tailgating (five hours before the game).
• Free bus transportation to game for UConn student - in the past there had been a charge • Free tickets to the Maine game for all incoming freshmen.
• A new student tailgate lot for those students that drive.

Free tickets to Maine game, not free season tickets for frosh. Oh well...sounded good.

 

[uconnell]

I'd love to see the "Dog Pound" padding put back on the student section. Pounding on that makes a heck of a lot more noise than shaking keys, so ridiculous.

 

[uconnphil2016]

Free tickets to Maine game, not free season tickets for frosh. Oh well...sounded good.

We need a free (or at least highly subsidized) ticket and bus package for students for the BC game.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I think the only thing missing is tailgate food provided for students

 

[SubbaBub]

I'd love to see the "Dog Pound" padding put back on the student section. Pounding on that makes a heck of a lot more noise than shaking keys, so ridiculous.

I'd like to see it go full English soccer with flags, scarves, and just a civilized touch of hooliganism.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Free tickets to Maine game, not free season tickets for frosh. Oh well...sounded good.

I don't interpret it that.