Better Home Court?

[Waquoit]

The Whalers brand is still strong but I don't think it is too much of a stretch to transfer that state resident sports pride to the UConn brand.

Last year we took a trip to New Zealand. While in Christchurch, we drove out to the Onawe Peninsula. The summit is pretty steep but it's a great view of the entire area. Plus, we were the only one's there. It was awesome. As we started on our way down, we spotted someone walking toward us. But it was like that old country tune Company's Comin', we couldn't make 'im out from here. About 15 minutes later when we passed, it was a guy wearing a Whalers hat. That's 9,200 miles away.

 

[bendm]

This is a more pointless complaint than the bad reffing. UConn isn’t going to stop playing men’s bball games in their on campus arena.

 

[kemba]

You're wrong on the goal horn.

Villanova was a better crowd but not by much, and considering it was a beatdown, last night was just as impressive

I thought nova was a lot louder but that’s not an insult on last night, nova was maybe the loudest UConn crowd I’ve ever been a part of. Perfect storm of a hyped game, an irate crowd from the bs Hurley ejection, and a thrilling game.

I have season tickets at both, still prefer gampel but like having both venues. Pros and cons to each

 

[Sun Dog]

Just a thought: Cameron (9314) Duke, Smith Center (21750) UNC. Where would you prefer to see a game? My take: UCONN can have it both ways. Just have more Miller Lite night at campus.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

I thought nova was a lot louder but that’s not an insult on last night, nova was maybe the loudest UConn crowd I’ve ever been a part of. Perfect storm of a hyped game, an irate crowd from the bs Hurley ejection, and a thrilling game.

I have season tickets at both, still prefer gampel but like having both venues. Pros and cons to each

There was a lot of pent up COVID energy on 2/22/22

 

[Scottobot]

Odd this article doesn’t say that UConn hasn’t lost in Hartford in 3 years. Statistically it is a better home court advantage than Gampel. We have lost 2 times at Gampel this year alone.

https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/big-east-st-johns-uconn-peoplebank-arena-hartford-21938172.php

A long time ago Hartford was way better, but in recent years until this year I thought Gampel had the better crowd. However this season it seems like there is a lot more frenzy and noise in Hartford. Gampel seemed dead in that Creighton loss

 

[Woof]

This is a more pointless complaint than the bad reffing. UConn isn’t going to stop playing men’s bball games in their on campus arena.

They don't need to. I suspect they need to enforce a curfew the night before Gampel games.

 

[bendm]

It’s ironic everyone’s issue with the wrench is that it’s off campus

 

[zls44]

Gampel seemed dead in that Creighton loss

…because they lost and played like crap.

 

[zls44]

Time for Whaler's trivia: The hockey horn was brought to the Whale by former GM Brian Burke. Coming from several other teams, he hated Brass Bonanza. So he banned it after made goals, to be replaced by the horn. He didn't last long and Bonanza came back after he left.

Brian was right btw. Dopey song.

 

[Chief00]

…because they lost and played like crap.

So fans only cheer their team on when they play well and win. Interesting, I though they should be loyal and supportive during tough times too.

 

[Chief00]

I seem to remember having this discussion before. Probably dozens of times. 😀

Wednesday night was a huge exclamation mark that Hartford is indeed the better home court advantage. I wanted to put this out there a day before to see how much certain posters reflect reality.

 

[Chief00]

This is a more pointless complaint than the bad reffing. UConn isn’t going to stop playing men’s bball games in their on campus arena.

There were some who called a few years ago to move all games to Storrs. Since then we have not lost in Hartford in over 3 years.

 

[bendm]

There were some who called a few years ago to move all games to Storrs. Since then we have not lost in Hartford in over 3 years.

Don’t think you have anything to worry about

 

[huskyjawz]

I was in Hartford on Wed and Gampel today. Both were incredible crowds. I have to say that today I was wishing I had ear plugs. I think today was louder. My brother says they were both equally loud. I am not saying which is overall better, just comparing the two games.

 

[Vancat]

I will attest to the fact that the guy next to me had his hood up and his hands over his ears

 

[willie99]

I was in Hartford on Wed and Gampel today. Both were incredible crowds. I have to say that today I was wishing I had ear plugs. I think today was louder. My brother says they were both equally loud. I am not saying which is overall better, just comparing the two games.

Yes, I brought it to both games, thank you

😁

 

[Palatine]

According to Gemini --

Sustained Crowd Roar: In a packed, "rocking" environment with over 15,000 fans, the crowd at PBA is estimated to reach levels between 110 and 115 decibels during peak moments. For context, Gampel Pavilion recently peaked at 111 during a high-stakes game against Arizona in November 2025.

While basketball-specific peaks are less frequently cited, the Train Horn (goal horn) is a mechanical outlier. Indoor air horns of this type are typically calibrated to reach 130–150 to heard over a capacity crowd.

 

[JB75]

You can talk all you want about recent crowds, but if you weren't at the "Hartford Civic Center" in January of 1990, for the Syracuse and Georgetown games, you missed the impact and intensity of the first really wild environments for UConn men's basketball.

The scenes were electric. The lighting seemed brighter. There was an intensity, even during warmups, greater than at any game we attended over the years.

The crowds each night, all 16,284 (or thereabouts) in attendance were hyped and standing for much of the games.

They were the first really big games we'd had in years and we were beginning to sense how good this team could be.

Big Monday for Syracuse, and five days later Saturday night with Georgetown, and a week later Gampel opened with Dan Cyrulik's career night! A great win after getting destroyed at the Garden by 31 only three and a half weeks earlier.

There was a special magic with the earlier games of today's six time National Champions.
We hadn't been there before.
We hadn't dominated any highly ranked teams on national television.
Yet we always harbored the dream of our teams doing special things.
We're really glad and thankful we were able to see it happen.

I was watching on tv as a kid. lol But I remember. I Used to love ESPN “big mondays”. It would always be a good big east game at 7pm and a good big 12 game at 9pm. Used to get me thru mondays after Monday night football finished for the year. Great time to be a kid. Always a great big east matchup We beat Cuse and gtown in a matter of 5 days. That was huge back then

 

[zls44]

So fans only cheer their team on when they play well and win. Interesting, I though they should be loyal and supportive during tough times too.

Should they? Yes.

Are they? Different thing.

 

[CL82]

According to Gemini --

Sustained Crowd Roar: In a packed, "rocking" environment with over 15,000 fans, the crowd at PBA is estimated to reach levels between 110 and 115 decibels during peak moments. For context, Gampel Pavilion recently peaked at 111 during a high-stakes game against Arizona in November 2025.

While basketball-specific peaks are less frequently cited, the Train Horn (goal horn) is a mechanical outlier. Indoor air horns of this type are typically calibrated to reach 130–150 to heard over a capacity crowd.

Jared asked Alex if the players hear the goal horn. He said "oh I think they hear that in Storrs. That thing is loud!"

 

[Waquoit]

I was watching on tv as a kid. lol But I remember. I Used to love ESPN “big mondays”. It would always be a good big east game at 7pm and a good big 12 game at 9pm.

It started with the Big East and Big 10. But because Bobby Knight whined so much about playing at 9pm the B10 backed out of the spot. Imagine a coach having so much clout over a conference. Maybe that's why they've only won twice since 1981. And now that the Big East isn't in the spot, it's back to just being Monday.

 

[uconnad]

HARTFORD CIVIC CENTER IS BETTER and I go to both for 30 years