Gampel update

[Vancat]

I'm not sure a larger on campus basketball arena is a good thing for us, at least not an 18,000 or 21,000 arena. As noted above, it's been a while since I've been to a game at Gampel, but I love the place notwithstanding the limited legroom, the limited concessions, and the limited restroom situation.

and traffic

 

[Platt81]

It's nice but it always looks smaller than other arenas and there aren't enough students there. At some point it makes sense to just start over and do it right because there is only so much you can do with a concrete silo. UConn is always hamstrung and in this case it's the dual home courts. So now it has an arena in Hartford, it has Gampel, and it has separate practice courts

Some of these schools have smaller gyms on campus but primarily play in larger arenas than UConn's Gampel. Gampel is just not big enough

18k Creighton
20k Georgetown
19k Marquette
12k PC
19k SHU
20k SJU
20k Nova

The problem with your numbers here is most you’ve posted numbers on are their alternate, not on campus arenas, true some teams mostly do not use these arenas, but UConn has a 16k+ capacity alternate as well. So using these to compare primarily to Gampel vs them doesn’t make sense. So for that reference:

Creighton 18k, DJ Sokol Arena on campus 3000
Georgetown 20k, McDonough Arena on campus 2500
Marquette 19k, Al Maguire Center on campus 3700
SHU 19k, Walsh Gymnasium on campus 1316
SJU 20k, Carnasecca Arena on campus 5260
Nova 20k, Finneran Pavilion on campus 6501

So in other words UConn has a larger on campus arena than EVERY team you used to make your point.

 

[LIUCHusky]

I remember when a crane collapsed and bent right over the side of the cylinder. I guess they should have taken it as an omen. I've never been able to find a picture of it.

There are always excuses but the end result is the same. we need more students at the games

What % of the Gampel seating capacity should the students occupy?

 

[Kolumbo]

What % of the Gampel seating capacity should the students occupy?

I don't know but I wouldn't go by percentage. I would start by asking the folks in Kansas how many students they have in Allen Fieldhouse because that place was nuts.

 

[AllHusky]

I didn't get to see the game last night and videos like this may have been posted but whoa nelly! We really sold ourselves short when we built Gampel. I always feel like we're throwing more money at past projects but always come up short. Whatever they do with Gampel, they should only do it if it increases seating by another 5k which seems impossible. And $100 million? That seems like a brand new pavilion with 15k seats.

This place is insane!! Check out the video

Wow! Too much fun

 

[UCLJ0211]

As much as I hate to reference Canadian teams, how much did the Carrier Dome cost? Can we throw a huge dome up in Storrs for a couple hundred mil?

 

[JonnyRI]

As much as I hate to reference Canadian teams, how much did the Carrier Dome cost? Can we throw a huge dome up in Storrs for a couple hundred mil?

How much did it cost In Canadian or US dollars?

 

[Kolumbo]

As much as I hate to reference Canadian teams, how much did the Carrier Dome cost? Can we throw a huge dome up in Storrs for a couple hundred mil?

Only if it has a retractable roof

The problem with your numbers here is most you’ve posted numbers on are their alternate, not on campus arenas, true some teams mostly do not use these arenas, but UConn has a 16k+ capacity alternate as well. So using these to compare primarily to Gampel vs them doesn’t make sense. So for that reference:

Creighton 18k, DJ Sokol Arena on campus 3000
Georgetown 20k, McDonough Arena on campus 2500
Marquette 19k, Al Maguire Center on campus 3700
SHU 19k, Walsh Gymnasium on campus 1316
SJU 20k, Carnasecca Arena on campus 5260
Nova 20k, Finneran Pavilion on campus 6501

So in other words UConn has a larger on campus arena than EVERY team you used to make your point.

There is no problem with my numbers. All those programs primarily play in the larger arenas. You think Creighton uses their student rec facility for home games?

The HCC seats 16k but it's built for hockey, unlike Rupp Arena, Allen Fieldhouse, Assembly Hall
Gampel was OK for a while but is no longer worthy of a blue blood program
Cameron Indoor only seats 9k, but it's an historic building and duck fuke

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

As much as I hate to reference Canadian teams, how much did the Carrier Dome cost? Can we throw a huge dome up in Storrs for a couple hundred mil?

Why the hell would you want to replicate that abomination? Holy crap!

 

[CTBasketball]

Only if it has a retractable roof


There is no problem with my numbers. All those programs primarily play in the larger arenas. You think Creighton uses their student rec facility for home games?

The HCC seats 16k but it's built for hockey, unlike Rupp Arena, Allen Fieldhouse, Assembly Hall
Gampel was OK for a while but is no longer worthy of a blue blood program
Cameron Indoor only seats 9k, but it's an historic building and duck fuke

We’d have lots of trouble selling out a 18-20k arena on campus. We also won’t ever get the money for it so it’s a moot point.

We’re stuck with our little dumpy bubble and it works fine. We focus on championships and the rest deals with itself. Until ceiling tiles start falling down on fans.

 

[Hurleyman216]

Until Gampel starts impacting our NIL fundraising or recruiting I see no reason to change it. If given the choice between having a brand new state of the art facility or a top 5 basketball team, I’ll take the top 5 team all day long. The reality is the donors that would need to get hit up to build something new are the same donors supporting our NIL deals.

 

[Platt81]

There is no problem with my numbers. All those programs primarily play in the larger arenas. You think Creighton uses their student rec facility for home games?

The HCC seats 16k but it's built for hockey, unlike Rupp Arena, Allen Fieldhouse, Assembly Hall
Gampel was OK for a while but is no longer worthy of a blue blood program
Cameron Indoor only seats 9k, but it's an historic building and duck fuke

Ok, clearly there is no cracking you on your argument, which is bigger is better, even if it’s off campus. So then I will ask one simple question, does playing at PBA create a better home court advantage for UConn than playing at Gampel since it bigger? Arguments of configuration, etc doesn’t change the dimensions of the court or how fans root for their team, so I am asking this as a simple yes or no response. Floor is yours.

 

[boog204]

I have nothing to add other than I had always looked forward to going to a Gampel game when I was a kid. My brother was there for game one. Then, when I finally got there, I was incredibly underwhelmed. And this was in 1998. Can't imagine how much more underwhelming it is now. Had the pleasure of going to a couple of games at the old Cole Fieldhouse at Maryland in the late 90s, and it was a night and day difference in atmosphere, volume, vibe, and everything else, even with that building being built in the 50s.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I don't know but I wouldn't go by percentage. I would start by asking the folks in Kansas how many students they have in Allen Fieldhouse because that place was nuts.

Out of 15,300 total, 4000 go to students. Note that renovations and ADA compliance in 2024 reduced capacity from 16,300. They retained the 4000 seats for students and put some of them in seats that used to be for season ticket holders.

But the difference is that Lawrence has 100k people, and KC is less than an hour away. So a huge chunk of the alumni who graduated recently are in the area. The crowd is not quite as old overall. I think UConn basically prices out recent grads and younger people, leading to a more sedate crowd.

 

[Kolumbo]

Out of 15,300 total, 4000 go to students. Note that renovations and ADA compliance in 2024 reduced capacity from 16,300. They retained the 4000 seats for students and put some of them in seats that used to be for season ticket holders.

But the difference is that Lawrence has 100k people, and KC is less than an hour away. So a huge chunk of the alumni who graduated recently are in the area. The crowd is not quite as old overall. I think UConn basically prices out recent grads and younger people, leading to a more sedate crowd.

CT is so big that most fans can't get to UConn. We heard that about football.

This sounds like a supply and demand issue. the on campus- stadium for a blue-blood shouldn't be so small that only the older quiet fans can afford it. The larger Hartford arena is a PITA for students to get to while the convenient on-campus stadium can't allow for more students. Typical CT problems. More students please.

 

[DSquiz]

Out of 15,300 total, 4000 go to students. Note that renovations and ADA compliance in 2024 reduced capacity from 16,300. They retained the 4000 seats for students and put some of them in seats that used to be for season ticket holders.

But the difference is that Lawrence has 100k people, and KC is less than an hour away. So a huge chunk of the alumni who graduated recently are in the area. The crowd is not quite as old overall. I think UConn basically prices out recent grads and younger people, leading to a more sedate crowd.

To compare Kansas gives 26% of the arena to students, UConn (with 2,600 student seats) gives 25% so essentially identical for the size.

Also, I just gotta say this thread is insane. Have you all been to Gampel? It's incredible with an awesome design (the dome is so unique and gleams in the Storrs skyline, especially in the snow) with seats right on the floor. The place is nuts for all big games; I love it.

Do the concessions and bathrooms suck? Sure but this is what this renovation will address. 95% of schools who have a soulless brown box of an arena would kill for Gampel.

 

[Kolumbo]

Ok, clearly there is no cracking you on your argument, which is bigger is better, even if it’s off campus. So then I will ask one simple question, does playing at PBA create a better home court advantage for UConn than playing at Gampel since it bigger? Arguments of configuration, etc doesn’t change the dimensions of the court or how fans root for their team, so I am asking this as a simple yes or no response. Floor is yours.

I don't know. And my argument isn't that bigger is better. PBA is bigger but not necessarily better because it's a hockey arena. I'd be fine with Gampel if they would just put more students in there or if they could expand it by a few thousand. the outside looks like sheet

 

[lateralous]

I absolutely love the size and atmosphere of Gampel and despite the building being a circle, the seating bowl is rectangular and just fine IMO.

The big thing they need to do is put on a big addition to house concessions, beer garden, bathrooms, gathering space and other amenities. I was recently at Crisler Arena in Michigan and they have an old building with a concrete perimeter, no windows etc. What they did was added a whole structure right off the side of it with atrium spaces, more concessions. etc. Before and after pics:

The big thing with Gampel would be where to get the land to build it. Could they take that diagonal connector building between Gampel and the fieldhouse down and build something there that extends all the way out to Hillside and the Jonathan the Husky Statue?

 

[superjohn]

I don't know. And my argument isn't that bigger is better. PBA is bigger but not necessarily better because it's a hockey arena. I'd be fine with Gampel if they would just put more students in there or if they could expand it by a few thousand. the outside looks like sheet

Disagree, I think Gampel is cool looking and totally unique. I love the dome from the outside and inside as long as the Patoni tiles aren't falling.

 

[Stew Crew]

I absolutely love the size and atmosphere of Gampel and despite the building being a circle, the seating bowl is rectangular and just fine IMO.

The big thing they need to do is put on a big addition to house concessions, beer garden, bathrooms, gathering space and other amenities. I was recently at Crisler Arena in Michigan and they have an old building with a concrete perimeter, no windows etc. What they did was added a whole structure right off the side of it with atrium spaces, more concessions. etc. Before and after pics:

View attachment 114237

View attachment 114238

The big thing with Gampel would be where to get the land to build it. Could they take that diagonal connector building between Gampel and the fieldhouse down and build something there that extends all the way out to Hillside and the Jonathan the Husky Statue?

There are offices under the sideline bleachers that conceivably could be moved. There is also some space between Gampel and the natatorium and outside the north(?) entrance.

 

[Stew Crew]

I don't know. And my argument isn't that bigger is better. PBA is bigger but not necessarily better because it's a hockey arena. I'd be fine with Gampel if they would just put more students in there or if they could expand it by a few thousand. the outside looks like sheet

Students used to get a slightly bigger allocation but routinely failed to fill the seats, at least up until 2024.

 

[Kolumbo]

Students used to get a slightly bigger allocation but routinely failed to fill the seats, at least up until 2024.

I find that hard to believe but if that is the case, so be it.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

CT is so big that most fans can't get to UConn. We heard that about football.

This sounds like a supply and demand issue. the on campus- stadium for a blue-blood shouldn't be so small that only the older quiet fans can afford it. The larger Hartford arena is a PITA for students to get to while the convenient on-campus stadium can't allow for more students. Typical CT problems. More students please.

Actually, CT is so small and densely populated with 169 towns and duplication every 10 - 20 miles in most parts, that people feel traveling 30-45 minutes is a looonng trip.

 

[Storrs South]

Gampel as far as the game viewing experience is nearly perfect: there is no bad seat in the house, it can be a loud an intimidating place. The only thing that holds it back is how many seats by corporations and wealthy donors go unused for the non A-tier games in the lower bowl that look horrible on TV.

I believe student council decades ago decided for the current configuration of more seats for students instead of sidelines which meant less seats, and I think that was the right call for the time but in today's environment it's time for change and students should be the one's on TV.

Otherwise, add an outer envelope for a concourse with better food options and people movement and if you can get another 500-1000 seats in somewhere great but I don't think it's really possible.

Oh yea and get the Husky Heritage museum out of the basement and into Gampel to be part of the gameday experience.

 

[Stew Crew]

I find that hard to believe but if that is the case, so be it.

Students used to get the entire south/east end (lower and upper) like now. They used to get the entire upper level north/west end, too. I think a couple of the sections on that end are now general public seats. For too many years, the north/west end went half empty for most games.

I've been a season ticket holder since graduating 35+ years ago, so my perspective might be a bit different. When Gampel opened, the whole place was season tickets and students for several years. Unless you were a long time season ticket holder or student, you couldn't get in. By the early 2000s, availability of tickets at Gampel was not a problem, even after championship years. This is the first year in >25 years that the Athletic Dept put any real restrictions on season ticket purchases.