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

[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.

 

[HuskyAlum012]

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?

Temple

 

[Exit 4]

Temple

Yep - true. Two comments; Temple has tried to get approvals for an on campus stadium...its a serious goal for them. And, at least the Linc is just 8.3 miles away on the other side of the same city.

 

[Palatine]

I think they should play all the football games at Gampel.

 

[ZooCougar]

Preferences:

1. On Campus Stadium-Not happening move on.
2. Fix the Rent. Plug all the leaks, install the media and other utilities to ensure it can support world class broadcasts of whatever happens there be it UConn Football, NCAA Lax, Soccer etc.

If you are against this then you are too stupid for words. Don’t respond to me.

3. Allow the Rent to continue to devolve into a dilapidated eyesore like RFK Stadium.

If you are against 2, then you are for 3.

 

[gtcam]

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.

I agree
Yet we all know that there will be extreme pressure from the residents that live near any stadium construction and then the environment people will find a speckled salamander that will be adversely effected, the noise pollution and the added vehicle emissions etc etc. The University has plenty of land that could accommodate a project of that size but it is sports/entertainment related so it will be met with plenty of protest, $500 Million would be the starting point but the way Washington DC is printing money these days and with party politics - Lamont (if he is still governor) picks up the phone, the Senators get a photo op and the check is in hand.
Football should be played on or within walking distance of the campus for many reasons but it isn't happening in the next decade or better

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Unfortunately a colossal waste of money to pour into a stadium so far from campus with virtually no use outside of UConn football, but way cheaper than an on campus stadium build. Wish we could just ditch the renovation and build 25k on campus

Lots of areas on campus to build too. An on campus stadium would help the program, and I think the on campus students would not mind it either. Useful for other sports too.

 

[CL82]

Preferences:

1. On Campus Stadium-Not happening move on.
2. Fix the Rent. Plug all the leaks, install the media and other utilities to ensure it can support world class broadcasts of whatever happens there be it UConn Football, NCAA Lax, Soccer etc.

If you are against this then you are too stupid for words. Don’t respond to me.

3. Allow the Rent to continue to devolve into a dilapidated eyesore like RFK Stadium.

If you are against 2, then you are for 3.

Sort of. There’s a middle ground that involves the CDRA actually caulking the joints that are leaking. They used to do that but they stopped “in anticipation of a major renovation.” The flexseal I posted was only half a joke. The leaking at the columns can be entirely stopped via caulking, which is normal maintenance consistent with the original design.

So I think the middle ground is to do the normal maintenance but not invest the money to install fiber optics. For six games a year, the crew can come in and lay the extra cable. Obviously, that depends upon cost, but if we’re talking a half million for caulk and 63.5 million to install a world-class fiber optic system, I think I’d go just with the caulk.

Yeah, I know that’s an oversimplification and there are more than those two items on the list, but I think you do the routine maintenance to maintain the structure and do not upgrade it until there is an actual demand that warrants the investment.

 

[DoctorWho85]

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

So I'm guessing you don't think the basketball teams should play outside of Gampell then too at a significantly smaller venue?

 

[DoctorWho85]

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.

Widening 195 in general even without the stadium would help with traffic on campus a lot

 

[Patman]

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.

Thank you for your interest in Connecticut football