Blaudschun: UConn Switching BC Home Game to Fenway?

[thatguyed]

Your season tickets will have one less game and you will be charged for one less game.

And since BC is so integral to the Boston sports scene, you'll find tickets on the open market for ten bucks.

 

[UCPusky]

I look forward to another Ryan Phalen-led bus trip where I get too drunk and piss off a players' parents by talking about crab rangoon the whole ride home.

So Irish Loop is the crab ragoon guy. LOL - I think I was sitting a few rows in front of you on that bus. Game sucked but the trip was fun.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

If UConn doesn't get a cut of the concessions at the rent, then that is where a place like Fenway can find extra money to pay us even if ticket sales are similar at the two venues.

That actually is a great bargaining tactic when you think about it.

 

[CL82]

@PopcornHatKid @Husky25 @huskymedic

The point of the quote isn't whether NESN would carry the game, it is the "what does UConn get out of it" portion.

I suspect @PopcornHatKid may be right as to the reason, although that would be a very pessimistic position from AD Dave.

On edit:

Perhaps Subba is right as well:

If UConn doesn't get a cut of the concessions at the rent, then that is where a place like Fenway can find extra money to pay us even if ticket sales are similar at the two venues.

 

[Skiblets]

I just moved back to Boston. Tailgate at Skibs!!!!!

 

[Skiblets]

Dumbest decision since the civil conflict. Worse than the civil conflict

Wrong

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

From Blauds article:
What I don’t get is what UConn gets out of this. A guaranteed NESN spot?

How does this make us more money, unless they are anticipating a bad turnout at the rent?

Fenway/IMG is paying UConn in some regard to hold the game there. Unclear what the amount is, but it might be FOIA-able at some point. I'm sure UConn will get some level of the gate as well in addition to merchandise sales. Like the ND-BC game last year, the game will be a UConn home game with UConn painted on the field and probably banners on the Green Monster, etc.

 

[CL82]

Fenway/IMG is paying UConn in some regard to hold the game there. Unclear what the amount is, but it might be FOIA-able at some point. I'm sure UConn will get some level of the gate as well in addition to merchandise sales. Like the ND-BC game last year, the game will be a UConn home game with UConn painted on the field and probably banners on the Green Monster, etc.

If all correct that would be great, depending on amount.

 

[firstnline]

I'm going to try for GREEN MONSTER seats if they are for sale.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

If all correct that would be great, depending on amount.

It would be, but at this point we of course don't know. I do know that as part of the ND-BC matchup, ND controlled the VAST majority of the ticket sales. I don't know the exact number, but BC only received the proportion of tickets an away team usually gets for an away game. There were many BC fans complaining they couldn't get a ticket because there were so few available. Now, of course that was a Shamrock Series game and it's ND so they have a lot more pull. But hopefull AD Dave negotiated a deal on this so that UConn gets to control 75%+ of the tickets and gets the revenue after Fenway takes their cut.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

I'm going to try for GREEN MONSTER seats if they are for sale.

Have fun with that, those tickets will be the best view in the whole place and will go for $250+ apiece most likely. There's also only about 250 seats up there.

 

[businesslawyer]

It would be, but at this point we of course don't know. I do know that as part of the ND-BC matchup, ND controlled the VAST majority of the ticket sales. I don't know the exact number, but BC only received the proportion of tickets an away team usually gets for an away game. There were many BC fans complaining they couldn't get a ticket because there were so few available. Now, of course that was a Shamrock Series game and it's ND so they have a lot more pull. But hopefull AD Dave negotiated a deal on this so that UConn gets to control 75%+ of the tickets and gets the revenue after Fenway takes their cut.

Just to be clear, I doubt BC has anything to say about the terms of the contract between UConn and Fenway. BC has its rights (including as to ticket allocation) in its contract with UConn. What is painted on the field -- what the ticket prices are -- how Fenway markets them -- who gets concession royalties -- are all matters that will be set forth in the contract.

And yes, the contract will be discoverable under FOIA and yes, you can bet the Courant will in due course let us know what they are.

 

[pepband99]

This only makes sense if it greases the wheels for a longer-term plan.

 

[zls44]

We're a poor. It sucks.

Other than getting a fat check, there is zero reason to be happy or ok with this. Zero.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Just to be clear, I doubt BC has anything to say about the terms of the contract between UConn and Fenway. BC has its rights (including as to ticket allocation) in its contract with UConn. What is painted on the field -- what the ticket prices are -- how Fenway markets them -- who gets concession royalties -- are all matters that will be set forth in the contract.

And yes, the contract will be discoverable under FOIA and yes, you can bet the Courant will in due course let us know what they are.

Right, this is a deal between UConn and Fenway. BC is likely not more than a peripheral participant in what went into making this happen.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Let's see all the details come out before we freak out.... what if in turn for putting the first and second games of the series in Fenway that we get the next two at the Rent?? I would sign up for going up to Fenway and hopefully winning there for all to see (after all, winning is what REALLY matters now that we have to regain our place in the FBS pecking order; although might be tougher considering our coaching staff will not have much tenure taking over for the previous staff's well lit dumpster fire) and then seeing two more wins at the Rent (wins are more likely in their second/third years of tenure than their first, I admit). Fingers crossed. Go (Huskies getting out of the dumpster fire) UConn!

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

This only makes sense if it greases the wheels for a longer-term plan.

Or if it's recouping some of the hit we took to pay off Bob.

 

[BlueandOG]

This is the best news I've heard today! We already own MSG for basketball - if we pack Fenway with National Flag Blue and White, we will show that UCONN the power-school in our region of the country. PLUS, we will have a blast in Boston. PLUS PLUS, we get a larger payout. PLUS PLUS PLUS, we may convince BC to do this annually which will improve our football profile (assuming we ever play BC competitively). This is good all around.

 

[Jimdish255]

Three posts on this having generated not one immediate like. A more self-reflective person might stop posting and ask themselves why almost no one is agreeing with them.

My last post on the subject. Caronimo's rants are a little over the top but a lot of people are upset about this because it sounds like something UMass should be doing, not UConn. Secondly the mere fact that we are focusing on a divisive issue like this throws a cold bucket of water on what should be a day focused on something really positive. It's a PR fail that this is even a topic today but it seems consistent with our inability to control any narrative that puts us in a good light. This on the other hand reeks of weakness vs BC and ignoring the fans in Serah Williams CT. I hope it doesn't happen or at least they have some innovative plans to build our Football fanbase throughout Connecticut. Basketball is a different story based on the old BE Tourney so we need an effort that prioritizes CT and NY State that doesn't include sacrificing home games. Just one opinion. It's still a great day (on balance - lol).

 

[firstnline]

Have fun with that, those tickets will be the best view in the whole place and will go for $250+ apiece most likely. There's also only about 250 seats up there.

My gut feeling and I hope I am right is that there will be a feeding frenzy on tickets. If UConn has a miracle season going it will be chaos up there.

 

[Husky25]

So Irish Loop is the crab ragoon guy. LOL - I think I was sitting a few rows in front of you on that bus. Game sucked but the trip was fun.

Did he have gas or something?

 

[businesslawyer]

We're a poor. It sucks.

Other than getting a fat check, there is zero reason to be happy or ok with this. Zero.

Other than getting a check, none of us would be at our jobs right now. So your point is that money influences decisions?

Thank you. Very enlightening.

 

[Hoophound]

Meh, I'd like to hear the numbers before bashing the decision. Plus, people like those "spectacle" games. They offer good exposure and media coverage because of the unique setting.

We'll put in a good showing at Fenway. I may fly in for one or two nights for it simply because it is so easy. No need for a rental car etc.

 

[Santini35]

It would be, but at this point we of course don't know. I do know that as part of the ND-BC matchup, ND controlled the VAST majority of the ticket sales. I don't know the exact number, but BC only received the proportion of tickets an away team usually gets for an away game. There were many BC fans complaining they couldn't get a ticket because there were so few available. Now, of course that was a Shamrock Series game and it's ND so they have a lot more pull. But hopefull AD Dave negotiated a deal on this so that UConn gets to control 75%+ of the tickets and gets the revenue after Fenway takes their cut.

Looking around, it seemed that BC got a typical "visiting team" 5000 seat allotment when ND was home team

 

[businesslawyer]

My last post on the subject. Caronimo's rants are a little over the top but a lot of people are upset about this because it sounds like something UMass should be doing, not UConn. Secondly the mere fact that we are focusing on a divisive issue like this throws a cold bucket of water on what should be a day focused on something really positive. It's a PR fail that this is even a topic today but it seems consistent with our inability to control any narrative that puts us in a good light. This on the other hand reeks of weakness vs BC and ignoring the fans in Serah Williams CT. I hope it doesn't happen or at least they have some innovative plans to build our Football fanbase throughout Connecticut. Basketball is a different story based on the old BE Tourney so we need an effort that prioritizes CT and NY State that doesn't include sacrificing home games. Just one opinion. It's still a great day (on balance - lol).

It's a PR fail? Seriously? We did not announce the series. Blauds got info through his sources and ran with a story. What were we supposed to do? Never explore ways to increase revenues because we won't control when the press reports on it? Delay hiring an OC because this might have come out? Steal Blauds home computer? What are we supposed to do to keep a free press from reporting on what a public institution does.

Other than that, I have no problem with someone thinking we need to promote more within Connecticut than turn up to Boston as a theoretical matter. I disagree with it, but it's a reasonable opinion. But I will just ask one question. -- since money makes the world go round, how can you reach a conclusion that this is "small time" without knowing how big the monetary gain was by doing this?