Athletic Master Plan Update

[FDNY99]

They should build on the adjacent parking lot and make Freitas their practice arena. Real simple. HE makes the rules here.

These improvements scream getting into a P5 conference. I am impressed.

Exactly!!!! More I think about it the more I would like to see something like they introduced in the drawings about a year ago...that added to a practice rink that is Freitas now will be perfect. Still allows them to play in Hartford while not being held hostage to date availability

 

[zls44]

They should build on the adjacent parking lot and make Freitas their practice arena. Real simple. HE makes the rules here.

These improvements scream getting into a P5 conference. I am impressed.

The problem as I understand it is those woods that line the lot are on the edge of a cliff/ravine drop, which makes it a tough plot of land to work with.

 

[Drew]

regardless of what winds up happening with the arena back there they really should build a parking garage for athletic event parking and develop that back entry way from Separatist Rd or else it will be a nightmare.

 

[FDNY99]

regardless of what winds up happening with the arena back there they really should build a parking garage for athletic event parking and develop that back entry way from Separatist Rd or else it will be a nightmare.

If they end up closing off Hillside to vehicle traffic like I have heard that will be a necessity.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

The problem as I understand it is those woods that line the lot are on the edge of a cliff/ravine drop, which makes it a tough plot of land to work with.

That's possible, though the parking lot area in and of itself is quite large. If they literally had the bounds of the parking lot to work with, an arena could fit there with some finagling. That said, just knocking down Freitas, and taking that land plus some of the I Lot land and make that the hockey facility with an adjacent parking garage for use by the whole complex back there and as basketball overflow.

 

[RSTuthill]

They should build on the adjacent parking lot and make Freitas their practice arena. Real simple. HE makes the rules here.

These improvements scream getting into a P5 conference. I am impressed.

There is only one P5 conference that might find it attractive. Right?

 

[huskypantz]

They should build on the adjacent parking lot and make Freitas their practice arena. Real simple. HE makes the rules here.

These improvements scream getting into a P5 conference. I am impressed.

I feel like the hesitation to address the hockey arena is related to the hope that the B1G comes calling.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

I feel like the hesitation to address the hockey arena is related to the hope that the B1G comes calling.

I can't imagine how the B1G would prefer UConn playing in XL. A brand new on campus facility the program has to itself would be far more appealing to the B1G.

 

[huskypantz]

I can't imagine how the B1G would prefer UConn playing in XL. A brand new on campus facility the program has to itself would be far more appealing to the B1G.

Exactly, so better to hold off on any Freitas renovation work. There are enough athletic facility upgrades in the short term to show our continued commitment to being an elite AD. HE is fine with us playing in the XL center for now.

 

[WestHartHusk]

Exactly, so better to hold off on any Freitas renovation work. There are enough athletic facility upgrades in the short term to show our continued commitment to being an elite AD. HE is fine with us playing in the XL center for now.

Plus I have to imagine that the hockey team is part of the ROI calculation on a new arena, so as long as that is still under discussion I'd expect Freitas to drag.

 

[FDNY99]

I feel like the hesitation to address the hockey arena is related to the hope that the B1G comes calling.

Exactly, so better to hold off on any Freitas renovation work. There are enough athletic facility upgrades in the short term to show our continued commitment to being an elite AD. HE is fine with us playing in the XL center for now.

Do you guys have season tickets to football or do either of you go to games? If not I have a newsflash for you...there are no P-5 invites coming until Rentschler starts packing 38-40K per game again on a regular basis win or lose.

 

[dbmill]

I feel like the hesitation to address the hockey arena is related to the hope that the B1G comes calling.

Silly me, but I always thought that UConn athletic's glacial pace at upgrading athletic facilities including the ice rink was due to its chronic problems at raising the large amount of money that it takes to build these venues. It seems to me the P-5 view of this is that continuing to use out dated facilities such as J.O. Christian field, Morrone Stadium, and the current ice rink is that it indicates a lack of athletic commitment on the part of the school and its fans (the ones who support these endeavors through donations, ticket sales and such).

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Exactly, so better to hold off on any Freitas renovation work. There are enough athletic facility upgrades in the short term to show our continued commitment to being an elite AD. HE is fine with us playing in the XL center for now.

Oh, I get your point now I thought you were saying don't build a new arena on campus until the B1G comes calling. Totally agree, this 2,500 seat Band-Aid is a terrible idea from a B1G perspective as well.

 

[ct06111]

Architect outlines potential stadium projects at UConn

 

[huskymedic]

Facilities Investment Together Surcharge/Fee:

Facilities Investment Together

>>However, to begin construction of state of the art facilities in the spring of 2018, we need everyone in UConn Nation to participate and invest. Beginning with the 2017-18 sport seasons, we have established a new and modest F.I.T. (Facilities Investment Together) fee on all Husky athletic tickets.

There will be a $5 surcharge on every football ticket, $2 for each men’s ice hockey and men’s/women’s basketball ticket and $1 for each men’s/women’s soccer ticket. .I.T. fee will be applicable to season, mini-plan and single-game purchases, but no assessment for UConn student tickets.<<

 

[huskymedic]

Courant: With Feasibility Study And Ticket Surcharge, UConn Moving Forward On Plans For New Stadiums

>>The Freitas Ice Forum is a separate project, Benedict said, and the university is not at a point where it is ready to move on any proposal. Populous estimates renovation of the rink would run $25 million to $35 million, but adds that another option would be to demolish and build a new rink if it is to be used for competition. An estimate of the cost for a new rink is not included in the study. Benedict said it's unclear at this point which direction UConn might take on the hockey rink. For now, he said the focus is on the soccer, softball and baseball stadiums.<<

 

[huskymike]

Too bad we don't have a billionaire alum. Look at what Pickens does for Okla State and Pegula for Penn St. One can dream...

 

[UCONNJACK]

Request for bids for a Construction Manager for the Athletic Complex Development was posted today. The Athletic Complex is now out of the planning stage and into the construction stage. Construction to start March 1, 2018 with a $45-50 million dollar budget and an 18-24 construction time frame. Doesn't appear that a hockey arena is included in this bid request.

http://media.procurement.uconn.edu/cpca/BID DOCUMENTS/201696-RFQ/Invitation-to-Prequalify-CM-1_31_17.pdf

February 22nd BOT agenda to release $4,759,000 of gift $$ for design and planning for new athletic complex. New potential hockey arena locations planning included.

http://boardoftrustees.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1799/2017/02/Att.-19-Athletics-Stadia.pdf

 

[huskymedic]

Courant: UConn Trustees Approve $4.75 Million Design For 3 New Stadiums

 

[huskymike]

Courant: UConn Trustees Approve $4.75 Million Design For 3 New Stadiums

Long overdue. My question is to anybody who may know, the article in the Courant states $46M for 3 stadiums, baseball, softball and soccer. $25M of which was donated and the remaining from ticket surcharges. They will start charging $2/ ticket surcharge for hockey tickets. How long before the hockey arena is started, and what happens if an arena isn't built? Are the surcharges earmarked for their specific sport/facility or is it lumped into a general stadia account. My concern is being charged a surcharge and never seeing an arena.

 

[huskymedic]

Long overdue. My question is to anybody who may know, the article in the Courant states $46M for 3 stadiums, baseball, softball and soccer. $25M of which was donated and the remaining from ticket surcharges. They will start charging $2/ ticket surcharge for hockey tickets. How long before the hockey arena is started, and what happens if an arena isn't built? Are the surcharges earmarked for their specific sport/facility or is it lumped into a general stadia account. My concern is being charged a surcharge and never seeing an arena.

I near positive from all I've read that the surcharges go to all facility improvements (non-sport specific)... For example there is a $5.00 per ticket charge for football but no planned new football stadium. Same with Men's/Women's basketball ticket surcharges.

 

[6thBoroBro]

Is UConn trying to see if the HE will kick them out? I know we average some of the highest attendance in the conference but why are they dragging their feet on this project? They have a deadline and if they aren't moved on campus by then hockey may get the boot no matter how many tickets they sell in Hartford.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Is UConn trying to see if the HE will kick them out? I know we average some of the highest attendance in the conference but why are they dragging their feet on this project? They have a deadline and if they aren't moved on campus by then hockey may get the boot no matter how many tickets they sell in Hartford.

UConn won't get kicked out of the league anytime soon. That said I do know there's a lot of teams who aren't happy about the odd scheduling of games in Hartford necessitated by UConn being below other events on the scheduling totem pole at XL. The flip side is the other HE programs would be happy to let UConn continue to shoot itself in the foot from a recruiting perspective by staying in XL long term.