CT’s marquee stadium needs $63M in repairs. Why increased attendance is making a difference.

[huskymedic]

-> The spotlight is shifting as average game attendance, measured by tickets scanned at the gate, rose nearly 30% for the seven UConn football match-ups at the state-owned Rentschler this fall, compared with the previous season. While encouraging, the gains remain well below the peak in 2008 and the 38,000-seat stadium could again lose money in the fiscal year that ends June 30. <-

-> The state legislature has approved the first $24 million for upgrades that would kick-off a five-year plan — $12 million a year — for major renovations at the stadium. The goal is for the stadium to keep up with evolving NCAA Division I standards. <-

-> Equally as important as modernizing the structure is upgrading the technology, both increasing its attractiveness. Improvements to wi-fi networks are sorely needed as ticketholders expect smooth connections to social media. Speed also is demanded for scanning of tickets from phones to gain quick access to the stadium. Networks broadcasting games want fast options for setting up at Rentschler, rather than the dated alternatives now existing at the venue.

“It’s not just cleaning out the bathrooms, which is obviously important, it’s being able for your phone to work, for you to be able to get into the building, for the networks to plug in and for the teams to want to attend, for the events to want to be there,” Freimuth said. <-

-> One of the first major repairs will be the leaky roof on the tower building that contains the club and suites, a project that is expected to start early next year. The project is expensive because it requires the moving of massive heating and cooling units, some of which also will be repaired or replaced.

Even sooner than that, home and visiting team locker rooms will be overhauled to meet Division I standards. Recently, CRDA staff walked Rentschler Field with Mora, the UConn football coach, and representatives of the Gov. Ned Lamont’s office — and the locker rooms surfaced as a significant topic.

“Coach talked about how important recruiting was to improve the team,” Kim Hart, CRDA’s director of venues, said. “And you’ve got to have a nice locker room. What we have now is an original locker room. It’s a room with three outlets, and you’ve got 100 kids needing to charge cell phones.”

The renovated locker rooms will have modular lockers with individual phone charging ports and fold-out seats, Hart said. Even the visiting team locker room — now having the appearance of a locker room in a vintage high school gym — will get an upgrade, Freimuth said. <-

Edit: Access to Populous Reports:

Pratt & Whitney Stadium Comprehensive Building Assessment Executive Summary

Pratt & Whitney Stadium Report – Volume 1
Pratt & Whitney Stadium Report – Volume 2

 

[freescooter]

Remember when we were in trailers?

 

[CTBasketball]

I implore those begging for money to take a trip up to McGuirk - what a dump.

 

[huskysupporter]

First world problems, but the WI-FI was non existent. Glad to see that getting upgraded.

I’ve always liked the rent. Great sight lines throughout the stadium.

 

[Rondogg]

The first year or two at the Rent I had an "ESPN Pager" which told me what the score of other games were (after a frustrating number of button pushes). Back then the stadium screen and announcer RARELY gave score updates from other BE games...

 

[CONN78SEJ]

-> The spotlight is shifting as average game attendance, measured by tickets scanned at the gate, rose nearly 30% for the seven UConn football match-ups at the state-owned Rentschler this fall, compared with the previous season. While encouraging, the gains remain well below the peak in 2008 and the 38,000-seat stadium could again lose money in the fiscal year that ends June 30. <-

-> The state legislature has approved the first $24 million for upgrades that would kick-off a five-year plan — $12 million a year — for major renovations at the stadium. The goal is for the stadium to keep up with evolving NCAA Division I standards. <-

-> Equally as important as modernizing the structure is upgrading the technology, both increasing its attractiveness. Improvements to wi-fi networks are sorely needed as ticketholders expect smooth connections to social media. Speed also is demanded for scanning of tickets from phones to gain quick access to the stadium. Networks broadcasting games want fast options for setting up at Rentschler, rather than the dated alternatives now existing at the venue.

“It’s not just cleaning out the bathrooms, which is obviously important, it’s being able for your phone to work, for you to be able to get into the building, for the networks to plug in and for the teams to want to attend, for the events to want to be there,” Freimuth said. <-

-> One of the first major repairs will be the leaky roof on the tower building that contains the club and suites, a project that is expected to start early next year. The project is expensive because it requires the moving of massive heating and cooling units, some of which also will be repaired or replaced.

Even sooner than that, home and visiting team locker rooms will be overhauled to meet Division I standards. Recently, CRDA staff walked Rentschler Field with Mora, the UConn football coach, and representatives of the Gov. Ned Lamont’s office — and the locker rooms surfaced as a significant topic.

“Coach talked about how important recruiting was to improve the team,” Kim Hart, CRDA’s director of venues, said. “And you’ve got to have a nice locker room. What we have now is an original locker room. It’s a room with three outlets, and you’ve got 100 kids needing to charge cell phones.”

The renovated locker rooms will have modular lockers with individual phone charging ports and fold-out seats, Hart said. Even the visiting team locker room — now having the appearance of a locker room in a vintage high school gym — will get an upgrade, Freimuth said. <-

Edit: Access to Populous Reports:

Pratt & Whitney Stadium Comprehensive Building Assessment Executive Summary

Pratt & Whitney Stadium Report – Volume 1
Pratt & Whitney Stadium Report – Volume 2

Fixing and upgrading the Tower building alone will be very expensive, I’m not sure if $63 million will even cover that alone.

 

[Kolumbo]

Every time I read these reports I feel like we are going to spend more and more money on a limited use facility and the ROI is just not there. The structure itself is deteriorating.

"Repairs and Replacements
As noted in Populous’ report, repair and replacement work in these categories is required due to equipment and building systems a) nearing the end of their useful life, b) requiring frequent repairs and/or c) whose parts and supplies are difficult to locate due to advances in technology or design.
1) Structure – Repairs are required to address cracked, delaminated and spalled concrete and cracked mortar on walls, as well as the deterioration of joint sealants and expansion joints."

 

[CL82]

Every time I read these reports I feel like we are going to spend more and more money on a limited use facility and the ROI is just not there. The structure itself is deteriorating.

"Repairs and Replacements
As noted in Populous’ report, repair and replacement work in these categories is required due to equipment and building systems a) nearing the end of their useful life, b) requiring frequent repairs and/or c) whose parts and supplies are difficult to locate due to advances in technology or design.
1) Structure – Repairs are required to address cracked, delaminated and spalled concrete and cracked mortar on walls, as well as the deterioration of joint sealants and expansion joints."

At $64 million, it's probably a good investment, but it will only extend the life of the stadium out another 10 years or so. If the number was over $100 million, I would suggest we should be looking at building new on campus. The problem is that the CDRA has a history of cost overruns. In all likelihood, it will top that $100 million figure.

One of the things that bugs me about the CDRA is that they forgo normal maintenance and then hand the legislature the bill for the inevitable damage done. There is literally nothing that organization does well.

 

[Kolumbo]

At $64 million, it's probably a good investment, but it will only extend the life of the stadium out another 10 years or so. If the number was over $100 million, I would suggest we should be looking at building new on campus. The problem is that the CDRA has a history of cost overruns. In all likelihood, it will top that $100 million figure.

One of the things that bugs me about the CDRA is that they forgo normal maintenance and then hand the legislature the bill for the inevitable damage done. There is literally nothing that organization does well.

I am sure all of these repairs will cost well over $100 million. If that is the case, we need to be committed to staying in East Hartford and keep investing in the stadium. The report seemed to indicate the stadium was maintained well. It's only 20 years old. But I do agree about the CDRA in general.

probably posted before but a good video

VIDEO: Rentschler Field renovation project

Rentschler Field renovation project

www.wfsb.com

McGuirk is a dump, but at least it's on campus and UMass could decide to expand or start from scratch. Whatever it does, it is an investment to its campus.

 

[maple]

My biggest wish for them to replace all the bleachers with actual chair backs. I'm sure it would be dreadfully expensive though.

 

[Skies2018]

This is literally a microcosm for everything that’s wrong with Connecticut government.

Why keep dumping money into this place instead of just building a brand new one campus stadium which literally every school but 3 have? And btw, UCLA and Miami despise it too.

In no world whatsoever is a football stadium 30 minutes from campus a good idea. Not ever. UConn plays for the school not the state and we need to stop treating it like the latter.

 

[CL82]

The report seemed to indicate the stadium was maintained well.

The fact that the roof has been allowed to leak and the expansion joints, not resealed both allowing water infiltration are two examples of where normal maintenance hasn't been done.

 

[huskymedic]

FYI:

RFP for Architectural Design & Consulting Services for Tower roof replacement closes this Friday w/ expected Notice of Award 12/13/24

 

[Nostical]

The original design of The Rent was all chair backs. The project manager once told me they had cost overruns and needed funds for the audio visual systems etc and (big surprise) decided to grab the cash from the chair backs. They limited them to three sections on each side. Just like with the truncated video ribbons, we had a cadre of penny wise thinkers.
The Carrier Dome in Syracuse used to be all metal benches, no chair backs. It was a sterile second class venue. Now the renamed JMA Wireless Dome is ALL chair backs and the food concourses are amazing. Anyone at the game last week came away impressed.

So there will be (ultimately) $100M renovations to the Rent? What a waste. UConn gets no revenue from that place. NONE. Not from parking, concessions, naming rights, NOTHING. In fact we pay the State for the pleasure of playing there. We need to announce our intentions to build a state of the art stadium on campus. That simple act sends a huge message that we're serious about football. And yes, we built Gampel too small. Someone in Syracuse last week said if we decided to build a smaller version of the Syracuse Dome on campus (35-40,000?) can you imagine what the revenues from basketball ticket sales (men and women) would be? They would not only dwarf what we're making from Gampel, but we'd grab all of those ancillary revenue sources like parking, concessions and naming rights. Where are the dreamers? It's time to go big or go home.

 

[huskymedic]

So there will be (ultimately) $100M renovations to the Rent?

Where is this number coming from?

 

[Nostical]

Where is this number coming from?

"the CDRA has a history of cost overruns. In all likelihood, it will top that $100 million figure."

 

[huskymedic]

"the CDRA has a history of cost overruns. In all likelihood, it will top that $100 million figure."

Oh… you were just quoting @CL82.

Overruns happen in construction/renovations in both the private & public sector… but $40m is hyperbole.

 

[UC70]

The original design of The Rent was all chair backs. The project manager once told me they had cost overruns and needed funds for the audio visual systems etc and (big surprise) decided to grab the cash from the chair backs. They limited them to three sections on each side. Just like with the truncated video ribbons, we had a cadre of penny wise thinkers.
The Carrier Dome in Syracuse used to be all metal benches, no chair backs. It was a sterile second class venue. Now the renamed JMA Wireless Dome is ALL chair backs and the food concourses are amazing. Anyone at the game last week came away impressed.

So there will be (ultimately) $100M renovations to the Rent? What a waste. UConn gets no revenue from that place. NONE. Not from parking, concessions, naming rights, NOTHING. In fact we pay the State for the pleasure of playing there. We need to announce our intentions to build a state of the art stadium on campus. That simple act sends a huge message that we're serious about football. And yes, we built Gampel too small. Someone in Syracuse last week said if we decided to build a smaller version of the Syracuse Dome on campus (35-40,000?) can you imagine what the revenues from basketball ticket sales (men and women) would be? They would not only dwarf what we're making from Gampel, but we'd grab all of those ancillary revenue sources like parking, concessions and naming rights. Where are the dreamers? It's time to go big or go home.

So, if UConn announces its intention to build an on-campus stadium where does the $300-$400M come from? Not from the state. And, UConn owns all the operating expenses associated with an on campus stadium. Where does that money come from? That only works if were in a P4 conference.

 

[GoConn]

So, if UConn announces its intention to build an on-campus stadium where does the $300-$400M come from? Not from the state. And, UConn owns all the operating expenses associated with an on campus stadium. Where does that money come from? That only works if were in a P4 conference.

Why don't we fundraise for a portion of it? then donors do the rest.

 

[tiger paw]

Connecticut is still one of the wealthiest states in America. How does every one else do it ? States like Kansas - Iowa - Oklahoma - Virginia to name a few have 2 BCS teams with better / upgraded stadiums.

 

[CCSUblue]

Connecticut is still one of the wealthiest states in America. How does every one else do it ? States like Kansas - Iowa - Oklahoma - Virginia to name a few have 2 BCS teams with better / upgraded stadiums.

Those states love college football in general so it doesn't matter when the money is built into state taxes. Everyone there is happy to pay it.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Why don't we fundraise for a portion of it? then donors do the rest.

Who donates to fundraisers? By definition, aren't those donors?

 

[coachcap]

The original design of The Rent was all chair backs. The project manager once told me they had cost overruns and needed funds for the audio visual systems etc and (big surprise) decided to grab the cash from the chair backs. They limited them to three sections on each side. Just like with the truncated video ribbons, we had a cadre of penny wise thinkers.
The Carrier Dome in Syracuse used to be all metal benches, no chair backs. It was a sterile second class venue. Now the renamed JMA Wireless Dome is ALL chair backs and the food concourses are amazing. Anyone at the game last week came away impressed.

So there will be (ultimately) $100M renovations to the Rent? What a waste. UConn gets no revenue from that place. NONE. Not from parking, concessions, naming rights, NOTHING. In fact we pay the State for the pleasure of playing there. We need to announce our intentions to build a state of the art stadium on campus. That simple act sends a huge message that we're serious about football. And yes, we built Gampel too small. Someone in Syracuse last week said if we decided to build a smaller version of the Syracuse Dome on campus (35-40,000?) can you imagine what the revenues from basketball ticket sales (men and women) would be? They would not only dwarf what we're making from Gampel, but we'd grab all of those ancillary revenue sources like parking, concessions and naming rights. Where are the dreamers? It's time to go big or go home.

And to think the original blueprints for the RENT were for a domed stadium with 50K seating capacity...

 

[HartfordHank]

My biggest wish for them to replace all the bleachers with actual chair backs. I'm sure it would be dreadfully expensive though.

As a larger person I much prefer bleachers!

 

[CL82]

Oh… you were just quoting @CL82.

Overruns happen in construction/renovations in both the private & public sector… but $40m is hyperbole.

You say that as if I am not one of America's most trusted sources in conference realignment, off-campus stadiums, and utter distain for the CDRA.

(Want to make a gentleman's wager that the work needed at the Rent will exceed $100 million? Their track record at the XL center makes me pretty comfortable with taking the over.)