How UConn really feels about the XL Center

[8893]

I'd rather sit in row VV than in a luxury box at the civic center and I'm pretty sure l'm not alone.

I would rather watch from home than sit in either an XL box or anything above the bottom of the 200s. The good news is that I can usually score a decent single in the 100s there, and I don't mind the drive (or the fact that I can stop at Eli Cannon's en route).

There are no bad seats in Gampel imo. But yeah, as yet another Madison resident and alum, I'll agree that the games for which I'm willing head to Gampel on a weeknight are few and far between these days. We still get there at least once a season for a family trip to an afternoon men's or women's game on a weekend, and I usually make a couple more trips myself.

 

[CallMeBruce]

That's my point. You aren't driving out to Brighton. The closest market to downtown is across the Founders Bridge in East Hartford or on the Wethersfield line. For the 285 apartments going into the old BoA Building, I find that unacceptable.

Sorry if I wasn't clear; I was agreeing with you.

 

[Husky25]

To be honest I think that they should not serve alcohol at the games.

Why? I'm very interested in your reasoning.

While I think Beer and wine are drastically overpriced for a college/minor-league venue (I.e. concessions do not contribute to players' salaries) and they are a terrible value, I will not deny a tax paying business the opportunity to maximize their revenues.

I take a very libertarian approach to the topic. At the end of the day, College sports is spectator entertainment and should be treated as such. If a patron is of age and the venue is able to provide it within the rules of the school and NCAA, and the law of the land, then beer and wine should be made available. If you don't want a beer then fine. Why would you move to deny someone else? On campus is different. The school can restrict sales of whatever they want on their own ground, but I'd think the School would have to compensate the XL Center (or their concessionaires) for lost revenue.

By the way, the NCAA currently has no rule preventing alcohol sales at regular season events but bans all advertising and sales of alcoholic beverages during all 88 NCAA championships (All beer stands were closed at MSG in March) and more schools are allowing sales on campus.

 

[Husky25]

Sorry if I wasn't clear; I was agreeing with you.

No, I think I understood you. My point is that merely building apartments downtown wont do a whole heck of a lot to spur residential activity There needs to be sustaining amenities as well. The person I had originally responded to said that people have to drive to grocery stores anyway. I don't think that should be the case in an urban residential environment.

 

[Husky25]

I would rather watch from home than sit in either an XL box or anything above the bottom of the 200s. The good news is that I can usually score a decent single in the 100s there, and I don't mind the drive (or the fact that I can stop at Eli Cannon's en route).

There are no bad seats in Gampel imo. But yeah, as yet another Madison resident and alum, I'll agree that the games for which I'm willing head to Gampel on a weeknight are few and far between these days. We still get there at least once a season for a family trip to an afternoon men's or women's game on a weekend, and I usually make a couple more trips myself.

You missed my point. For the amount one would have to pay for a "luxury box" vs. a ticket in row VV, row VV is the better value.

 

[elduderino]

Tax subsidies for tech startups is the way to go. CT lawmakers are too stupid to make this happen though.

Hartford could easily become a small tech center. It doesn't take an enormous layout by the state or the taxpayers either.

Im debating forming a tech startup to dislike the out of that no alcohol post.

 

[8893]

You missed my point. For the amount one would have to pay for a "luxury box" vs. a ticket in row VV, row VV is the better value.

No, I got the point and I agree. And by your same logic, staying home is the best value for me if those were my only other choices.

 

[Husky25]

No, I got the point and I agree. And by your same logic, staying home is the best value for me if those were my only other choices.

But home is not a choice in this hypothetical...

I agree with you though...Leather sectional, 47 inch high-def TV a mere 8 feet away (with a pause button), private bath, and all the Vodka-sodas I can handle on the way back to my seat. I went to a few games last year, but unless I'm in the first 1/2 of the single alphabet in the 200's, I'll have to think long and hard about it.

 

[Rocktheworld]

That describes pretty much every "luxury box" at sporting events.

hahaha not at MSG, my friend.... That is PIMP

 

[Waquoit]

I guess different strokes. TV has never been better than live for anything for me.

 

[Waquoit]

That's my point. You aren't driving out to Brighton. The closest market to downtown is across the Founders Bridge in East Hartford or on the Wethersfield line. For the 285 apartments going into the old BoA Building, I find that unacceptable.

It's an easy 3 mile drive once or twice a week. What's the big deal?

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

It's an easy 3 mile drive once or twice a week. What's the big deal?

The big deal is that part of the draw of living in an ostensibly urban environment is not having to drive 3 miles once or twice a week to buy groceries.

 

[Waquoit]

The big deal is that part of the draw of living in an ostensibly urban environment is not having to drive 3 miles once or twice a week to buy groceries.

Hartford is not the proto-typical "urban environment" and it's silly to pretend it should be. The downtown urban area is small. But in that area you have many different cultural, entertainment and culinary options. That's the draw. In bigger cities, owning a car is a huge hassle with the price of parking and overwhelming traffic. That's not an issue living in Hartford.

 

[Palatine]

It's a little off topic but when the BoA Building -285, the Sonesta- 199 and Front St. Apartments-120 are finished sometime next year, there will be another 600 apartments downtown. I think it's very close to making the numbers work for a grocery store.

 

[Husky25]

Hartford is not the proto-typical "urban environment" and it's silly to pretend it should be. The downtown urban area is small. But in that area you have many different cultural, entertainment and culinary options. That's the draw. In bigger cities, owning a car is a huge hassle with the price of parking and overwhelming traffic. That's not an issue living in Hartford.

It's silly to pretend it is, but why is it silly to think it should be?

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Hartford is not the proto-typical "urban environment" and it's silly to pretend it should be. The downtown urban area is small. But in that area you have many different cultural, entertainment and culinary options. That's the draw. In bigger cities, owning a car is a huge hassle with the price of parking and overwhelming traffic. That's not an issue living in Hartford.

Then we're back to the starting point. Why would someone want to live there when they have to drive several miles to take care of their basic necessities? Why not just live where the grocery stores and other services are? Solely for the privilege of being able to walk to some mediocre wine bar?

 

[Waquoit]

It's silly to pretend it is, but why is it silly to think it should be?

Because they already tried a market downtown, a generously subsidized market that didn't make it. Mostly because it was so easy for those living downtown to get in the car and drive for 5 minutes to buy stuff cheaper. What's your solution?

Then we're back to the starting point. Why would someone want to live there when they have to drive several miles to take care of their basic necessities? Why not just live where the grocery stores and other services are? Solely for the privilege of being able to walk to some mediocre wine bar?

Since it seems downtown condos and apartments are filling up as soon as they are completed with more on the way, perhaps you could ask one of the growing number of people that live downtown your questions.

 

[Husky25]

Because they already tried a market downtown, a generously subsidized market that didn't make it. Mostly because it was so easy for those living downtown to get in the car and drive for 5 minutes to buy stuff cheaper. What's your solution?



Since it seems downtown condos and apartments are filling up as soon as they are completed with more on the way, perhaps you could ask one of the growing number of people that live downtown your questions.

I assume you are talking about Market 21. From my understanding that was a high end boutique-y type market, not a Shoprite-type grocery store like I referred to yesterday.

 

[1999.2004.2011]

I am a recent graduate who works in downtown Hartford (CityPlace) and I can tell you that I wouldn't even consider living in downtown Hartford. Rent in the livable parts of the city (near downtown) is just as expensive as living in West Hartford or Glastonbury without the appeal of a walk-able city center with restaurants/shops/Dunkin Donuts that are open on the weekend, when I'm not working. No grocery store/shops/attractions on the weekends=no interest. All of my co-workers (including me) live in the surrounding suburbs because most amenities and attractions exist outside the city.

Now I am excited about the downtown ballpark being built because I hope that it will do something to revitalize the city, because it really needs it. Another step that should be taken should be the construction of apartments for recent college graduates (preferably from Connecticut state schools) that are subsidized by corporations within the city to try and attract younger people with expendable income to infuse some capital in the area. In order to attract businesses to the area there needs to be some sort of consumer demand, but the city needs to get creative with ways to attract people to the city center. A new baseball field and renovated XL center will help, but we need a way to attract and keep people within the city.

 

[elduderino]

Because they already tried a market downtown, a generously subsidized market that didn't make it. Mostly because it was so easy for those living downtown to get in the car and drive for 5 minutes to buy stuff cheaper. What's your solution?

Trader Joe's. Very common urban supermarket replacement, especially outside of New England atm.

 

[Waquoit]

Trader Joe's. Very common urban supermarket replacement, especially outside of New England atm.

That makes sense. Perhaps it could become viable eventually.

 

[David 76]

Why are you arguing about grocery stores?

I become sad looking at New Haven now compared to what it was in my youth. It was THE place to shop, see a movie, just the place to be, a real magnet for the burbs. It ain't that now.
But when I look at New Haven compared to Hartford, it is just so much more active. Yale helps but real people still live in N.H. People walk the streets after 6:00. Hartford seems like a corporate skeleton. I wish it luck but they seem to barely plan.

 

[Hoophound]

Why are you arguing about grocery stores? I become sad looking at New Haven now compared to what it was in my youth. It was THE place to shop, see a movie, just the place to be, a real magnet for the burbs. It ain't that now. But when I look at New Haven compared to Hartford, it is just so much more active. Yale helps but real people still live in N.H. People walk the streets after 6:00. Hartford seems like a corporate skeleton. I wish it luck but they seem to barely plan.

It is very simple, to have a vibrant city you need young people living and playing there. Without a large university presence in Hartford, that is going to be difficult to achieve. The best thing that can happen is for UConn Hartford to grow into a viable "destination" university. Add programs, add buildings and create student housing over time and Hartford will get a pulse. The students, combined with occupants of all the new apartments and condos will finally start to turn the tide. I'm not sure it can be done without UConn growing and/or partnering with UHart and Trinity to create student activity and presence downtown. I can't think of a cool medium sized city that doesn't have a university or more driving it.



Edit: Someone mentioned the other day that UConn Hartford wouldn't provide street traffic on the weekends. My point was that it needs to. Make UConn at Hartford a place that kids actually want to go. I'm not sure how they can accomplish that but my guess is that offering something unique and trendy would help. Maybe a technology center that focuses on things like creating apps or a business school major in entrepreneurship or a music school annex that offers training in electronic music, hip hop, pop and promotion.

 

[David 76]

I know and agree. But sometimes when someone thinks otherwise it is not worth continuing the back and forth. Not pointing at you, I've done it too and there is no better way to kill a thread.
Just too many arguments on the BY most of them aren't even about the main point of the topic. I think we are better off ignoring someone who misses the point.

 

[David 76]

I get your point about the grocery store. But is it worth arguing? Too many thread killing arguments on BY. Most of us (including me), would do better to ignore than engage.