Pitino: “That’s why next year, the only game we’re playing at Carnesecca is Connecticut. The rest, we’re gonna negotiate.”

[ibleedhuskyblue]

Gee whiz, i wonder why he doesn't want to honor Louie with a game against Villanova, Providence, or Seton Hall.

 

[NotADime89]

Sheesh, UConn and DH own so much real estate in Rick's head. Does he know he still has more than half of a season to coach for this year?

 

[Rico444]

What I find funny is that after our game at MSG last year, didn't it come out that St. John's didn't want to play us there this year? And then Rick got the job and said they need to play at MSG more, and said of course we're playing UConn there. And now he's trying to back out of playing us there.

All things considered I don't have any issue with them wanting to play us at Carnasecca. It's supposed to be a home game for them, I would be pissed if we had a home game and it was at best 50/50 with another team's fans.

 

[Waquoit]

They are certainly within their rights to play where they want. And we're within our rights to give them stick for it.

 

[CL82]

C'mon Chief. If the breakeven number is 10,500 and they draw 15,500; they are making money.

Except "the breakeven number" isn't 10,500. Connecticut pays the XL center $40,000 plus a three dollar per seat surcharge to play there. Even though it charges Connecticut that above fair market lease rate, it keeps all the concession money and all the parking money.

The cost to open up Gampel Is negligible by comparison and we keep concessions and parking monies. If we only have 10,500 fans showing up the XL center, we are losing money. But, you know all that, since we've had this conversation many times before.

Dan Benedict, who is in a better position than you or I to understand the financials says that playing at CDRA managed facilities costs UConn in excess of $7 1/2 million a year.

 

[CL82]

What I find funny is that after our game at MSG last year, didn't it come out that St. John's didn't want to play us there this year? And then Rick got the job and said they need to play at MSG more, and said of course we're playing UConn there. And now he's trying to back out of playing us there.

All things considered I don't have any issue with them wanting to play us at Carnasecca. It's supposed to be a home game for them, I would be pissed if we had a home game and it was at best 50/50 with another team's fans.

I have no issue with playing at Carnasecca as a one off to honor Louis for his hundredth birthday, particularly if his health would permit him to actually be there. I doubt Hurley has any issue with it either.

The real question is whether the St. John's athletic department and administration is willing to forgo the extra revenue that Connecticut fans bring when we pack MSG. If so, we will just buy tickets off the secondary market and pack kind Carnesecca.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Waquoit]

That's interesting, Billy Joel isn't sold out 2 days before the show.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Rick Pitino's troll game is...chef's kiss

 

[Storrs South]

They are certainly within their rights to play where they want. And we're within our rights to give them stick for it.

It's actually not within their right to play (fully) where they want as the Big East can dictate the terms of where games are played. Not saying they would or have previously, but the bylaws state if you play home games twice or more at a venue the Big East can determine where a particular game is played at their discretion.

 

[Gburyhusky]

Kind of amazing that for the second consecutive year the UConn fanbase finds itself being lectured by a Big East Coach LOL That's when you know we got it going again!

 

[Alum1620]

It's actually not within their right to play (fully) where they want as the Big East can dictate the terms of where games are played. Not saying they would or have previously, but the bylaws state if you play home games twice or more at a venue the Big East can determine where a particular game is played at their discretion.

You also have MSG themselves who have a say and they definitely won’t want to give up the money that UConn brings

 

[auror]

Now I really want to go to the MSG game this year.

 

[ucp990411]

It would be the most rinky dink arena we would play in next year

 

[Tyler2Rings]

Now I really want to go to the MSG game this year.

If Rick's plan is not so slick and we play in MSG again in '25, even more so that year

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Except "the breakeven number" isn't 10,500. Connecticut pays the XL center $40,000 plus a three dollar per seat surcharge to play there. Even though it charges Connecticut that above fair market lease rate, it keeps all the concession money and all the parking money.

The cost to open up Gampel Is negligible by comparison and we keep concessions and parking monies. If we only have 10,500 fans showing up the XL center, we are losing money. But, you know all that, since we've had this conversation many times before.

Dan Benedict, who is in a better position than you or I to understand the financials says that playing at CDRA managed facilities costs UConn in excess of $7 1/2 million a year.

And yet we've continued to play there for 40 years, somehow have managed to win 5 national titles and don't take nearly as much slack from the state from reporting $40M+ deficit in athletics.

Maybe it isn't all that bad?

 

[CL82]

And yet we've continued to play there for 40 years, somehow have managed to win 5 national titles and don't take nearly as much slack from the state from reporting $40M+ deficit in athletics.

Maybe it isn't all that bad?

Lol, you seem pretty willing to write off the record deficits as inconsequential. They are exactly the point. The post I replied to was talking about financials.

Is the XL center more convenient for some fans? Definitely. Do we get charged way above the market rate for the privilege of playing in and out of date facility that the coaches and players dislike? Also definitely.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

Did Slick Rick just jinx Lou?

I wouldn't be making early birthday plans for a man that is about to turn 100. Just Sayin'...

 

[Waquoit]

We've been on the other side of this as well. UMass stopped playing UConn when UConn insisted the game be played in Gampel. UMass was on record saying they could "dictate terms". Now nobody has heard from them in about 30 years.

 

[Marat]

Did Slick Rick just jinx Lou?

I wouldn't be making early birthday plans for a man that is about to turn 100. Just Sayin'...

Sick Rick already thought of that ....

 

[CL82]

Sick Rick already thought of that ....

Then it becomes a memorial game.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Then it becomes a memorial game.

Yeah but as morbid as it sounds my guess is that Rick was thinking more along the lines of a Weekend at Bernie's scenario.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Lol, you seem pretty willing to write off the record deficits as inconsequential. They are exactly the point. The post I replied to was talking about financials.

Is the XL center more convenient for some fans? Definitely. Do we get charged way above the market rate for the privilege of playing in and out of date facility that the coaches and players dislike? Also definitely.

And every single post regarding this you only cite expense with no mention of revenue.

Omitted from this discussion each time is the PSL revenue from Hartford tickets. Given that the arena is essentially sold out for the entire season that seems relevant.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

Then it becomes a memorial game.

Savage!!!

knowing Rick - He would probably make it a yearly memorial game against UConn to keep them away from MSG

 

[ecasadoSBU]

Also - While we are at it. Can we start hyping the February 3rd early. We should make a thread and make it a point to pack MSG full of UConn fans this year. I already told my wife to circle the date in her calendar. NO EXCUSES.

LETS JAM PACK MSG! Lets make it their only sellout. Start spreading the word to the non boneyard folks