East Hartford’s Rentschler Field needs $63 million upgrade, new study says. ‘like walking into a time capsule’

[CL82]

Have any of the people who want an on-campus football stadium ever driven into and out of Storrs on 195/44 in traffic? There's literally 2 one lane roads into campus. And football would be 2.5x the capacity of Gampel? Heh, okay.

Yes. I’ve also driven in and out of Rutgers and Michie stadium after a game. There are ways to manage traffic. The most obvious of which is tailgating to feather the times when people come in and leave. Dedicating both lanes to exiting traffic is a method they use as well. The vast majority of football stadiums don’t have an exit and entrance ramp onto a major highway. They all manage getting people in and out before and after games. We could as well.

 

[CL82]

And that wouldn't include other state funding for infrastructure needed for area roads

I don’t think we need to build a super highway to Storrs for six events a year. Intelligent traffic management and would handle the issue.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I don’t think we need to build a super highway to Storrs for six events a year. Intelligent traffic management and would handle the issue.

Not talking about an interstate or mega highway.

But simple things like four laning the road for stretches, doubling lanes at intersections, making roads feasible for one direction traffic, some basic drainage and lighting improvements can all be done but take money.

 

[huskymedic]

$200m-$250m for an on campus stadium??? Lol. I want some of what you are drinking.

UConn just spent $70m for a 2500 sest hockey arena.

A 40k seat stadium similar in size and amenities to the Rent would be at least $400m, probably closer to $500m.

And that wouldn't include other state funding for infrastructure needed for area roads.

I don’t disagree on stadium cost… I threw out a quarter of a billion +/- as a starting point based on something like the new UAB Stadium. It doesn’t include the Northeast/State contract premiums.

Remember… everything is easy to accomplish and cheap on the Internet

 

[uconnric]

how about abandoning the POS and going back to Storrs where UConn athletics actually belongs

How about getting realistic and figuring out it will never be built in Storrs for many reasons, accessability and local opposition being the main ones. Quit whining and move on.

 

[Exit 4]

How about getting realistic and figuring out it will never be built in Storrs for many reasons, accessability and local opposition being the main ones. Quit whining and move on.

Nope- not really going to move on. What are we- of 131 schools how many have off campus stadiums? Three perhaps; Pitt, USF who is now building a stadium because it’s FL who has a growing pop and growing economy, and UCLA?

 

[Kolumbo]

this is the key part, this is about the future of a venue this size in Connecticut. Do you want to keep hosting important events or not for the people of central connecticut?

The flip side argument is that The Rent loses money every year and it doesn't host enough events. The State U pays the State to use stadium. The below article criticizes the stadium and I can't vouch for the veracity of said article, but it's worth considering.

"Although Rentschler hosted more than 150 events last year, those events were decidedly small."

"The building runs deficits most years and this year — for the first time — the state had to directly bail out the stadium with a $200,000 payment."

"Stephanie Reitz, a UConn spokeswoman, said the school since 2014 paid the stadium about $8.1 million, including game rent and the $250,000 subsidy."

Your Money, Your State: The $92 million Field of Nightmares

Hearst Connecticut Media’s series, ‘ Your Money, Your State,’ looks at how state...

www.middletownpress.com

 

[Platt81]

Nope- not really going to move on. What are we- of 131 schools how many have off campus stadiums? Three perhaps; Pitt, USF who is now building a stadium because it’s FL who has a growing pop and growing economy, and UCLA?

23, or 18% play off campus. UConn, Miami, UCLA, UTSA, Hawaii, USF, UNLV, South Alabama, Temple, Washington, NC State, Pitt, SD State, UAB, Baylor, Kent State, Memphis, South Carolina, Georgia State, Navy, Northwestern, San Jose State and Oregon.

 

[Exit 4]

thanks for the list. Off the top, you can’t include any “off campus” stadium that is within 4 to 6 miles- at that range you are close enough. For instance Oregon is merely over the river from the campus, a situation that is pretty much akin to being on campus. I haven’t looked at your others- but Navy jumps out- the campus and school are very close.

Miami is a good one- 21 miles from campus to Hard Rock. We are about 22 miles between the Rent and Storrs

 

[Chin Diesel]

23, or 18% play off campus. UConn, Miami, UCLA, UTSA, Hawaii, USF, UNLV, South Alabama, Temple, Washington, NC State, Pitt, SD State, UAB, Baylor, Kent State, Memphis, South Carolina, Georgia State, Navy, Northwestern, San Jose State and Oregon.

Lol. South Alabama plays on campus. Saying Navy plays off campus is more than a bit disingenuous. The campus sits in the middle of a block of federal land of which the stadium occupies the same land mass. USC is across the street from the campus.

So. to let you have your moment in the sun and be proven oh so right, I propose we build the stadium across the street from the campus so it can still be off campus.

 

[Stinger92860]

Go big or go home. Put a retractable roof on it, enclose the perimeter and use it for basketball.

 

[CL82]

Not talking about an interstate or mega highway.

But simple things like four laning the road for stretches, doubling lanes at intersections, making roads feasible for one direction traffic, some basic drainage and lighting improvements can all be done but take money.

Agree, but none are necessary to manage stadium traffic. To the extent they are desirable they could be done within the states standard infrastructure maintenance and not expressly part of the stadium project.

 

[CL82]

It doesn’t include the Northeast/State contract premiums.

This is a great example of micro think within the state legislature. Generously, The premium labor rate for state of Connecticut products is an attempt to get increased wages to blue-collar workers. Cynically, it’s an attempt to buy labor union support. Regardless, it’s one of those ideas that sound good as long as they aren’t carefully scrutinized. Specifically, the increased labor rate doesn’t take into account the chilling effect it has on projects. The University of Connecticut struggles to get grants research grants in large part because the labor rates are not competitive with other institutions. So, yes, on the jobs that the University does get, people get paid a above market rate, but in turn they get less jobs in total. I would love to see the legislature carve out a temporary exemption for research institutions so that state institutions can be competitive with private institutions. That intern would result in more federal grants, thus more jobs, and would serve as a spark to the research and development initiative that the university is trying to build.

JMHO

 

[CL82]

How about getting realistic and figuring out it will never be built in Storrs for many reasons, accessability and local opposition being the main ones. Quit whining and move on.

For what it’s worth Mansfield approval isn’t necessary for any project that is undertaken entirely on university property.

I don’t disagree with your premise that Rentschler field is footballs home and will be for the for seeable future, I just don’t see the need to add mythology saying that a field “can’t“ be built in Storrs. It can, on existing land already owned by the University, without the need for dramatic infrastructure to the surrounding roads, and without the need for the approval of the PRM.

 

[Exit 4]

This is a great example of micro think within the state legislature. Generously, The premium labor rate for state of Connecticut products is an attempt to get increased wages to blue-collar workers. Cynically, it’s an attempt to buy labor union support. Regardless, it’s one of those ideas that sound good as long as they aren’t carefully scrutinized. Specifically, the increased labor rate doesn’t take into account the chilling effect it has on projects. The University of Connecticut struggles to get grants research grants in large part because the labor rates are not competitive with other institutions. So, yes, on the jobs that the University does get, people get paid a above market rate, but intern they get less jobs in total. I would love to see the legislature carve out a temporary exemption for research institutions so that state institutions can be competitive with private institutions. That intern would result in more federal grants, thus more jobs, and would serve as a spark to the research and development initiative that the university is trying to build.

JMHO

This is how the world has been carved up since FDR. Prevailing wage is a terrific scam…. Not in concept but in the survey data which is an echo chamber.

 

[Hogoff]

Lol. South Alabama plays on campus. Saying Navy plays off campus is more than a bit disingenuous. The campus sits in the middle of a block of federal land of which the stadium occupies the same land mass. USC is across the street from the campus.

So. to let you have your moment in the sun and be proven oh so right, I propose we build the stadium across the street from the campus so it can still be off campus.

And South Carolina is walking distance from campus. Actually, on game day it would be quicker to walk to the stadium from campus then it would be to drive.

 

[UCONNJACK]

Nope- not really going to move on. What are we- of 131 schools how many have off campus stadiums? Three perhaps; Pitt, USF who is now building a stadium because it’s FL who has a growing pop and growing economy, and UCLA?

Miami, South Carolina and North Carolina State stadiums are located off campus.

 

[Palatine]

Would love to see the open spaces between the seats and concurse closed up. Thosuands stand between the upper and lower deck giving the seating an empty appearance. Yes, I've done it myself. But since the stadium also acts as a TV studio, we should be sure that it shows itself as a great place to be.

 

[shizzle787]

Nope- not really going to move on. What are we- of 131 schools how many have off campus stadiums? Three perhaps; Pitt, USF who is now building a stadium because it’s FL who has a growing pop and growing economy, and UCLA?

NC State does not have an on-campus stadium IIRC.

 

[McLovin]

this is the key part, this is about the future of a venue this size in Connecticut. Do you want to keep hosting important events or not for the people of central connecticut?

I’m not being a jerk, just genuinely curious, how many people attend events at the stadium outside of UConn football?

Besides 1 USA soccer game every few years, how many people does minor league soccer, lacrosse or whatever else draw?

 

[McLovin]

23, or 18% play off campus. UConn, Miami, UCLA, UTSA, Hawaii, USF, UNLV, South Alabama, Temple, Washington, NC State, Pitt, SD State, UAB, Baylor, Kent State, Memphis, South Carolina, Georgia State, Navy, Northwestern, San Jose State and Oregon.

Some of those “off campus” stadiums might technically be off campus but are campus adjacent.

Oregons stadium is across the River from their campus. Memphis stadium is 8 blocks off campus.

I believe UConn has one of, if not the furthest, mile distance from campus to stadium.

Edit: source of stadium distances https://www.google.com/amp/s/herosports.com/teams-playing-home-games-off-campus-aiai/amp/

 

[UCONNJACK]

Miami, South Carolina and North Carolina State stadiums are located off campus.

This nugget regarding South Carolina stadium was published this week in Sports Illustrated.

DUMP: Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina (35). It’s not on campus, instead occupying space adjacent to the state fairgrounds. They’ve improved the joint and its surroundings, but it still feels like you’re at a generic location in a metropolitan area.

 

[John]

I’m not being a jerk, just genuinely curious, how many people attend events at the stadium outside of UConn football?

Besides 1 USA soccer game every few years, how many people does minor league soccer, lacrosse or whatever else draw?

Why doesn't the Rent hold concerts anymore? I attended some very good ones there (Police and Springsteen)

 

[McLovin]

Why doesn't the Rent hold concerts anymore? I attended some very good ones there (Police and Springsteen)

I feel like most concerts are at the casinos now.

 

[JMick]

They should throw as little money at it as possible. Fix anything that might be dangerous or cause larger issues down the road. It doesn't need any upgrades. No one is going to show up anyway until we can prove that we can be a competitive team again. Why spend $60mm to make it last 15 more years when we may not even have a program in 15 years.

 

[Stinger92860]

Not talking about an interstate or mega highway.

But simple things like four laning the road for stretches, doubling lanes at intersections, making roads feasible for one direction traffic, some basic drainage and lighting improvements can all be done but take money.

On 195 for game days 3 lanes in before the game and 3 lanes out. Or they can add one lane and go 2 and 1. You also have the ”back” route on 44 as an alternate, which was usually my choice.

 

[bobbyinaz]

I feel like most concerts are at the casinos now.

It's also related to capacity.

An act that can sell 35K-40K tickets at an outdoor venue like the Rent will likely sell 60K at MetLife or Gillette.

 

[McLovin]

It's also related to capacity.

An act that can sell 35K-40K tickets at an outdoor venue like the Rent will likely sell 60K at MetLife or Gillette.

Correct, and Mohegan Sun is an easy (and fun) tour stop on 95 between those 2 stadiums.

 

[Platt81]

Lol. South Alabama plays on campus. Saying Navy plays off campus is more than a bit disingenuous. The campus sits in the middle of a block of federal land of which the stadium occupies the same land mass. USC is across the street from the campus.

So. to let you have your moment in the sun and be proven oh so right, I propose we build the stadium across the street from the campus so it can still be off campus.

It’s not a “moment in the sun”. I googled off campus stadiums and this is the list compiled. Yes, UConn is the furthest, but every single one of these is classified as off campus. I didn’t make the list, but to say there’s “tops 3 schools” with off campus stadiums is also largely inaccurate. I have no horse in the race so there’s nothing for me to prove. And yes upon further investigating the article is older than when South Alabama opened their on campus Stadium.

 

[Kolumbo]

I think the open concourse is one of the perks of The Rent. I like to walk around.

An idea which doesn't solve any of the issues per se, but a compromise. Build the stadium at the crossroads of I-84 and route 195 in Tolland so it can be seen from the highway. It would still be off campus by about 7 miles, but much easier to get to for students, no traffic on game day, and a very visible welcome sign for visitors going to UCONN. with some place called Electric Blue across the highway.