Jeff Jacobs: What's Next For The XL Center?

[jostar1]

A UConn athletic department source told Mike DiMauro of The Day of New London that UConn is under intense political pressure to play in Hartford to help out businesses.

"Honestly," the source said, "if the XL Center disappeared tomorrow and we had to play all our games on campus, everyone here would celebrate."

"Nonsense," UConn athletic director Warde Manuel said. "We never talked internally or externally about not playing in Hartford. We love the renovations they are doing at the XL Center and hope the renovations continue."

UConn would be foolish to look away from potential big days at a new XL Center. UConn also wants to see big things happen. Yet make no mistake, there are some fans who simply would rather that the money go into a total makeover of Gampel Pavilion than play in Hartford, and that further fractures the situation.

This much I do know. If nothing is done, UConn athletics will suffer. The power five conferences are rattling their swords for more autonomy. Using issues like more financial support for athletes and transfer rules to create gaps between them and the rest of the nation's schools, those big boys are positioning themselves for the biggest television paydays.

"They sound like the South during the Civil War," UCF football coach George O'Leary told the Orlando Sentinel recently. "If they don't get their way, they're going to secede and start their own country. ... I think college football is in real trouble."

"I think it's going to create a disparity and another gap between institutions," UConn football coach Bob Diaco said.

If I tried to convince you that an addition to Rentschler Field ahead of any decision to expand by the Big Ten is not an insane idea, hundreds of you would try to get me committed to the NCAA rubber room. When you're drawing 25,000 fans, the reasoning for a 50,000 seat stadium is insane, right? Still, let this stand as fair warning that if the Big Ten, with a cache that would carry UConn into the next century, does come calling, we better be ready for a bigger stadium. Non-buyer beware.

The larger point that UConn sports is a crown jewel is non-negotiable, and those jewels are at risk by something as big as the NCAA and something as local as state and city politics. You have my question. Think about your answer.


http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-jacobs-column-0615-20140614,0,71139.column

 

[Dooley]

There is a part of me that would like to think that there are some politicians who are hesitant about financing a Rockcats stadium or new downtown arena because they want to reserve some cash for the inevitable needed Rent upgrade when we go P5. But there is another completely different part of me that is scared to death that our beloved Huskies will forever be damned into eternal AAC hell because of our state's elected officials, who can't seem to get anything right when it comes to sports in our state. I hope to God that the point is hammered home to some of those buffoons: no Rent expansion upgrade = no B1G or ACC.

 

[TRest]

Only Jacobs would champion the horrible idea of spending 60 million to move a minor league team 11 miles by saying the failure to do so will doom UConn athletics. It's a stupid idea, it will never pay off the bonds as projected, and the team owner will happily leave at the end of the lease. Watching him try to defend this move on TV last week was infuriating, he can't even put together 5 words in a row when speaking. His basic premise is that since he is in favor of the idea, he can be objective about it, but the critics who don't want it must be wrong, because haters, etc. Let Jacobs and Scott Gray pick up the tab whenever some owner wants a new facility built.

And if the B1G made Rent expansion a pre-condition to membership, the state would get it done. A future conference change would not be prevented by the status of the XL or a replacement. We're in the AAC for reasons that have nothing to do with facilities.

 

[FDNY99]

Mike DiMauro doesn't write to many things that I can say I like...but this is DEFINITELY one of them...
http://www.theday.com/article/20140609/SPORT01/306099950

If I'm Susan Herbst I am having a meeting with my campus planner...and asking her to take a look at where "hypothetically" 65,000 seat stadium can go on campus. Pitch the economic benefits to the entire area of widening Rt 195 to Storrs...and be done with Hartford and the CDRA ALL TOGETHER!!!

 

[Dooley]

Only Jacobs would champion the horrible idea of spending 60 million to move a minor league team 11 miles by saying the failure to do so will doom UConn athletics. It's a stupid idea, it will never pay off the bonds as projected, and the team owner will happily leave at the end of the lease. Watching him try to defend this move on TV last week was infuriating, he can't even put together 5 words in a row when speaking. His basic premise is that since he is in favor of the idea, he can be objective about it, but the critics who don't want it must be wrong, because haters, etc. Let Jacobs and Scott Gray pick up the tab whenever some owner wants a new facility built.

And if the B1G made Rent expansion a pre-condition to membership, the state would get it done. A future conference change would not be prevented by the status of the XL or a replacement. We're in the AAC for reasons that have nothing to do with facilities.

I couldn't care less about where the Rockcats play their games, Hartford or New Britain. But it's hard not to see this as yet another example of how our local politicians can't get out of their own way when it comes to sports venues. The Whalers left Hartford because they wouldn't build a new arena. Now, there are politicians openly campaigning for the return of the NHL but do we have a new arena? Of course not. The Patriots signed a legally binding contract with Hartford to move the NF friggin' L here as long as ground was broken on a new stadium within ONE YEAR (a long time to find an open parcel of land and stick a shovel in the dirt, if you ask me). We all know how that turned out. Now, it looks more and more likely that Hartford will lose out on a MINOR LEAGUE team because, yet again, our elected officials can't get out of their own way.

What Jeff Jacobs is saying is absolutely, positively 100% a valid concern: if UCONN's escape from AAC purgatory is dependent on our state passing funding for sports venue improvements/expansion, then I am VERY worried. In baseball, you get three strikes before you're out. Botching this "done deal" would be strike three. I think it's in everyone's best interest at UCONN to at least monitor these Rockcats negotiations and have a Plan B in place in case we're offered a P5 spot contingent on expanding our football stadium.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

$60M for a minor league baseball stadium seems absurd, especially given that the states "jewels" are playing in such a dilapidated arena.

As Jacobs writes, it's not a given the money for baseball would take away from xl renovations or a new arena but I can't see how it would help.

A new arena is badly needed though if money for athletics is being divided up, if rather see the lions share go to football , be it staff salaries or enhancements to the rent

 

[CL82]

I always have a healthy skepticism that politician will get anything "right." That said, the state of Connecticut has, after decades of neglect, invested heavily in the university. It would be a 180 degree turn were they to refuse upgrade the rent as a precondition to joining the B1G. I can't see that happening.

I haven't read either of the articles, yet, but how does Hartford bonding a new minor league park impact what the state legislature does?

 

[Waquoit]

If I'm Susan Herbst I am having a meeting with my campus planner...and asking her to take a look at where "hypothetically" 65,000 seat stadium can go on campus.

Not gonna happen. For one reason, Herbst isn't an idiot.

 

[CL82]

Not gonna happen. For one reason, Herbst isn't an idiot.

Why would it make her an idiot to understand the possible locations for a stadium?

 

[TRest]

The real question Jacobs should be asking is how can UConn make the case that spending on a new civic center or expanded Rent is crucial in saving us from conference purgatory, after the state was told that not going 1A in football would cause UConn to get left behind in the coming split by major college football programs from those in 1AA?

 

[FDNY99]

Not gonna happen. For one reason, Herbst isn't an idiot.

Being an idiot would have Herbst bowing to the dopey Hartford politicians and moving every home athletic event she could to that city so their downtown isn't a barren wasteland. Not gonna happen either! She is already on record saying UCONN isn't in the business of making sure they take care of the City of Hartford...her only responsibility is UCONN!!

 

[DarthGrumpy]

There is a part of me that would like to think that there are some politicians who are hesitant about financing a Rockcats stadium or new downtown arena because they want to reserve some cash for the inevitable needed Rent upgrade when we go P5. But there is another completely different part of me that is scared to death that our beloved Huskies will forever be damned into eternal AAC hell because of our state's elected officials, who can't seem to get anything right when it comes to sports in our state. I hope to God that the point is hammered home to some of those buffoons: no Rent expansion upgrade = no B1G or ACC.

Could be worse, just ask UMass Amherst how helpful the politicians on Beacon Hill have been.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I could care less about the merits of the stadium but the cost seems about right.

Down where I live they built a 5,000 seat stadium for AA ball and that cost $40M about five years ago. It's waterfront property but it's also in the panhandle of Florida and it was built on a contaminated industrial site that had sat undeveloped for almost 20 years.

And yes the city and county taxpayers funded quite a bit of the cost.

http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20120718&content_id=35136404&sid=t4124&vkey=team1

 

[itgoeslike]

I could care less about the merits of the stadium but the cost seems about right.

Down where I live they built a 5,000 seat stadium for AA ball and that cost $40M about five years ago. It's waterfront property but it's also in the panhandle of Florida and it was built on a contaminated industrial site that had sat undeveloped for almost 20 years.

And yes the city and county taxpayers funded quite a bit of the cost.

http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20120718&content_id=35136404&sid=t4124&vkey=team1

What a great motivation tool in having them play on a contaminated industrial site. They either play well enough to move up to the big leagues or their hair starts falling out. A win-win for the city and the ball club.

 

[Chin Diesel]

What a great motivation tool having them play on a contaminated industrial site. You either figure out a way to move up to the big leagues or your hair starts falling out. A win-win for the city and the ball club.

Humor fully understood, but I mentioned the contaminations because quite a bit of the cost had to do with ground soil excavation, testing and backfilling in the area.

 

[itgoeslike]

Humor fully understood, but I mentioned the contaminations because quite a bit of the cost had to do with ground soil excavation, testing and backfilling in the area.

Thanks for not starting your response with "Attempt at". . .Is there any concern about a hurricane and/or surge damaging the stadium or is it fairly protected behind barrier islands?

 

[Chin Diesel]

Thanks for not starting your response with "Attempt at". . .Is there any concern about a hurricane and/or surge damaging the stadium or is it fairly protected behind barrier islands?

It has significant mitigations built in but no one knows for sure. One of the advantages of removing contaminated soil is being able to raise the entire lot to whatever height you want. The field is about 12-15 feet about sea level and the stadium is along an open bay leading to the Gulf of Mexico. Everything is built to withstand 120 mph winds and it didn't suffer any flooding damage last month when 25 inches of rain fell in one day.

And as an oh by the way, it's the best fan experience I've been to in any ballpark for any sport at any level.

 

[itgoeslike]

It has significant mitigations built in but no one knows for sure. One of the advantages of removing contaminated soil is being able to raise the entire lot to whatever height you want. The field is about 12-15 feet about sea level and the stadium is along an open bay leading to the Gulf of Mexico. Everything is built to withstand 120 mph winds and it didn't suffer any flooding damage last month when 25 inches of rain fell in one day.

And as an oh by the way, it's the best fan experience I've been to in any ballpark for any sport at any level.

It looks like a nice venue to take in a game especially if you've got a nice breeze coming in across the bay.

 

[Hoophound]

It has significant mitigations built in but no one knows for sure. One of the advantages of removing contaminated soil is being able to raise the entire lot to whatever height you want. The field is about 12-15 feet about sea level and the stadium is along an open bay leading to the Gulf of Mexico. Everything is built to withstand 120 mph winds and it didn't suffer any flooding damage last month when 25 inches of rain fell in one day. And as an oh by the way, it's the best fan experience I've been to in any ballpark for any sport at any level.

When you said the fan experience was great I knew it was Chin code for beer. I checked out a review of the ballpark and found this, "At least one beverage vendor boasts a large array of craft-brewed beers, in 20 ounce "bomber" size bottles."

Looks like a great venue with lots of kids activities etc. I like beer with kids activities too.

 

[Kolumbo]

UCONN has too many things not in order. On campus. Off campus. East Hartford. Hartford. Bridgeport. The hoops program is top notch and deserves the best facilities. If Gampel needs upgrades, upgrade. XL Center should be leveled and rebuilt. If the state or city can't afford a new arena in Hartford, so be it, but then UCONN should not play there. Focus on one true state of the art home rather than trying to patch together two. I understand CT is different but UCONN is being spread too thin. UCONN is in Storrs, not in Hartford, not in Bridgeport. That's just the way it is. Far larger, wealthier programs keep things simple.

 

[Kolumbo]

What a great motivation tool in having them play on a contaminated industrial site. They either play well enough to move up to the big leagues or their hair starts falling out. A win-win for the city and the ball club.

Isn't that why Pratt donated the land for the football stadium? Donate it rather than clean it up. Perhaps that was just a rumor.

 

[Hoophound]

There was a time when big games were almost exclusively played in Hartford. It was exciting and it gave the game a "bright lights, big city" vibe. A state of the art arena with all the best features, good food and drink and comfort features can bring that back. I have nothing against playing in Hartford sometimes, but Geno is right, make it something special that does the product on the floor justice. On top of that, make it a great venue so the fans get a complete experience that is worth their hard earned money. People would be a lot more positive about playing in Hartford if the XL was something special.

 

[Kolumbo]

There was a time when big games were almost exclusively played in Hartford. It was exciting and it gave the game a "bright lights, big city" vibe. A state of the art arena with all the best features, good food and drink and comfort features can bring that back. I have nothing against playing in Hartford sometimes, but Geno is right, make it something special that does the product on the floor justice. On top of that, make it a great venue so the fans get a complete experience that is worth their hard earned money. People would be a lot more positive about playing in Hartford if the XL was something special.

I agree, playing in Hartford does have a special feel. But I don't see a new state of the art arena being built without another big name tenant. Hartford is a small city and the casinos have become a bigger draw/destination.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I take my family to see the Rockland Boulder (unaffiliated CanAm league) jut over the border in Rockland County, NY. It’s a great experience and the stadium is really nice. Holds about 4,500 fans and cost $38 million before interest.

It was not without controversy, though. Then again, it’s Rockland County. Makes Bergen County politics and the +$200K in tax payer money that the county administrator and Freeholders have spent suing each other look like the minor league.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-12-22/ramapo-fbi-probe-shows-risks-of-local-stadium-boom-muni-credit

In 2010, Rockland county residents voted down building the stadium on county land with taxpayer’s money. So, the county administrator, Chris St. Lawrence, and his staff created a ‘Corporate Development’ agency that the county then sold the park (I think it was for $1) to the development agency who then built the stadium using bonds floated by the agency; but, backed and paid for by the county’s taxpayers. With interest, the county is now on the hook for $60 million while the FBI has a new topic to investigate. Unfortunately for the county, the only way Mr. St. Lawrence is leaving is due to the FBI because he controls a certain religion based voting block that dominates county politics and therefore cannot be voted out.

Personally, I hope the team is successful as it’s a great family event and there are enough people in Rockland and Bergen counties to support a minor league team. I would have preferred to see it built somewhere along Route 59 in one of the vacant retail lost instead of along the PIP as it would provide easier access (and hopefully actual private development money and not county cronies). I do know that MLB’s exclusion territory rules may have something to do with that, though.

I hope Hartford has more success and less corruption than this.