Brand - Connecticut Market expansion

[Pudge]

Get beyond the past & those long memories of XL/HCC past. Going to Webster Bank (Bridgeport) and Mohegan Sun are great moves ... IMHO. It is something that a Syracuse or a BC could never do. We CAN expand our Brand ... our Fanbase ... by embracing the corners of the State and additional demographic pieces (and Fairfield CTY and customers of OUR Casinos are exactly that) that lead to greater Fans.

Rentschler benefits from this (if we can get a new PP or a an exciting embraceable HC). Our Hockey East can benefit. We are on a good march in the Northeastern region ... which we are not going to see from our peers at this level. (*Maybe Rutgers ... they'll PLAY at the ESPNZone for a nickel or quarter)

 

[Fairfield 1st]

The only problem with this is that it takes less than 2 hours to get from one side of the state to the other. Other schools have fans routinely drive 4 to 5 hours without a wimper. I'm not a hundred per cent on board with moving games in a state as small as ours all over the place.

But I get that its important to go the fans if they ain't coming to you. Also do not like implications of this for student season ticket holders.

That being said, you better believe I will go to Mohegan for a game.

 

[pj]

They should play around the state. Get people hooked with an easy buy/travel and some will travel the extra distance to the Rent or Gampel; or will watch on TV more regularly.

 

[Sea Goat]

I think changing venues is a good idea - spread it around a bit. However, it does matter who you're playing more than where you're playing. I don't care where the Huskies play, if the opponent is UCF, USF ,ECU or SMU or most any other member of the horrid AAC, no one will show up anyways.

 

[DSquiz]

I love the idea and they said they will only be taking games from the XL meaning this will not affect Gampel. This is probably only be for 2 or 3 games which will make it an "event" in Fairfield county/casino.

 

[coachcap]

Just a question. How late does the Long Island Ferry run? My roommate lives on L.I. Getting to Bridgeport would make it easier for him to attend. Getting back to L.I. could be an issue if a night game gets over after the last ferry out has already left.

 

[huskymedic]

Just a question. How late does the Long Island Ferry run? My roommate lives on L.I. Getting to Bridgeport would make it easier for him to attend. Getting back to L.I. could be an issue if a night game gets over after the last ferry out has already left.

Last ferry out is 2100-2200 depending on day of week/time of year.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Fairfield County is the most important county in UConn's goal to be the New York City team
Its in the tri- state area
NYC
NE NJ
and Southwest Ct
If you don't understand the critical importance of being the Number 1 basketball team in this area then I can't help you.
As I stated before live basketball is an addiction.
Fans that go to Bridgeport will travel to Hartford or even Storrs once hooked.
Now if we could play a football game in NYC (Once we have a decent product) that would be huge.


Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

 

[Waquoit]

Get beyond the past & those long memories of XL/HCC past. Going to Webster Bank (Bridgeport) and Mohegan Sun are great moves

I'm getting on board. Perhaps we can bring back the Blue-White game, put it at Torrington High and hit all 4 corners of the state.

 

[whaler11]

I'm getting on board. Perhaps we can bring back the Blue-White game, put it at Torrington High and hit all 4 corners of the state.

Those went away because of exhibitions? I remember Southington used to be jammed.

 

[UConn9604]

Just a question. How late does the Long Island Ferry run? My roommate lives on L.I. Getting to Bridgeport would make it easier for him to attend. Getting back to L.I. could be an issue if a night game gets over after the last ferry out has already left.

Happened to have this page open when I read this -- I was looking to make reservations for this weekend.

http://www.88844ferry.com/sailingschedule.aspx

Looks like 9:30 during the week and 10:00 on the weekends in the winter months.

 

[Pudge]

Think most of us go to see ... UConn

SMU or Tulane? Could care less. I've gone to see UConn play a team of Primates. The Central, Sacred Heart, Quinnipiac & Hartford. I think we've ramped up with OOC.

If you don't like the opponents, we will gladly take your damn seat.

 

[whaler11]

Think most of us go to see ... UConn

SMU or Tulane? Could care less. I've gone to see UConn play a team of Primates. The Central, Sacred Heart, Quinnipiac & Hartford. I think we've ramped up with OOC.

If you don't like the opponents, we will gladly take your damn seat.

Every game you've been to has been against a team of primates. What with humans being primates and all...

 

[Pudge]

Every game you've been to has been against a team of primates. What with humans being primates and all...

Ummm ... I know what I wrote & have a vocabulary. Exactly my point. Could be anyone with opposing shirts.

 

[freescooter]

I get why they are doing it and I get what they are doing. Don't love the idea, but I don't hate it either. But I don't love going to Hartford either. You have a home court, use it. Originally games were moved to Hartford for the larger venue and they were mainly the bigger games for which there was the most demand. Somewhere along the line we began moving junk games there, and games that fell during semester break, which were generally the same thing, plus a couple of bigger ones, too. As far as moving games goes, to me Bridgeport makes a fair amount of sense. the arena is smallish, but new. Area where we're trying strengthen the base. Easy access from southern CT and New York, heavily populated. And historically we used to play the odd game in New Haven. While Bridgeport itself is no prize, it makes sense. Mohegan, not so much. I would think that it would more or less attract the same fans. Maybe not the casino folks, but I'm not sure we'll get a huge draw for UConn-SMU anyway. The people in eastern Connecticut that would go to the casino for a game would also go to Gampel. Not so sure people who would go to Gampel from Greater Hartford would go for the game. And seating capacity is less than Gampel by about 1000 I think. It isn't in the most heavily populated, or wealthiest, part of the state. I'm not opposed really. I just don't think it will be a big hit.

 

[whaler11]

Ummm ... I know what I wrote & have a vocabulary. Exactly my point. Could be anyone with opposing shirts.

My post was a joke but to your credit your reply is funnier.

 

[RioDog]

Every game you've been to has been against a team of primates. What with humans being primates and all...

Speaking as an anthropologist this warms the cockles of my heart. (Any chance of getting a neutral site game down here in the Samba Drome?)