Future of the XL Center as a Home Site

[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.

 

[MrSec224]

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.

 

[XLCenterFan]

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.

“Return” should never be solely measured in dollars. And what’s worthless to us has value to others. $4M in the university/state budget (I consider them semi-interchangeable) is nothing.

 

[willie99]

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.

Good God, this nonstop nonsense comparing the two arenas is silly, inaccurate and short sited

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

and the crowd was great last night

 

[Storrs South]

 

[Huskydog45]

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

Totally agree…..I first thought the crowd was not up to standards but it was the nature of going up early and staying up early which resulted in a steady cheer throughout the game….the Villanova game was closer and every bucket was big down the stretch and then it was louder on every hoop and defensive stop. And with Xavier, the second half was as loud as ever but that was because they were down 17 and cut lead to one….every hoop and stop in second half was so electric!

So it’s the flow of the game that defines the crowd noise usually.

 

[upstater]

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.

Just wondering what you're referring to. We had $10m of cuts at my school for the entire college and the cuts were extremely painful. There's very little that's fungible in these budgets especially with huge chunks of money going to benefits like medical insurance. It's like $25k per employee now.

 

[upstater]

“Return” should never be solely measured in dollars. And what’s worthless to us has value to others. $4M in the university/state budget (I consider them semi-interchangeable) is nothing.

$4M cut is not nothing. Entire departments exist on less than that.

 

[businesslawyer]

View attachment 83936
See, now that’s a little too heavy handed. Saying if you cut our budget, we won’t play Hartford has a little too much of an extortion feel. Instead, I would rather see her talk about the fact that the cost to UConn for the use of the facilities is dramatically above fair market, and in a climate where our budget is being cut, we really can’t afford it. It’s a little more subtle and less confrontational.
View attachment 83937
Lol, it’s like Stephanie has been reading my Boneyard posts. By the way I think she may be missing a facility fee as well.

This conversation is well overdue. Playing at the XL center is a money loser for us for all but the biggest games, and even those are only breakeven. If the legislature wants us to continue to play in Hartford, the lease deal needs to be re-negotiated. I wondered if that would be on the table once Toscano was built until we had a place to play our hockey games we really didn’t have much leverage. That’s changed now.

The CDRA continues to lose millions of dollars even with the $4 million a year the University provides to them. Charging exorbitant lease fees has only served to hide a portion of their ineptitude. It’s time for that to change.

The easy solution is to renegotiate the XL deal so that the university makes the same amount of profit whether games are held at Gampel or at the XL. Propping up the Hartford economy shouldn’t come out of the athletic department budget.

LOL. Public statements are great, but she has no leverage. Is she daring Ned to say pull out of Hartford and we'll cut your budget another $160 large?

 

[XLCenterFan]

$4M cut is not nothing. Entire departments exist on less than that.

I guess my point is that we/UConn should just not cut and spend the $4M. State budget just got unveiled today. Over $50B. Just pony up $4M Ned.

 

[Huskyforlife]

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.

Exactly. UConns main campus is located in Storrs Connecticut. Why wouldn’t UConn be more concerned about the well being of their campus and college town? Unless the only reason the AD can run a massive deficit is an agreement to stimulate business in the state capital, but if that’s true, why is the school even pretending they have leverage?

 

[CL82]

LOL. Public statements are great, but she has no leverage. Is she daring Ned to say pull out of Hartford and we'll cut your budget another $160 large?

Lol, were he to do that who would win the battle for public opinion?

 

[Chief00]

View attachment 83936
See, now that’s a little too heavy handed. Saying if you cut our budget, we won’t play Hartford has a little too much of an extortion feel. Instead, I would rather see her talk about the fact that the cost to UConn for the use of the facilities is dramatically above fair market, and in a climate where our budget is being cut, we really can’t afford it. It’s a little more subtle and less confrontational.
View attachment 83937
Lol, it’s like Stephanie has been reading my Boneyard posts. By the way I think she may be missing a facility fee as well.

This conversation is well overdue. Playing at the XL center is a money loser for us for all but the biggest games, and even those are only breakeven. If the legislature wants us to continue to play in Hartford, the lease deal needs to be re-negotiated. I wondered if that would be on the table once Toscano was built until we had a place to play our hockey games we really didn’t have much leverage. That’s changed now.

The CDRA continues to lose millions of dollars even with the $4 million a year the University provides to them. Charging exorbitant lease fees has only served to hide a portion of their ineptitude. It’s time for that to change.

The easy solution is to renegotiate the XL deal so that the university makes the same amount of profit whether games are held at Gampel or at the XL. Propping up the Hartford economy shouldn’t come out of the athletic department budget.

I agree, the Hartford deal needs to be reworked and the CRDA needs to be sent packing.
Having said that, dramatics aside, what is she thinking? We were told that our Priority Points, accumulated over many decades in some cases, would basically become worthless and be replaced by Seats for Life, as long as one kept paying the escalating donation/ticket price; now the President of UConn threatens to take all those XL seats away. Great way to treat customers, lol

 

[Gburyhusky]

For those here who are less concerned with the economics and more focused on the basketball brand, consider this: UConn basketball and the brand as we currently know it would not exist without the Hartford (now XL) Civic Center. The University would never have been invited to join the original Big East without the Civic Center, as the main idea of the original league was to get institutions with access to major markets and large arenas. You can also debate whether we would have been asked back into the New Big East if we were only playing at Gampel. So before you trash XL and our capital city, think about that.

 

[CTBasketball]

Just wondering what you're referring to. We had $10m of cuts at my school for the entire college and the cuts were extremely painful. There's very little that's fungible in these budgets especially with huge chunks of money going to benefits like medical insurance. It's like $25k per employee now.

Probably like 30-40% of the entire Liberal Arts department. Serves no useful purpose.

 

[Chin Diesel]

For those here who are less concerned with the economics and more focused on the basketball brand, consider this: UConn basketball and the brand as we currently know it would not exist without the Hartford (now XL) Civic Center. The University would never have been invited to join the original Big East without the Civic Center, as the main idea of the original league was to get institutions with access to major markets and large arenas. You can also debate whether we would have been asked back into the New Big East if we were only playing at Gampel. So before you trash XL and our capital city, think about that.

We should go back to using whale blubber for lamps since we wouldn't have light without it.

Live in the past or look towards the future. Put your post on a plaque and hologram showing UConn highlights downtown commemorating the HCC.

 

[XLCenterFan]

That’s great if you live there. I only go to Hartford for UConn games. I did go there to protest the state income tax when it was proposed. The rest of your list I have much closer to home and better offerings. Zero reason to drive to Hartford.

Liar. You don’t have better offerings where you live. I don’t live in Hartford. Something tells me the same person protesting income taxes is also scared of cities. For whatever reason. Did you crawl out of Andover or Killingly to go to Hartford to protest the presidential election results too?