Future of the XL Center as a Home Site

[gioff2323]

And why is a state that can’t balance a budget involved at all in owning/managing sports facilities? We can argue about value of venues, but we can also ask why the state is involved at all.

 

[BIIIG]

My parents live in Eastford, 15 minutes from campus. They and 2000 others. How do you think those Storrs crowds are filling Gampel? Because it isn't Eastford, Coventry, or Tolland alone. You may not like it, but most of the state's population is west and south of Storrs, and it makes sense to have a handful of games be more accessible.

"Handful of games"...its half the home schedule, let's not act like its like 3 a season. No one assumes its just the surrounding towns that go, most people just suck it up and drive the extra half hour. We're the third smallest state in the country, we really complaining about literally any commute? These fans you talking about that NEED these games to be "accessible" the same ones that abandoned the team from 2017-2020 and made XL look like a ghost town. Same people that complain about having to drive an extra 30 minutes, are the one's that complain about the students not going to XL games. Selfish attitude. Being a student, there was no better feeling than leaving your dorm and being 2 min away from entering the arena, the buzz on campus all day, the postgame at Teds immediately after....XL games rob the students from what college basketball is really all about.

 

[kemba]

That's a different issue. I'm not defending paying to play or giving up money rights to play in Hartford. I'm saying that playing a handful of basketball games in the city is not an inherently bad thing. And I'm tired of being pigeon-holed as a lousy (choice word edited out) fan because my schedule makes it easier to go to Hartford than Storrs (which we also do for soccer and basketball a few times a year).

Let’s stop calling it a handful though, it’s half. If they switched it to truly a handful in Hartford, say all the games when students are on break and one premiere opponent per year that would make a lot more sense

 

[Waquoit]

Leaving Hartford would hurt ticket-buying fans the most. The program 2nd and Hartford 3rd. It's a lose-lose.

 

[gampelcrazies]

Leaving Hartford would hurt ticket-buying fans the most. The program 2nd and Hartford 3rd. It's a lose-lose.

They would do just fine. Especially if they win.

 

[MrSec238]

Nope…you can make the argument that last night was the most important game of the year for us. The crowd last night wasn’t half as good as the Nova game, so I’m not just blaming the XL. I think it has more to do with the type of fan that shows up at a weeknight game in Hartford.

Crowd was good last night imo but tough to stay crazy for a 20 pt game.

But again my section (224) is a student section now and there were TONS of open seats in mine and the neighboring sections.

The school needs to figure out how to get more kids to XL

 

[gampelcrazies]

Crowd was good last night imo but tough to stay crazy for a 20 pt game.

But again my section (224) is a student section now and there were TONS of open seats in mine and the neighboring sections.

The school needs to figure out how to get more kids to XL

They don’t want to go. Only if it’s a huge game.

 

[RC111]

Let’s stop calling it a handful though, it’s half. If they switched it to truly a handful in Hartford, say all the games when students are on break and one premiere opponent per year that would make a lot more sense

Honestly, you're right. And I'd be okay with that. That would be a good compromise.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Good for Maric. I don't care about the way her message is received. She is European and English is like her 2nd or 4th language. She shoots from the hip.

I liked her in Twisted Sister

 

[Gburyhusky]

For those on here calling for less games (or no games) at XL, do not lose sight of the bigger picture - playing games at XL is one of the prices the atlhletic department must pay to retain the support of state government and the economic stakeholders in Hartford. At a minimum it is leverage to be used by the University when dealing with budget and resource allocations. As a fan of UConn athletics I would not want to see the University give up that leverage.

 

[MrSec238]

They don’t want to go. Only if it’s a huge game.

On what planet was last night not a huge game. It was probably just too close in proximity to the Womens game Sunday is my guess

 

[karstenkibbe]

Solution: Build a 15,000 seat on campus facility. Call it Gampel XL or whatever you want. Something that seats 4-5,000 more than Gampel would be the perfect size. I will contend that the same fans that can’t be bothered to drive 25 minutes more to Storrs are the same fans who won’t stand up and cheer. Last night’s crowd was mediocre at best, it was not even close to the atmosphere of the Xavier game at Gampel. I was at both and they were night and day. If you can’t be bothered to drive to Storrs after working late at your white collared insurance job in Hartford, just go watch at a bar in Hartford instead.

And if I’m driving 85 miles from Stamford and the Merritt northbound is a parking lot right up to the Milford Connector? I love Gampel as much as the next fan, but some of us are gnashing our teeth after a 2.5 hour hellride to Hartford.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I've always assumed that there was an unstated understanding involved in all of this between the University and the State. UConn is allowed to run athletics at a significant deficit without alot of complaints or scrutinty from the politicians. In exchange, UConn basketball is expected to be an economic contributor to the downtown Hartford stakeholders (mainly restaurants, bars and parking magnates). I don't see this dynamic really changing that much.

Half the legislator are UConn grads, all are fans of one of the hoops teams. Lamont won't get it cut.

Surprised Maric came out to students and forecasted a tit for tat with state legislators.

 

[karstenkibbe]

I liked her in Twisted Sister

And she’s singing her song to the state!

 

[Get a Job]

Good for Maric. I don't care about the way her message is received. She is European and English is like her 2nd or 4th language. She shoots from the hip.

She's also an engineer. We're not exactly known for our tact and emotional intelligence.

 

[CL82]

UConn just fired a President a little while ago who was barely even in the job, and it too was over budget cuts

Actually, it was about presidential overreach. you don’t have a very long half life as a president if you decide to give away your core product at no cost without consulting the board first. That was a pretty gaping self-inflicted wound.

 

[CL82]

For those on here calling for less games (or no games) at XL, do not lose sight of the bigger picture - playing games at XL is one of the prices the atlhletic department must pay to retain the support of state government and the economic stakeholders in Hartford. At a minimum it is leverage to be used by the University when dealing with budget and resource allocations. As a fan of UConn athletics I would not want to see the University give up that leverage.

Yeah, respectfully, I’m not buying it. Any legislator who torpedoed support for the states flagship university because his panties were in a bunch over the location basketball games are played would be lucky to last out the end of his term.

 

[Slick]

Doubt it would happen, an agreement will be worked out. Give her credit for standing up to the budget cuts. She seems to be at every Hartford game.

Uconn is very lucky to have her as their president. Besides being a brilliant scientist she is really behind uconn athletics.

 

[XLCenterFan]

She’s trying to play hardball but she doesn’t know how.

Academic-types are awful at anything outside of a college campus. They live sheltered and in a bubble and get owned at anything related to real life skills or negotiating.

 

[husky8273]

The AD is in the midst of implementing a $1400 per seat donation for the lower bowl in XL and GP. If they only had games at GP, will anyone be willing to pay $2800 per seat?

 

[XLCenterFan]

Let's not forget who the Speaker of the House is. And who is family is. They will defend UConn athletics forever...as they should. As a taxpayer, I do not care that UConn's athletic budget is "in the red." I don't even think we should be looking to make money off athletics. Are we looking to make money off of the science department? The drama department? The Econ department? The art department? No. These are offerings that any quality school should just offer, regardless of cost. Sports is no different. There are benefits to playing in Hartford that can't always be computed. More people going to games creates more people with an attachment to the brand, which could create more potential applicants and alumni with a vested interest. We could do the economic analysis forever. Maybe we should have the Econ dept. do it...but that might cost money, right?

Also, it's great having 2 home venues. Especially in a state where the majority of fans think that Storrs is too far for a weeknight game. Is the atmosphere better there? It has been this year, no doubt. But last night was great. I appreciate both arenas for what each brings to the table.

 

[WheelerD92]

I travel 45 minutes to the XL and 65 to Storrs for the same but very different things. At the XL, UCONN is accessible to CT fans generally. Don’t have be be an alum and don’t have to drive as far (for many). I love being with a big crowd like that. Going to Storrs allows me to see my daughter (Sophomore), connects my wife and I with our roots and gives us a chance to rock the house with Husky family. Both have value to me and could be argued to have value to the University and CT. I want to keep UConn mine and at the same time share it with all my neighbors in CT. I am willing to pay to do just that.

 

[BigTenFan]

On what planet was last night not a huge game. It was probably just too close in proximity to the Womens game Sunday is my guess

I attended both Sunday's game and last night. Great crowd energy at both games . I agree with many posters who say not enough students. Need to find a way to have dedicated large student section. I think at least 25 percent of seats should be filled with UConn students

Also- if the games are pulled out of Hartford ... restaurant and parking revenues dries up. UConn basketball is really the only thing that gets people into Hartford except for the St Patrick's Day parade. It's a real problem.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

For games at the XL Center and Rentschler Field, UConn doesn’t get money from suites or food or beer or parking AND pays rent, but people wonder why they have a deficit.


How would you propose they make more money? Magic??? That’s the venues for 70% of UConn football/MBB/WBB/men’s hockey where they make nothing while paying for the privilege! The math doesn’t work because IT CANT!

Ticket sales, donations? Support from the state...?

But sure puff out your chest over relative peanuts to spite the hand that feeds you. That'll show em.

 

[Palatine]

She is correct, of course. Every nickel spent on UConn comes back the state dressed up like a dime. It impacts every segment of the economy. And the cuts Lamont is talking is talking about don't just hurt the athletic programs, they hurt all through the university.

Using UConn athletics as the lead argument is smart. It's like every police department facing cuts always leads with "Well there goes the mounted police." That gets attention. It's a smart way to bring the conversation to the public.

 

[MrSec238]

I attended both Sunday's game and last night. Great crowd energy at both games . I agree with many posters who say not enough students. Need to find a way to have dedicated large student section. I think at least 25 percent of seats should be filled with UConn students

Also- if the games are pulled out of Hartford ... restaurant and parking revenues dries up. UConn basketball is really the only thing that gets people into Hartford except for the St Patrick's Day parade. It's a real problem.

25% im sure they would love that. But the kids arent showing up. There were more at Nova during XMas Break then there were last night against the #10 team in the country

 

[Huskyforlife]

Why is it UConns problem if Bars in Hartford make money?

 

[CTBasketball]

Let's not forget who the Speaker of the House is. And who is family is. They will defend UConn athletics forever...as they should. As a taxpayer, I do not care that UConn's athletic budget is "in the red." I don't even think we should be looking to make money off athletics. Are we looking to make money off of the science department? The drama department? The Econ department? The art department? No. These are offerings that any quality school should just offer, regardless of cost. Sports is no different. There are benefits to playing in Hartford that can't always be computed. More people going to games creates more people with an attachment to the brand, which could create more potential applicants and alumni with a vested interest. We could do the economic analysis forever. Maybe we should have the Econ dept. do it...but that might cost money, right?

Also, it's great having 2 home venues. Especially in a state where the majority of fans think that Storrs is too far for a weeknight game. Is the atmosphere better there? It has been this year, no doubt. But last night was great. I appreciate both arenas for what each brings to the table.

But to be fair, UConn spends a ton of money on a lot of worthless programs that have zero return. They could save $4M very easily by cutting a lot of fluff.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Why is it UConns problem if Bars in Hartford make money?

This is an enormous part of the issue.

I was working in Hartford a Quarter century ago and sat in on a few meetings (a few if the larger businesses were invited for discussions) when the Whalers left.

One thing that bothered the hell out of me then (still irritates me) was the recommendation by the bulk of the business owners that UConn play more (some suggested all) home games at the Civic Center. For the record I like the idea of playing some games in Hartford but it wouldn't bother me if we ended up playing nearly all games on campus (we would need a larger facility). My gripe is the belief that UConn's athletic departments are responsible for the economic health of Hartford hospitality businesses. Hartford needs to find a way to succeed on its own with UConn being a bonus when they play there.

 

[uconnfan68]

Nope…you can make the argument that last night was the most important game of the year for us. The crowd last night wasn’t half as good as the Nova game, so I’m not just blaming the XL. I think it has more to do with the type of fan that shows up at a weeknight game in Hartford.

If the Xavier or Villanova games were 20 point leads in the first half, it would be the same noise level.