Jacobs - UConn Teams Need A Better Home In Hartford

[Louis]

Be careful what you wish for Hartford haters. UConn without Hartford is the A-10.

A-10 might be a step up from the little League that they're in now.

 

[businesslawyer]

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.

I don't follow the NHL, but what is Baltimore's NHL franchise called?

 

[FartMan69]

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.

That's rediculous. An 8-10k seat arena? This is a venue that serves the whole Hartford/Springfield market. What would an 8k seat arena do for the region? AHL hockey? That's about it. There are 3 small arenas within reasonable distance and the extra seats in the middle of our market (30th largest in the US) actually would put the venue shoulders above the competition. Also I don't care that you "know the NHL isn't coming back" but the good thing about that is what you think doesn't matter.
Also Buffalo is a much smaller market than Hartford/Spring/NewHaven

 

[Stainmaster]

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

How about we just move the university to NYC to prove once and for all that we are their college team?

 

[Husky25]

XL center seat just north of 16k not 19. The TD Bank Garden doesnt even seat that many.

 

[pnow15]

I'm not a socialist. But there are a lot of people in Hartford that could us a better home. And 150 million could probably allow a thousand families to buy their own homes. Home ownership by responsible people is the foundation of good city.
So, let's keep the old civic center and use the money to build a solid tax base by rewarding working families.

 

[zls44]

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.

The "makes games accessible to taxpayers" argument is so soft and weak its sad. Oh, but legislators get to walk over! Where is my fainting couch!

Do you guys have any idea how far fans travel for games at most state schools? It's a hell of a lot longer than Westport to Storrs- even with the terrifyingly bad traffic.

 

[Stainmaster]

The "makes games accessible to taxpayers" argument is so soft and weak its sad. Oh, but legislators get to walk over! Where is my fainting couch!

Do you guys have any idea how far fans travel for games at most state schools? It's a hell of a lot longer than Westport to Storrs- even with the terrifyingly bad traffic.

Other states don't have that good old "Connecticut sense of entitlement" though.

 

[businesslawyer]

The "makes games accessible to taxpayers" argument is so soft and weak its sad. Oh, but legislators get to walk over! Where is my fainting couch!

Do you guys have any idea how far fans travel for games at most state schools? It's a hell of a lot longer than Westport to Storrs- even with the terrifyingly bad traffic.

I don't disagree with that but what damn difference does it makle how far someone who lives in bumf@@k, Arkansas, or Nebrask, or Alabama, is willing to drive to see the State U play. It only matters what people in CT are willing to do.

And I've worked two sessions in the CT General Assembly. I have seen the legislators booze up in the building and walk to the Civic Center. You can tell me it should be irrelevant all you want. It isn't.\

 

[Bill Sussman]

I don't disagree with that but what damn difference does it makle how far someone who lives in bumf@@k, Arkansas, or Nebrask, or Alabama, is willing to drive to see the State U play. It only matters what people in CT are willing to do.

And I've worked two sessions in the CT General Assembly. I have seen the legislators booze up in the building and walk to the Civic Center. You can tell me it should be irrelevant all you want. It isn't.\

I agree with your sentiment but Arkansas is a bad example - at least for football. For football games they split their home games between Fayetville and Little Rock.

 

[yankeewc]

Wait, don't we play our football games and hockey games off campus? What's the problem with basketball at a new arena in Hartford. I think the Uconn students somehow make the trip to East Hartford but find it too difficult or expensive to go to Hartford. Talk about XL, Gampel is at least 10 yrs to old.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Wait, don't we play our football games and hockey games off campus? What's the problem with basketball at a new arena in Hartford. I think the Uconn students somehow make the trip to East Hartford but find it too difficult or expensive to go to Hartford. Talk about XL, Gampel is at least 10 yrs to old.

They're building a new hockey arena on campus. Football attendance has been a disaster, so I'm not sure why we would want basketball to emulate that model.

 

[zls44]

I don't disagree with that but what damn difference does it makle how far someone who lives in bumf@@k, Arkansas, or Nebrask, or Alabama, is willing to drive to see the State U play. It only matters what people in CT are willing to do. And I've worked two sessions in the CT General Assembly. I have seen the legislators booze up in the building and walk to the Civic Center. You can tell me it should be irrelevant all you want. It isn't.\

We don't know that they aren't willing to drive to storrs for a first class on campus arena that seats 15,000.

 

[David 76]

Not without easier access. Went to the Texas game and it took almost 7 hours to get there, see the game and get home. And I live in Guilford, not Greenwich. Add 50% more traffic?

 

[John]

They're building a new hockey arena on campus. Football attendance has been a disaster, so I'm not sure why we would want basketball to emulate that model.

the disaster really has been only the past handful of years, it started out very strong. Speaking of that, they really should have domed The Rent, it would have made all this XL stuff moot.

 

[joober jones]

I'd like it if a few more of the Hartford games were done in Bridgeport instead... say maybe three per year.

 

[MASSconn]

What a joke of an article. Says a lot about present day CT sports! You guys really have nothing.

College Basketball should be played on a College Campus plain and simple. The only people the XL center benefit are those from the Hartford suburbs. If we are going to cater to the big donors, we should likely play more games in Bridgeport over the Winter Break.

Look how well Rentschler has worked out! It will forever limit our recruiting, because blue chips prefer that signature stadium in the middle of campus. As a recent alumni, this is incredibly frustrating to read, shut up Jacobs and support the home grown campus sports.

 

[UC990411]

Based strictly on revenue, playing in front of more and higher priced seats lends to playing more games in Hartford. The political benefit of supporting the City also factors in here.

But I see a different model going forward. The NHL games were an event, the AHL games decidedly, no. It helps the bars because 2000 people downtown is still 2000 people downtown, so the State will want them.

When UConn sold 12k seats at the old CC regardless of the opponent. That was better than selling 8k at Gampel and helped build the statewide following.

Today, UConn has different goals and the $ benefit to playing in Hartford just isn't what it used to be. What UConn needs now is a rabid fanbase, that comes from demand for tickets and high market visibility and winning. The visibility you get from TV these days. What they need is excitement.

Also, you now have FB to carry the brand in the Hartford area plus a little bit of Hockey. Schedule big games over winter break in Hartford if you can. That will serve both masters. Playing Cincinnati or Temple in Hartford does nothing for UConn.

Really? Click this link. http://espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400497020

The atmosphere at that game rivaled anything that has gone on in gampel the last 5 years.

 

[Bill Sussman]

Really? Click this link. http://espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400497020

The atmosphere at that game rivaled anything that has gone on in gampel the last 5 years.

Florida game at Gampel last year?

 

[CL82]

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.

Do these events draw more than 10k? I can't see anyone wanting to watch these from the upper seats.

 

[CallMeBruce]

The Bridgeport games are a travesty. You can't have a college sporting event without a student section.

 

[CL82]

I'd hope that someone has done market research on this to determine the optimal price point. The debacle of the 90s pricing and treatment of longstanding fans should never happen again. I also hope that some thought has gone into maximizing the broadcast value of the games. Having students courtside helps that, in my opinion, although ZLS may know if it really matters.

 

[pnow15]

I'd hope that someone has done market research on this to determine the optimal price point. The debacle of the 90s pricing and treatment of longstanding fans should never happen again. I also hope that some thought has gone into maximizing the broadcast value of the games. Having students courtside helps that, in my opinion, although ZLS may know if it really matters.

The reason attendance has declined is pricing policy. I had a friend who had to give up his season tickets when he was priced out.
It broke his heart..

 

[UC990411]

Florida game at Gampel last year?

Was at both and yes.

 

[pnow15]

Has any consideration been given of adding ten thousand seats to Rent and a dome. Play football, hockey and BB in there.