Dave Benedict on future of XL Center

[soggy dog]

Were a big State program and we want all our games in a 10k arena? Nice to see 18k at XL for big games

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

I went to a mid-week event there. Took an hour to go from the exit to a parking space.

Neil Young played there maybe 5 years back with Crazy Horse, took my dad, I still have nightmares of trying to get off that exit and back on.

 

[CL82]

I'm not bothered by what Benedict said. He represents the state's flagship university, and not the state itself, and he's putting pressure on the state government to do something about the condition of the arena. That's all his job.

I'm just saying that as long as the Civic Center is comfortable enough that state legislators and their constituents would rather attend basketball games there than drive to UConn, they will continue to be played there.

Fully agree. The pricing on the XL lease has been a net loss to UConn. CDRA needs to stop think of UConn playing there as de facto state aid and start treating us like their prime tenant. If they do that, then playing some games there makes sense. If not, it doesn't.

The bigger issue is how much the state wants to subsidize the facility. The CDRA consistently shows an annual $2M loss. That is after the money that state pays it directly and after the indirect aid it get via the UConn leases for men's and woman's hoops and hockey. (And the rent on the Rent but that's a different issue.) It is a cash hole right now.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

Being a season ticket holder for both arenas I have always been torn on this argument. Gampel is hands down the better atmosphere year in and year out. Hartford offers much more in the way or pre/post game activities which helps putting money back in the the economy. I would not be opposed to all games being held at Gampel.

One thing I will never get is the argument about commuting to Storrs, maybe I am biased since I live the same distance to both arenas, but I cannot think of one other university that calls two arenas home for the sake of making it easier for part of the state to commute there. We live in a small state, given densely populated in areas which causes traffic nightmares, but still. Also the argument that playing at Hartford hurts the student attendence is crazy too. I never had any issues when I was a student attending games at either arena and over the last 4-5 years our student attendence at Gampel has been abysmal at times. Maybe getting back to winning will fix that but the students were nowhere to be found in the tough years so you have to rely on attendence from the rest of the state which makes the dumpy XL Center the more lucrative option.

 

[8893]

For a dump, it's a remarkably warm concert venue imo. Most performers seem to like it and I have seen literally hundreds of great shows there.

I'm obviously in the minority but I've got nothing but love for the Civic Center. Well, I could do without the stale frying grease smell, and I wish they would sell hard cider, but otherwise I've got no issues.

I love Gampel, too, and I always enjoy a trip back to campus, but these days I am rarely making that trip on a weeknight.

 

[August_West]

It's time for Connecticut and Hartford to do something. Either do a nice renovation or just close it. The conditions get worse every year with the Civic Center and it's not fair for UConn.

Gampel also needs to be redone too. If they keep avoiding renovating Gampel it will be in the same spot as the Civic Center.

UConn should probably just build a new multi purpose arena for basketball and hockey.

Yeah we are just teeming with cash.

gotta spend it somewhere.

 

[Kathy]

It's time for Connecticut and Hartford to do something. Either do a nice renovation or just close it. The conditions get worse every year with the Civic Center and it's not fair for UConn.

Gampel also needs to be redone too. If they keep avoiding renovating Gampel it will be in the same spot as the Civic Center.

UConn should probably just build a new multi purpose arena for basketball and hockey.

With what money?

 

[StllH8L8ner]

post covid, I would rather see UConn play several games at the garden against big time ooc opponents on weekends.

Agreed. I was thinking more in terms of during the week but yes, games at MSG draw really well.

 

[8893]

I went to a mid-week event there. Took an hour to go from the exit to a parking space.

I once waited for 2 hours to get out of my space in the parking garage post-event

I went to a concert there two years ago; I am posting this from the parking lot.

I'm surprised they don't play a few more games in Bridgeport. It's a really nice arena, close to the train and most importantly, close to Fairfield County donors/potential donors. If you want those Fairfield County and new influx of former NYC resident dollars, you need to pander to them once in a while.

I saw a few of UConn's games in Bridgeport. It's a worse basketball arena than Hartford and the atmosphere was far more sterile. It's enough that someone in Fairfield County can go to the Civic Center on the weekend in 50 to 70 minutes. You don't need to move games to Bridgeport. But moving all games to Storrs does cut off a portion of the fan base.

the benefit was that it was on the metro north line otherwise the traffic on 95 especially getting off that exit blows.

Neil Young played there maybe 5 years back with Crazy Horse, took my dad, I still have nightmares of trying to get off that exit and back on.

It's a fine venue and the train access is a nice benefit, but the traffic pattern and parking are a nightmare.

The best advice is to park at the Stratford train station and take the train for one stop, during which they don't even have time to check for tickets. If we have to drive there, we now park at shopping center on the other side of the overpass. It's a longer walk, but it saves you the madness of the circuitous route to get out of the parking area and back on the highway.

 

[gampelcrazies]

Yeah we are just teeming with cash.

gotta spend it somewhere.

With what money?

I mean they are already building a brand new hockey arena for $50 million. Get some more funding from the school/basketball donors to kick in some money. Save themselves money in the long run.

 

[Zissou]

I’ve been to nicer arenas for sure, but I don’t see the problem with XL. Capacity is good, seats are ok, personal space is ok, sight lines are good.

Location allows for some bars after the game.

I think CT is low on cash. There isn’t NFL type revenue in play here. XL seems adequate.

 

[Waquoit]

I once waited for 2 hours to get out of my space in the parking garage post-event

I left before the encore.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I’ve been to nicer arenas for sure, but I don’t see the problem with XL. Capacity is good, seats are ok, personal space is ok, sight lines are good.

Location allows for some bars after the game.

I think CT is low on cash. There isn’t NFL type revenue in play here. XL seems adequate.

I haven't been there in I don't know how many years, but I don't think it's awful as place to see a game. The deal UConn gets is awful. That should be the gripe. It's a disgrace. Same with the deal at the Rent as I understand it.

 

[CL82]

I went to a concert there two years ago; I am posting this from the parking lot.

[chuckle]

Nicely done.

 

[TheChamps990411]

Yeah that would suck if all the games were at gampel- Hartford so much easier to get to , less packed in, can pre /post game at bars and restaurants, your cell phone actually works, and u can drink at the games and parking /walk to arena much better.

Yeah id be really p`d off if they stopped playing in hartford. I dont even have to drive anymore. I just hop on the train to and from. Its the best! Im not a fan of driving out to Storrs from Meriden.

 

[UConnDad]

This Gampel vs XL discussion again. I live in Fairfield County and have season tix at XL. Hartford is just the better option for fans down here. I completely understand the play all games at Gampel argument. But less fans from here will make the trip or maybe only a game or two. And then less reason to donate also. I’d be OK with it but will spend my money at MSG.

 

[August_West]

I mean they are already building a brand new hockey arena for $50 million. Get some more funding from the school/basketball donors to kick in some money. Save themselves money in the long run.

have you seen the recent donor pledge?

 

[Husky25]

I’ve been to nicer arenas for sure, but I don’t see the problem with XL. Capacity is good, seats are ok, personal space is ok, sight lines are good.

Location allows for some bars after the game.

I think CT is low on cash. There isn’t NFL type revenue in play here. XL seems adequate.

Personal space is not adequate. There is very little room between rows, but I don't know if there is anything that can be done about that, due to the steepness of the concrete bowl. It would have to be gutted and rebuilt within the confines of the exterior walls.

 

[McLovin]

When I was a student (2003-2010)

Post/Handle

 

[Dooooooomed]

The XL is beneficial to UConn and UConn is beneficial to the XL. Work it out.

And Gampel-only is stupid, particularly over winter break when there's no one on-campus.

 

[superjohn]

I like Gampel more than Hartford, but I do think it is a win-win having some games in Hartford, especially games during the week and the city's proximity to the largest population centers in Connecticut.

But to state the obvious, the arena needs significant upgrades.

I doubt UConn pulls the plug on Hartford anytime soon but makes a lot of sense to get those in Hartford to make the necessary investments to get the arena in a better state.

Only so much lipstick you can put on a pig.

Yeah id be really p`d off if they stopped playing in hartford. I dont even have to drive anymore. I just hop on the train to and from. Its the best! Im not a fan of driving out to Storrs from Meriden.

What is that a 45 minute drive? CT. people are spoiled.

 

[Get a Job]

Post/Handle

It's even worse than that. I actually graduated in May 2011, but I was in Germany for the last year and a half, so I didn't count that.

 

[Waquoit]

Personal space is not adequate.

XL space is like sitting in first class compared to Gampel.

 

[Husky25]

This Gampel vs XL discussion again. I live in Fairfield County and have season tix at XL. Hartford is just the better option for fans down here. I completely understand the play all games at Gampel argument. But less fans from here will make the trip or maybe only a game or two. And then less reason to donate also. I’d be OK with it but will spend my money at MSG.

...and another discussion where FFC residents seem as though they'd complain if UConn played ball in Shelton.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

This Gampel vs XL discussion again. I live in Fairfield County and have season tix at XL. Hartford is just the better option for fans down here. I completely understand the play all games at Gampel argument. But less fans from here will make the trip or maybe only a game or two. And then less reason to donate also. I’d be OK with it but will spend my money at MSG.

I keep forgetting there aren’t 10,167 UConn basketball fans in the northern 7/8 of the state.

 

[hardcorehusky]

It took the state about 5 years to address the peeling ceiling tiles that were an absolute embarrassment to all involved. Gampel needs to be renovated and could be done by.... getting a new naming partner.

XL is just way beyond its life but there is no way the state will fund, put up the bonds for funding, etc for a new Civic Center. For UConn, the key is a better deal with the CRDA, improvements to Gampel to help with revenue and hope the state continues it incremental improvements at the XL until it is just not viable anymore.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

...and another discussion where FFC residents seem as though they'd complain if UConn played ball in Shelton.

There’s a perfectly adequate court in my gated community. Why can’t they play there?

 

[Dogdeacon]

It is the same old story forever at UConn with outdated facilities, buildings etc.. The Civic Center was older in the 90's, became outdated as soon as the mall closed and has been ridiculous since. This would never be tolerated if UConn sat in the southeastern part of the state.

And the fact that UConn or the state let's the Civic Center operate as a cash cow is equally ridiculous, do the rents keep going down for increasingly inferior facilities? I understand all of the states infrastructure, cash flow are circular. Playing at Gampel this year is a good start on not participating in the dysfunctional relationship.

 

[Waquoit]

I keep forgetting there aren’t 10,167 UConn basketball fans in the northern 7/8 of the state.

Why don't they go to Gampel then? I went to a game there last year when the team was playing great and the place was half empty. So was the student section.

 

[Husky25]

XL space is like sitting in first class compared to Gampel.

Before the COVID restrictions went full-bore I went to Monster Jam, The Globetrotters, UConn/Memphis, and UConn/UMass hockey within 21 days, sitting all over the arena. I'm not a tall person, but I felt like I had to straddle the seat in front of me to be the least bit considerate, and it felt like I should have iced my knees after each event, even after the Globetrotters, when we sat virtually mid court in the lower bowl.