A new view of the challenge to increase attendance.

[Ruffian75]

An idea for Gampel.... Besides installing seats where the benches are, build a 20 foot wide concourse around the arena with more concessions and rest rooms. This would alleviate the congestion at the four entry points that presently consist of four lines each (2 for concessions and two for rest rooms).

Plan B is to blow it up and start all over again

 

[FairView]

Wow!!! Do you work for UConn or whoever caters the games? Cost related to quality certainly matters. The costs are exorbitant and the quality is terrible. The quality of the concessions is part of making going to a game a pleasant experience. It is one of the many reasons that I just don't care enough to attend many games. It is very fixable.

For weekday games, someone living in Norwalk leaving work at 4 PM wanting to make the game on time has no choice but to eat the garbage served at the XL or Gampel unless they brown bag it and eat in the car en route.

Food quality and prices may affect the overall experience, but they are not a deal breaker. People have been complaining about the costs and quality of food at sold-out sports arenas for years. If marketing had hit home with you, you would brown bag it or eat at Gampel. You may complain about it, but you would do it.

Attendance is about a perceived need and/or desire to be there that makes you overcome inconveniences. It will always be easier to stay in your warm home put your feet up, not wait in line and grab a snack whenever you feel like it. I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to have better food at lower prices, but that does not put bottoms in seats.

Having grown up in Norwalk, I can't understand how it takes you three and a half hours to get to Storrs. When I used to travel up to see my girlfriend during college, I was there in less than half that time. But perhaps it was the promise of a personal sporting event that spurred me on.

 

[Ruffian75]

Food quality and prices may affect the overall experience, but they are not a deal breaker. People have been complaining about the costs and quality of food at sold-out sports arenas for years. If marketing had hit home with you, you would brown bag it or eat at Gampel. You may complain about it, but you would do it.

Attendance is about a perceived need and/or desire to be there that makes you overcome inconveniences. It will always be easier to stay in your warm home put your feet up, not wait in line and grab a snack whenever you feel like it. I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to have better food at lower prices, but that does not put bottoms in seats.

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What? Why should I have to overcome fixable inconveniences? You just don't get it. There are a myriad of reasons why the attendance has shrunk 40% in eight years. The concessions at both the XL and Gampel may not be a "deal breaker" but they are a contributing factor that is easily fixed, just as easily as lower parking rates, more friendly and helpful security, seats with backs, and lower ticket prices.

You seem to be of the belief that if attendance is what it is, and the bottom line won't increase by making the games a more pleasant experience, let it be.

 

[DaddyChoc]

bleacher is my Gampel issue
no problems with XL Center

I eat before or after the game... I do that for ANY event (HS games, summer league games, etc. doesnt matter)

a bag of peanuts, 6pk of crackers/cookies or peanut M&Ms will hold over for 2 hrs

XL Center park on the street. If you're from Norwalk, take the day off (or half day) and get up to Hartford early, before the rush. I cant say much about Gampel because I never go there (once).

Ticket prices arent a problem for me even when they were 22.00 (pick and choose the games you're interested in).

CPTV has spoiled me tho...

 

[FairView]

What? Why should I have to overcome fixable inconveniences? You just don't get it. There are a myriad of reasons why the attendance has shrunk 40% in eight years. The concessions at both the XL and Gampel may not be a "deal breaker" but they are a contributing factor that is easily fixed, just as easily as lower parking rates, more friendly and helpful security, seats with backs, and lower ticket prices.

You seem to be of the belief that if attendance is what it is, and the bottom line won't increase by making the games a more pleasant experience, let it be.

I am sorry that I am not making myself clear. I am not saying attendance is what it is. I am saying that attendance could definitely be improved, but that these inconveniences are not the problem. Sure, it would be nice to fix those things, but fixing them will not improve attendance. That's not what makes people make the choice to go to a game or stay home. The concessions and seat backs were the same when every night was a sell out. The only difference is that now they are an excuse.

I am saying that a smart, focused and consistent marketing effort over time will increase attendance because people will see value and develop a desire to go see the game in person. That is what fills seats. If people perceive that seeing a UConn women's game live is an enjoyable, worthwhile, cool, got-to-have experience, they will go. That desire overcomes these inconveniences.

Case in point? Ticket prices (one of your "fixable" factors) were cut in half this year, yet the attendance slide continues.

Here's another way to look at it ... the millions of Connecticut residents who have never attended a UConn game don't know about the seats or the pretzel prices, the parking or the security people. They never cared enough about attending a game to find out. Every successful business needs to actively recruit new customers. That is what will fill seats.