Facility Investment Together Surcharge/Fee Coming This Year

[geordi]

Let's be real, folks! If someone is a season ticket holder in all five sports, that amounts to another $125 a year total. $10 a month...2 beers. This alone isn't going to get the facilities built. Not by a long shot. Given our current attendance to all of those sports, it's likely to raise only about $1.5 M a year. If every game is a sell out, it's still only a tad over $2 M. We need $25M. Dave is still going to have to be raising lots more to get it done. The end result is that we have facilities the kids can be proud of and will attract even better athletes. Athletic success positions us better for P5 conference inclusion.

This move is brilliant! It formally invests UConn fans in the success of the teams, which is paramount. (The first rule of fundraising is that you have to give yourself first before you can ask anyone else for money.) And it eliminates any issues related to facilities that a P5 conference may have if they look to expand.

I don't have season tickets since I live in South Carolina, but I'll send them the $125 anyway. Hell, I may just buy a season ticket to football anyway.

 

[Ldandy]

Get a new schtick dude.. every chance you get you spit the cut tennis/golf/swimming/track crap out. We get it. Move on. It's getting old and repetitive.

Thank you. I thought I was the only one who ever commented on the repetitive nature of these posts. Its like Dude here hates these teams or something. Maybe he came home and found his wife in bed with the entire tennis team. Beats the hell out of me, but if I'm a Uconn Fan I want to look for ways to retain all my teams.

 

[Ldandy]

I get the whole why tax the fans argument, but athletic facility upgrades happen at every university, and this money has to come from somewhere. Honest question, and I'm sure its the one the athletic department discussed before moving on this in 2016. What are your motivators pro and con for attending a Uconn Football Game.? How often is the price of attending a game a motivator pro or con?

Even with a five dollar surcharge Uconn Football Tickets are still reasonably priced compared to many universities and to other similar entertainment options like The NFL or NBA. Personally I think people go because they love Uconn and they enjoy college football. I don't think for the majority who would consider attending, cost is ever an overriding factor. If you are completely broke, you are probably worried about where your next meal is coming from, not whether you can afford five dollars more for Holy Cross tickets.

 

[dbmill]

Another point, if they just had the tax on the ticket price that was basically a "wink wink" we need to make up around $3.5M shortfall, I'd feel better about it.

Not to harp on it or be a hardo but softball?! Softball facility upgrades?!

I've mentioned before in other threads how far behind the times the baseball field is. The current softball facility is probably in even worse shape.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

My non-alumni friends that are part of our tailgate crew are not happy about it. For the most part they only go to football games and the rare hockey game (Fenway this year). They really don't want to pay for sports & facilities they don't care about. As others have said, they feel UConn doesn't get it and doesn't recognize the 6 year debacle we've just been through.

 

[Palatine]

Another point, if they just had the tax on the ticket price that was basically a "wink wink" we need to make up around $3.5M shortfall, I'd feel better about it.

Not to harp on it or be a hardo but softball?! Softball facility upgrades?!

Equal pay for equal work.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I've mentioned before in other threads how far behind the times the baseball field is. The current softball facility is probably in even worse shape.

Who cares though? As long as softball has a grass field with some dirt, it's a non issue to me. It's non revenue generating and if football doesn't right the ship, the whole AD is tanked regardless.

 

[whaler11]

Let's be real, folks! If someone is a season ticket holder in all five sports, that amounts to another $125 a year total. $10 a month..2 beers. This alone isn't going to get the facilities built. Not by a long shot. Given our current attendance to all of those sports, it's likely to raise only about $1.5 M a year. If every game is a sell out, it's still only a tad over $2 M. We need $25M. Dave is still going to have to be raising lots more to get it done. The end result is that we have facilities the kids can be proud of and will attract even better athletes. Athletic success positions us better for P5 conference inclusion.

This move is brilliant! It formally invests UConn fans in the success of the teams, which is paramount. (The first rule of fundraising is that you have to give yourself first before you can ask anyone else for money.) And it eliminates any issues related to facilities that a P5 conference may have if they look to expand.

I don't have season tickets since I live in South Carolina, but I'll send them the $125 anyway. Hell, I may just buy a season ticket to football anyway.

Yeah none of us diehards here are worried about the $ - we are worried about what it means for the casual fans.

It is always great how everyone NOT HERE and actually going to games has such strong opinions

 

[Ldandy]

My non-alumni friends that are part of our tailgate crew are not happy about it. For the most part they only go to football games and the rare hockey game (Fenway this year). They really don't want to pay for sports & facilities they don't care about. As others have said, they feel UConn doesn't get it and doesn't recognize the 6 year debacle we've just been through.

I'm only speaking for myself, but if the cost of a Mcgriddle and small coffee is enough to keep you from going to a game, how invested were you in going in the first place? JMO but when you attend a college event it is different than going to see The Giants play. When you buy a ticket to Met Life, the proceeds are 100% to pay for and generate profit for the players, workers, and owner of The Giants. When you buy a ticket to a football game, that money goes into the AD's Coffers to be spent on a multitude of things. They could have simply raised the price of tickets and said nothing. Instead they chose to be upfront and explain how the additional fee is benefiting the school you support. No harm no foul.

 

[J187Money]

Well we could always have just added the cost to the student fees.. like Rutgers did..lol

We have done enough of that - I think that's fine for operating expenses, but not for capital.

 

[TheDoggPound]

Double whammy for hockey tickets considering the prices already went up this past season $2-$6. $17 was the door price for the inaugural season (14-15) now we're looking at $21 box office price for non premium games for 17-18' and $25 for premium (BC, BU, PC). Pretty substantial 2 year increase.

 

[Ldandy]

Yeah none of us diehards here are worried about the $ - we are worried about what it means for the casual fans.

It is always great how everyone NOT HERE and actually going to games has such strong opinions

You're right in that I don't have a dog in this fight. I follow Uconn because of an association with the family of a former player. I've not been to a game, although I'd like to in the future. That said fans are fans and what you are describing happens everywhere. I'm not sure casual fans are dissuaded that much by cost unless it becomes prohibitive. If a ticket costs 40 dollars and then the next year it costs 80, you will probably lose most of these fans. Speaking only from my experience with attending different events at all levels of competition, the casual fan is much more motivated by other things than a small ticket surcharge. My kid has a game on Saturday. The weather looks like crap, The teams stinks this year, I'm not sitting in the cold for 4 hours to watch that. These IMO are more the reason. When the team fixes the third one, more people will come regardless of an extra 5 bucks.

 

[Waquoit]

It is always great how everyone NOT HERE and actually going to games has such strong opinions

This will never not frost me. I think it's time for Ldandy's of the world to pony up some of their McGriddle money to the AD.

 

[hardcorehusky]

I understand the facilities need an upgrade. Soccer got a big matching grant and baseball might have or will from former players. I think softball has the upgrade due to the fact they need it AND if we do the other sports and not softball, there could be a Title IX issue.

 

[huskymedic]

I understand the facilities need an upgrade. Soccer got a big matching grant and baseball might have or will from former players. I think softball has the upgrade due to the fact they need it AND if we do the other sports and not softball, there could be a Title IX issue.

... the fact that the current softball field will be displaced by proposed location of the new soccer stadium.

 

[huskymedic]

Daily Campus: Roundtable: Which UConn athletic facility needs repairs the most?

 

[dbmill]

Daily Campus: Roundtable: Which UConn athletic facility needs repairs the most?

Interesting and timely discussion. I find it a little funny that in the Daily Campus discussion of the soccer/baseball/softball facilities, there is no mention that their are no onsite bathroom facilities with running water at any of the fields. Maybe college students can hold it in better. Of course, for soccer fans the ice rink and its bathrooms are next door, but the idea of having to leave a stadium to use the facilities is a bit odd.

 

[UConnDan97]

I understand it. However, like some other folks have already mentioned, it seems to me that UCONN should focus on creating incentives to be a season ticket holder rather than not. There's more money to be had in that way.

If you prorated the packages whereby the surcharge is the lowest for a season ticket holder, mid range for a three pack purchase, and highest for a single game, I believe you would not only maximize your income but also create a better fanbase response in the process. People spend a little more and go to more games in the process...

 

[whaler11]

This will never not frost me. I think it's time for Ldandy's of the world to pony up some of their McGriddle money to the AD.

It's not ldandy that bothers me. He isn't a UConn fan. It's the UConn fans from other places who drive me nuts.

 

[uconnbill]

It needs to be done and I have no issue doing this to help the other programs. I am still wondering when they are going to do something Frietas needs work by 2019 and should be done. I would love to see 4500 seats on campus.

 

[Chief00]

Yeah none of us diehards here are worried about the $ - we are worried about what it means for the casual fans.

It is always great how everyone NOT HERE and actually going to games has such strong opinions

I agree the Stairmasters of the World have strong opinions about how much more fans, who actually buy seasons tickets, should pay for sports they seldom watch.

For those who actually buy multiple tickets - the cost of unloading a ticket is such that getting $10-15 is pretty good some games and $0 other. Seems then like a strange thing to put a surcharge on.

As for Dre - he doesn't have to buy tickets - at least for basketball.

 

[Chief00]

Wow and wow again..Did Wacky Boob leave something in now Wacky Dave's water cooler...????
First he signs off on now Corny Bob's exit fee while supposedly already talking to Randy...Sends the message early there would be no increase in ticket prices..
Now with declining attendance in all sports he decides this is the way to go?

Not going to rant, just think it is simply the opposite of what the AD should be doing at this time. While I support all the sports he is trying to improve facilities for, it should not be on the backs of those that have suffered through the PP & BD football era.

With the donations being anywhere from $100 a seat to $400 or more us diehards should not be taxed any more. This at least until we see some teams that would entice friends to join us at a game. This should fill The Dog House for Holy Cross...

DB is either ill informed or as stubborn as Diaco not to see the situation. One could give up four seasons tickets this year and go with one interested friend and sit anywhere they want to. This with free tickets or one picked up in the lot for a third of face value...

The other thing is you don't get a tax deduction on a surcharge.

 

[gtcam]

I guess UConn has to do this as window dressing for a P5 invite
A look at many many P5 schools and they have upgraded baseball and softball but you have to also understand there aren't that many P5 schools in the northeast and with the exception of the B1G schools in the upper Midwest, most P5 schools are in fair weather locations where baseball and softball are HUGE so they have those elite facilities. Its like Palatine said - its about keeping up with the Jones if you want to live in the neighborhood.
I am quite sure that the BoD and SH and BD have a pretty good feeling that a P5 invite is in the wings - if not, screw this upgrade until it becomes more affordable (when will that be???)
Also, I'm not quite sure that football will be steering the P5 wheel in 5-10 years - interest in football is waning quite a bit in the youth ages and it just might be mens basketball that will dictate.

 

[gtcam]

As for Dre - he doesn't have to buy tickets - at least for basketball

But he can make a Carmelo type donation
I am not sure what some of our successful sports alum give to UConn but I haven't heard of any huge ones except for soccer and swimming (Wolf family) but then again there maybe some that are hushed
Anyone know?
Why can't some of these baseball players who are/have in the past making some mad $ do something?

 

[Woof 101]

The other thing is you don't get a tax deduction on a surcharge.

Thought of that also just did not throw it in. I also wonder if the free tickets they have been giving out to boost attendance will now cost $5.00? To be sure there will be plenty for our opener. Will this alter Top Of The Rent specials.
I will cough it up but it just feels like a slap in the face for what all the loyal fans have endured. With so many on the fence as it is DB may find out he should have waited a season on this one. This years home schedule and one home game not even being played at home, on a baseball field no less will have very few new fans rushing the box office for seasons tickets.
DB is a much more educated man than myself but I think the timing is bad. I hope he proves me wrong.

 

[huskymedic]

Courant: With Feasibility Study And Ticket Surcharge, UConn Moving Forward On Plans For New Stadiums

>>Josh Newton, president and chief executive officer of the UConn Foundation, the university's philanthropic arm, said he has $14 million in commitments toward the $25 million needed from private donors for the $46 million project. Newton said he has verbal commitments on an additional $3 million and he expects to reach the target $25 million by the end of the calendar year.<<

 

[2Infinity]

We have done enough of that - I think that's fine for operating expenses, but not for capital.

Agreed...was just being a bit sarcastic. Isn't that always the easy answer?

 

[Fairfield_1st]

I'm only speaking for myself, but if the cost of a Mcgriddle and small coffee is enough to keep you from going to a game, how invested were you in going in the first place?

I agree with you on this, but I also didn't say my crew wasn't going, there just not happy about another fee being added on. Hiding it as a increase in ticket prices would have caused the same aggravation. I'm OK with it only because I love all things UConn.
As season ticket holders, we already pay a $100 per seat donation which we are not happy about. This $5 is just piling on. If you want to see us flip our lids, looks us up when they offer cheap tickets to the public making our already high cost look that much worse. We've contemplated moving seats to remove the donation or even buying single game tickets, though I think the return of Randy has nixed this idea of single game tix.
I will just say that what we spend on football are entertainment dollars, money we're not spending on local golf or another golf trip to Ocean City MD. For 6 years now we have not been particularly entertained, at least by our teams's play. Now they want to charge just a little more for that same entertainment. I am optimistic that this season with Randy and Co will bring me some entertainment again, but on the heels of 6 bad years it's a bad time to try and ask for more.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

It wasn't long ago that some on this board were griping about the BC game being moved to Fenway. I'm curious if any who complained about that are also complaining about the surcharge.

The thing is we have decades of catching up to do on many levels if we want to get to where many of us believe we belong and we are doing so now under a severe handicap.

We really can't claim to be a P5 school in a lesser conference if we aren't willing to support the school at a level at least equal to the top half of non P5 schools.

 

[Ldandy]

This will never not frost me. I think it's time for Ldandy's of the world to pony up some of their McGriddle money to the AD.

Happy to do my part

Your Order
You've asked to be acknowledged as LDandy.

Item

Amount


Donation to Baseball Stadium Enhancement Fund (UConn Athletics Capital Projects)

$5.00

Note: One less Mcgriddle=$5.00 Closer to that sweet stadium upgrade!

Additional Instructions: To be used for baseball stadium enhancement only

Tribute: In Honor of The Boneyard, from Frequent Visitor