Jacobs - UConn Teams Need A Better Home In Hartford

[8893]

But the new sports bar area in the endzone at he XL, overlooking the court totally rocks.

Alex, which end of the XL is this? Behind 109/110, or 121/122? Is this also the same general area where the CT microbrews are being sold? Just trying to do some advance scouting before I bring the family for the CCSU game this weekend.

 

[alexd]

Alex, which end of the XL is this? Behind 109/110, or 121/122? Is this also the same general area where the CT microbrews are being sold? Just trying to do some advance scouting before I bring the family for the CCSU game this weekend.

It is on the 121/122 end. I did not notice any CT microbrew areas. I'm going to have to look harder on Sunday.

Have fun with the family 8893!!

 

[SubbaBub]

It's not as crazy as it sounds. And, while it can't be analyzed here one of the issues with UConn as a TV entity and as a University is its remoteness from industry.
The state is spending billions to attract industry to campus. Would moving to campus to industry and population be more cost effective? Don't know, but there is a whole lot of underdeveloped land in East Hartford, an interstate system, and utility infrastructure. You'd need buildings and grass.

If the plans are to add 10,000 Stem students, why not build a Stem Campus next to one of the largest tech companies in the world? Once that's done move the business school, then the Health Services school and so on, until it's done in 20-25 years.

Universities are constantly building just build new stuff elsewhere. An initial investment would be large, but the rest could be more manageable.

At the end you'd have a larger, more connected university and a critical mass of young people in greater Hartford.

Right now you have a bunch of kids drinking in the woods and are struggling with campus facilities and relevance.

 

[Waquoit]

The teams belong to the school. Always have, always will.
NOT Hartford.

No kidding. But I don't think it's accurate to make the XL Center all about Hartford. Having a better arena is good for the entire state, not just Hartford. But Connecticut is a funny state. People from New Haven and Waterbury should be thankful for having such a facility 30-40 minutes from home. Instead they're resentful.

And UConn did Hartford no favors this year with all those early afternoon games. Only one chance to make a night of it.

 

[auggie22]

I agree with Jeff Jacobs 100%. I am not old fashioned or idealistic about UConn or college sports in general, and have no particular allegiance to Storrs, although I find it pleasant, the teams are in a much bigger marketplace in Hartford.

I have completed my analysis. More than half of your posts are in support of uconn school or sporting events moving completely to Hartford. I think your position on this matter is now clear.

 

[tdrink]

The better question to ask isn't whether UConn arena is better off close to downtown Hartford, but whether the UConn campus is better off closer to downtown Hartford.

A move to near the EH UTC campus would be a tremendous opportunity for growth. Cheap land, lots of space, tech and financial companies nearby, chance to build a complete campus.

Would have to leave the cows behind in Storrs along with the Ag school.

When was the last time you were in Storrs? Moving the campus is a genie that left the bottle long ago. Huge dollars have gone into the campus infrastructure, downtown being built, sewar system slated for four corners, new "gateway to uconn" road being built, stakes in the ground for the technology park.

It would make more sense to have a high speed rail to Storrs.

 

[8893]

It is on the 121/122 end. I did not notice any CT microbrew areas. I'm going to have to look harder on Sunday.

Have fun with the family 8893!!

Thanks, Alex!

That's the end I'm on, so I'll have to check it out.

I ran into a guy the other night who is a season ticket holder and he told me about the CT microbrew booth. Iirc he mentioned City Steam ( Nurse, I think), Hooker and Olde Burnside; I know I was disappointed that those were the selections, but, as he noted, it is at least nice to have CT breweries represented at UConn games. I'd obviously love to see NEBCO, and Sea Hag should be easy to get; but even Two Roads (like at Webster Arena) would be great, especially their Lil' Heaven Session IPA, which is pretty much the perfect beer for the occasion, being lower in ABV.

 

[SubbaBub]

When was the last time you were in Storrs? Moving the campus is a genie that left the bottle long ago. Huge dollars have gone into the campus infrastructure, downtown being built, sewar system slated for four corners, new "gateway to uconn" road being built, stakes in the ground for the technology park.

It would make more sense to have a high speed rail to Storrs.

I am more familiar with the building boom on Storrs than you might think. Buildings are buildings, they age, they require maintenance, they are remodeled and they are replaced.

There is a difference between packing up the place in a cardboard box and expanding to a new location and gradually migrating operations. Large corporations do it all the time and many times it costs less than staying put.

I'm a little disappointed in the lack of vision and outside the box thinking displayed by the products of this alleged top 20 public university.

Are you all equally opposed to a light rail connection to EH/Hartford? That would be a half measure that would serve a part of the same goals but it would lack the benefits of real proximity to the population.

 

[upstater]

I am more familiar with the building boom on Storrs than you might think. Buildings are buildings, they age, they require maintenance, they are remodeled and they are replaced.

There is a difference between packing up the place in a cardboard box and expanding to a new location and gradually migrating operations. Large corporations do it all the time and many times it costs less than staying put.

I'm a little disappointed in the lack of vision and outside the box thinking displayed by the products of this alleged top 20 public university.

Are you all equally opposed to a light rail connection to EH/Hartford? That would be a half measure that would serve a part of the same goals but it would lack the benefits of real proximity to the population.

You can't do it gradually at a university that caters to undergraduates.

I've seen professional schools move, Law, Medical, etc., but as long as students take courses in multiple disciplines, you can't do it.

 

[SubbaBub]

You can't do it gradually at a university that caters to undergraduates.

I've seen professional schools move, Law, Medical, etc., but as long as students take courses in multiple disciplines, you can't do it.

It's not simple but it can be done. You'd have to offer sections (did I remember the term correctly) for certain core courses in both locations. Their would be a point where you reach critical mass and have to complete the transfer en mass.

But, from an infrastructure standpoint you can build academic and plant building and use the space for continuing education. Some schools would need to stay in Storrs. But general classrooms, dorms and plant facilities are the same all over. The specialty/lab stuff would need to be worked out.

Would it be expensive, oh yes. Would it be difficult and a bit messy, probably. But, it could also allow growth that just isn't physically possible in Storrs.

 

[FartMan69]

Afterall, I don’t hear the State of Ohio telling Ohio State basketball that it needs to move from their on campus 19K arena 4 miles down the road to the Nationwide Arena to save downtown Columbus. Ditto for U Minnesota, Michigan St, UCLA, U Washington, Indiana, Pittsburgh, etc.

Maybe because all of those mentioned schools have proffesional tenants occupying those downtown buildings. Hartford needs UConn and UConn needs to keep the state happy if they want to continue to see the support from the state. Hartford's a hassle yes but I can bet that if their was a new building all of you would give up this pipe dream of moving most games to Gampel.

 

[businesslawyer]

This is the same argument that's been made for years, too far to Storrs. Too bad for them. The point isn't to make things less of a nuisance for the far corners of the state, it's to do what's best for the program and team overall, which is not to play games in all corners of the state, and the majority in, arguably, the worst city in New England. UConn's been keeping the craphole city of Hartford afloat for too long because of politics. It's not UConn's job to make Hartford a desirable place to go and live.

I'm sorry but that's laughable. Utterly and completely laughable. UConn was not a good, national level state flagship in the days when the basketball team was isolated in Storrs. UConn is doing better than almost any state anywhere at having the legislature pony up to not just maintain but improve academic and research status.

Some of you are so naive I wonder if I'm spoiling your day when I tell you Santa Claus doesn't exist. You don't get anything for nothing in this world. The University has two choices -- embrace the State of Connecticut, and its money and support from politicians, taxpayers and non-local donors alike, and recognize that games played off campus is part of the price for that, or pull back to what it was in the 50's where UConn only served greater hartford and eastern CT and viewed its peer institutions not as Maryland and Rutgers and Indiana but as New Hampshire and Maine and Rhode Island. There is not a third choice.

SO QUIT WASTING OUR TIME WITH WHAT YOU'D LIKE AND SMELL THE DAMN COFFEE OF REALITY. As for Bridgeport, it's nice to make an appearance there but if the cost of renovating the XL FOR THE BENEFIT OF UCONN is giving up those games, fine.

 

[businesslawyer]

People really think they should play in Hartford as a thank-you for all the state funding do realize that Hartford is just where they voted on the money, right? 98% of the votes to provide the funding were from legislators who are not from Hartford.

Playing games there because of state funding is a canard.

BS. Hartford makes games accessible to taxpayers on the shoreline from New Haven west. Not to mention, playing in hartford means legislators get to walk to the games after work. And if you don't think that matters you've never worked at the state capital.

 

[David 76]

I think we should relocate UCONN out of state, somewhere where land is cheaper and we might grab some incentives from a new state!

The XL bar is great! Went to the BC hockey game and my 2 buddies and we had to buy 3 single seats. We found the bar & stayed together for the whole game. Seats are even better for hockey. Not sure how they would keep 2/3 of the attendees at a basketball game from trying to stay there. (Hockey doesn't sell the nosebleed seats.)

 

[CL82]

When was the last time you were in Storrs? Moving the campus is a genie that left the bottle long ago. Huge dollars have gone into the campus infrastructure, downtown being built, sewar system slated for four corners, new "gateway to uconn" road being built, stakes in the ground for the technology park.

It would make more sense to have a high speed rail to Storrs.

I wasn't aware of the road project. It's good news.


Approval of the federal EIS for North Hillside Road extension, along with state funding to begin development of the UConn Tech Park, have moved the road project much closer to construction. UConn expects to have final environmental permits and DOT design approval by this time next year. Negotiations are underway with the owner of the parcel between the two banks on Rte 44, across from Grand Union, for UConn to acquire a property interest that would enable a new gateway entrance to campus from Route 44.

Link


UConn event traffic south of the interchange results in significant traffic congestion, which
will be addressed through widening Route 195 to three lanes from the Interstate 84 ramps
through the Rhodes Road/Goose Lane intersection.

Link

 

[8893]

Some of you are so naive I wonder if I'm spoiling your day when I tell you Santa Claus doesn't exist.

DUDE! Not cool. Today of all days.

Can we all at least agree that getting NEBCO and/or Two Roads beers at the XL would be a step in the right direction for our beloved University?

 

[Waquoit]

DUDE! Not cool. Today of all days.

Can we all at least agree that getting NEBCO and/or Two Roads beers at the XL would be a step in the right direction for our beloved University?

There's always another beer.

 

[alexd]

I think we should relocate UCONN out of state, somewhere where land is cheaper and we might grab some incentives from a new state!

The XL bar is great! Went to the BC hockey game and my 2 buddies and we had to buy 3 single seats. We found the bar & stayed together for the whole game. Seats are even better for hockey. Not sure how they would keep 2/3 of the attendees at a basketball game from trying to stay there. (Hockey doesn't sell the nosebleed seats.)

Now they need to duplicate the bar on the other side of the coliseum.

 

[8893]

You know, maybe the CT microbrews are the answer to state harmony. Create a CT Beer Trail on the XL concourse, and make an effort to have at least one offering from every state brewery available somewhere. See if some of the brewers are interested in event-specific, limited releases. Seeing the way some of the beer geeks line up just to check another beer off their list, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them would buy tickets for a crappy game just to get access to a limited release. But in any event, it would make one-stop shopping to sample CT breweries, and provide CT breweries with an opportunity to expand their markets by reaching people who otherwise wouldn't see their beers.

 

[CL82]

I think we should relocate UCONN out of state, somewhere where land is cheaper and we might grab some incentives from a new state!

If we move, can it be somewhere that is contiguous to the existing B1G footprint?

I'd love to see the financials of the XL. Is it viable, even with UConn games propping it up? Can the significant capitol investment that it requires to bring it up to date generate enough ROI to make it a reasonable investment?

XL is a pretty expensive place to have a game. With declining attendance, a national trend no doubt influenced by the economy and the quantity and quality of current broadcasts as well as some truly short sighted pricing policies by our prior AD, I think it has become a less attractive venue. Of course UConn should have some games there, but the mix is changing, just as it did in the end days of the New Haven coliseum. Having a presence in Hartford, Bridgeport, and wherever the casino is (Stonington, Montville?) makes sense but I think we are going to see a shift to Storrs for the bulk of the games. I have to believe that not only is it a better game experience, it is significantly more cost effective. In the near term, I would expect that to be a factor.

BL is right that we don't want to bite the hand that feeds us, but the legislature's STEM/tech investment in UConn makes sense for the future of the state, independent of anyone's rooting preference. Defense and insurance aren't the economic engines that they once were. Developing a new tech base is smart.

 

[alexd]

You know, maybe the CT microbrews are the answer to state harmony. Create a CT Beer Trail on the XL concourse, and make an effort to have at least one offering from every state brewery available somewhere. See if some of the brewers are interested in event-specific, limited releases. Seeing the way some of the beer geeks line up just to check another beer off their list, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them would buy tickets for a crappy game just to get access to a limited release. But in any event, it would make one-stop shopping to sample CT breweries, and provide CT breweries with an opportunity to expand their markets by reaching people who otherwise wouldn't see their beers.

It's funny....they've gotten to be so big, I almost don't consider Hooker a "local brew" anymore...

Would love to see some Back East, Relic, Firefly and Broad Brook offerings.

I'm hearing Tidal River Brewing will be setting up shop in Canton very soon. Tried their brews at the Sundown Brewfest in Sept. Very nice.

 

[David 76]

University of Connecticut at Indiana?
Hoosier Huskies?

 

[zls44]

No kidding. But I don't think it's accurate to make the XL Center all about Hartford. Having a better arena is good for the entire state, not just Hartford. But Connecticut is a funny state. People from New Haven and Waterbury should be thankful for having such a facility 30-40 minutes from home. Instead they're resentful. And UConn did Hartford no favors this year with all those early afternoon games. Only one chance to make a night of it.

I agree that Hartford needs a new arena badly. I just don't think UConn should be the sole reason why.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Maybe because all of those mentioned schools have proffesional tenants occupying those downtown buildings. Hartford needs UConn and UConn needs to keep the state happy if they want to continue to see the support from the state. Hartford's a hassle yes but I can bet that if their was a new building all of you would give up this pipe dream of moving most games to Gampel.

Outside of the big 4 cities in the northeast (Boston, NYC, Philly, DC), UConn has the 4th largest arena (19K) in the region. Not surprisingly, the 3 larger arenas (Buffalo, Newark, and Baltimore) all have pro (NHL tenants) and are also 2x to 4x Hartford's population. The other midsize cities in the region have arenas with a capacity between 8K and 14K. Assuming that Hartford is not getting an NHL team in the foreseeable future, Thus, the AHL is what Hartford has. The AHL has and average attendance (2013) of about 6K per game (Hartford averages 5K currently) with a high of 8K (Hershey). Thus, Hartford should look for a viable replacement for the XL in the 8K to 10K range. The only reason for a new arena in Hartford to be larger is to host UConn men's basketball games. Does it make sense for Hartford (and the State) to build an arena that will only hit its max capacity 8 to 10 times a year while, at the same time, taking away a superior environment for college basketball in person and on TV ($$) as college students provide better support game time than a bunch of politicians? Separate the two issues. Build a new XL that will meet Hartford's needs reasonably that can also be used as a second home for UCconn when the students are on break and get a 12K to 14K arena in Storrs that UConn and it's fan deserve.

 

[HooperScooper]

Outside of the big 4 cities in the northeast (Boston, NYC, Philly, DC), UConn has the 4th largest arena (19K) in the region. Not surprisingly, the 3 larger arenas (Buffalo, Newark, and Baltimore) all have pro (NHL tenants) and are also 2x to 4x Hartford's population. The other midsize cities in the region have arenas with a capacity between 8K and 14K. Assuming that Hartford is not getting an NHL team in the foreseeable future, Thus, the AHL is what Hartford has. The AHL has and average attendance (2013) of about 6K per game (Hartford averages 5K currently) with a high of 8K (Hershey). Thus, Hartford should look for a viable replacement for the XL in the 8K to 10K range. The only reason for a new arena in Hartford to be larger is to host UConn men's basketball games. Does it make sense for Hartford (and the State) to build an arena that will only hit its max capacity 8 to 10 times a year while, at the same time, taking away a superior environment for college basketball in person and on TV ($$) as college students provide better support game time than a bunch of politicians? Separate the two issues. Build a new XL that will meet Hartford's needs reasonably that can also be used as a second home for UCconn when the students are on break and get a 12K to 14K arena in Storrs that UConn and it's fan deserve.

Not sure exactly what the demand is in Hartford but there are other uses besides UConn basketball that would draw more than 8,000-10,000 people. Just looking at the XL Center calendar I see lots of concerts, Disney on Ice, WWE, Monster Jam (how many people in CT go to this?), Harlem Globetrotters, obviously the AAC Tournament (which you can't count on every year), Marvel: Universe Live (?), and P&G Gymnastics Championships. Other uses could be UFC, circus, etc. So I think a Hartford arena would draw more than 10,000 people more than 10 times a year. Are there enough dates to make it worth putting more seats in? I can't answer that question.