Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell. | Page 44 | The Boneyard

Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

UConn has problems selling tickets because the football product stinks and most of the opponents are small time. The basketball team recently struggled to sell out games because of various factors, but the schedule is certainly one of them. People in CT are used to big time sports, Boston, New York, Giants, Pats, Sox, Yanks, Celts. All the biggest brands in sports at the doorstep. You will find CT fans there for Michigan or Texas, but not for UCF and ECU.

However, if you get the sports programs back in a big conference the mindset changes. We start playing Michigan and Ohio State and competing on the football field and the casual fan will get really excited. He will then want to go to the spring game or the tuneup against Stoneybrook because he wants to see what "his" team is looking like for the season as he looks forward to the big games. Right now, he just isn't excited.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Agreed. I looked forward to weekend Soccer games during the day more than any other sporting event for most of my time at UConn. Certainly more than 1-AA football. We went to all the basketball games at the Field House and HCC, and Gampel opened the year after I graduated. But Soccer generated the most interest as an on campus event. Dan Donigan was the man.
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Donigan was awesome. I met him as a younger lad at a soccer camp up in Holyoke, MA many years ago. Couldn't have been nicer to me. I'll always remember talking to him about the game...even as a kid, he knew how to communicate things to me that would resonate. It's a shame he's coaching at Snooki.
 
Huskygrad88 said:
This is spot on, with one addition. It's spot on because in a real sports market there is more demand than supply. That means rabid fans itching to go to a game. Hate to say it, but if I tell people who know I have season tickets that I will be away and have to miss a game, they rarely ask to use my tickets.
The addition...CT has awful, excuse making sports fans. Men's hoops doesn't sell out b/c they were formerly on APR sanction. The women's team doesn't sell out b/c they win too much, etc. etc. etc. Oh wait, the Michigan game is an "event"...oh I can go to that to tell people I was there.
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Whatever people say, there are three root reasons they don't got to games and they are not particular to UConn Athletics.

1. High Def TV
2. Time Commitment
3. Reduced disposable income

And they can be used all at the same time (i.e. Why should I drive an hour to Hartford, East Hartford, or Storrs, when I can save time and money and watch the game right here.)!!! How to get fans back in the stands is the number one issue facing the NFL. You can point out the differences between the Pros and college and preach obligations for program support all you want, but the vast majority of fans just want to be entertained.
It's not laziness per se, rather than selfishness.

#3 is returning for some a fraction of the population, but if you go without for a period of time, it tends to lose it's priority.

The Recession hit college athletics' main target audience particularly hard. That target? Recently graduated alumni. When I was 22-27, I remember feeling that I could afford to do anything I wanted and I more or less did. I shared rent, split utilities and cable, had a Company provided computer, and paid Internet (albeit Dial up), I was a 1/4 Red Sox Season ticket holder as well as UConn, and could drive to Mohegan on a whim and blow a few hundy with no one to answer to if I came home at dawn. Here's the difference, I had a job, little debt, and I could cover all my expenses.

When people stop buying tickets and making these games must-attend events (for whatever reason), they established a new normal. Granted, the product on the field during the last three years, but Football needs some time to gain traction.

Bottom line: UConn must find a way to make UConn football and basketball a priority again. It's an uphill battle given they lost almost two generations of Young Alumni to the Recession and the 3 year dumpster fire (2007-2014).
 
HuskyHawk said:
Agreed. I looked forward to weekend Soccer games during the day more than any other sporting event for most of my time at UConn. Certainly more than 1-AA football. We went to all the basketball games at the Field House and HCC, and Gampel opened the year after I graduated. But Soccer generated the most interest as an on campus event. Dan Donigan was the man.
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I remember Dan. Soccer was a big deal back then and a great way to spend a fall afternoon. I knew a few of the players including Santiago (I kept calling him Diego) and his buddy from Hungary (or Yugoslavia), who I believe was Kanto Lulaj. On the football side of things, I have fond memories tailgating at the Yale Bowl.
 
Husky25 said:
Whatever people say, there are three root reasons they don't got to games and they are not particular to UConn Athletics.

1. High Def TV
2. Time Commitment
3. Reduced disposable income

And they can be used all at the same time (i.e. Why should I drive an hour to Hartford, East Hartford, or Storrs, when I can save time and money and watch the game right here.)!!! How to get fans back in the stands is the number one issue facing the NFL. You can point out the differences between the Pros and college and preach obligations for program support all you want, but the vast majority of fans just want to be entertained.
It's not laziness per se, rather than selfishness.

#3 is returning for some a fraction of the population, but if you go without for a period of time, it tends to lose it's priority.

The Recession hit college athletics' main target audience particularly hard. That target? Recently graduated alumni. When I was 22-27, I remember feeling that I could afford to do anything I wanted and I more or less did. I shared rent, split utilities and cable, had a Company provided computer, and paid Internet (albeit Dial up), I was a 1/4 Red Sox Season ticket holder as well as UConn, and could drive to Mohegan on a whim and blow a few hundy with no one to answer to if I came home at dawn. Here's the difference, I had a job, little debt, and I could cover all my expenses.

When people stop buying tickets and making these games must-attend events (for whatever reason), they established a new normal. Granted, the product on the field during the last three years, but Football needs some time to gain traction.

Bottom line: UConn must find a way to make UConn football and basketball a priority again. It's an uphill battle given they lost almost two generations of Young Alumni to the Recession and the 3 year dumpster fire (2007-2014).
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Yes, and #2 is broader than it seems. It includes convenience. Driving, parking, traffic, waiting in lines (to get in, to get food, to pee).

While we all know why the Rent is in E Hartford, the reality is, home football games, at this level, on Saturdays at 1:00 would be huge in Storrs. Everyone would be there. The reality is that there is no competition in Storrs. That's why weekend Soccer was huge. But student tickets need to be cheap. Like going to a movie.
 
itgoeslike said:
I remember Dan. Soccer was a big deal back then and a great way to spend a fall afternoon. I knew a few of the players including Santiago (I kept calling him Diego) and his buddy from Hungary (or Yugoslavia), who I believe was Kanto Lulaj. On the football side of things, I have fond memories tailgating at the Yale Bowl.
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Matt Addington antagonizing the goalies. Kolumbo is a snowflake. Coach Morrone. The North Goal Gang. Good times.
 
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Dooley said:
I have no beef with soccer. I enjoy going to games when I can and I too remember being a kid going to games and LOVING it. The beef is with the continued double-booking of events that are of interest to students. The UCONN student Goal Patrol is a great part of soccer games. Meanwhile, students are also needed through 4 quarters at football games to liven the atmosphere. Granted, the football game was originally supposed to be on Thurs night but I find it hard to believe that they couldn't have just swapped game nights. Soccer on Thursday, football on Friday.
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Agree on that point. Double booking sporting events on the same day is foolish and amateur. Even the smaller sports are hurt because many of our UConn athletes know each other and will attend each other’s games (I think athletes get in free). Last year was a perfect example when UConn had a home Friday night football game against Louisville the same time that the men’s basketball team was playing Maryland in Brooklyn. I have football season tickets and would have enjoyed seeing Louisville; but, I live in North Jersey and I can get to Barclay’s in an hour from my house (drive to Hoboken, Path & Subway to Barclay’s) versus taking around 3 hours to slug my way across I-84 on a Friday night. It was an easy choice and that does not take into account the quality of the event itself.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Yes, and #2 is broader than it seems. It includes convenience. Driving, parking, traffic, waiting in lines (to get in, to get food, to pee).

While we all know why the Rent is in E Hartford, the reality is, home football games, at this level, on Saturdays at 1:00 would be huge in Storrs. Everyone would be there. The reality is that there is no competition in Storrs. That's why weekend Soccer was huge. But student tickets need to be cheap. Like going to a movie.
Expand ...

Reason #2 includes kids soccer, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, boy/girl scouts, PTO, Town Councils, etc., etc., and so on and so forth...
 
Mr. Conehead said:
I went to the last UConn football game at the Yale Bowl. I knew it would be fun when the frats pulled into the parking area with U-Hausl filled with kegs. What a joyous mess. And to this day, I only have a vague recollection how I got from New Haven to Hartford after the game (God bless the poor person who volunteered to be a DD and drive us) to hit the bars and no recollection how I went from Coach’s to the floor or my dorm room where I woke up the next morning.
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I actually went into the Yale Bowl that year for the first, last, and only time at Yale Bowl. Hmm I don't recall anyone complaining back then. ;)
 
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Husky25 said:
Whatever people say, there are three root reasons they don't got to games and they are not particular to UConn Athletics.

1. High Def TV
2. Time Commitment
3. Reduced disposable income
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4. Increased game coverage.

It's not only quality of televised games, it's the quantity. The coverage provisions of the AAC ESPN contract will definitely hurt attendance for the more casual fan.
 
CL82 said:
4. Increased game coverage.

It's not only quality of televised games, it's the quantity. The coverage provisions of the AAC ESPN contract will definitely hurt attendance for the more casual fan.
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Sure, I'll buy that for a dollar. It's sort of rolled into 1 & 2, but I have no probably spiking it out. For sure one of my non-UConn fan friends who used to have season tickets with us would not bat an eye at missing tailgating and the game in order to watch Auburn vs. Southwest Lousiana Tech...State...of Bossier City
 
Winning will sell tickets....Charlie was right...it is about winning.

TV is the easy way and inexpensive way to watch a game. But folks will pay more for the fan experience of being in the stands celebrating and cheering a team that is winning.
 
It's definitely not bad news. Still it's not like we know that her successor will be CT yes vote.
 
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Eh. Groveling doesn't do it for me and I doubt it sways them. Just be cordial to the new leader. If we can schedule home and homes, let's do it. Miami gets a lot of students from the northeast and they should be fine with playing here. At most, move our home game to NYC.
 
Miami isn't coming up here to play at the Rent when 1) we can't sell out our stadium and 2) they already come up here to play Syracuse and BC (and they can't sell out their stadiums either). There is absolutely no incentive for Miami to play football in Connecticut until the day ever arrived that we became conference mates. Scheduling a one-off road game isn't groveling, it's reality (and it would really help us build a relationship with Miami AND help with recruiting/exposure).

Basketball, on the other hand, is something that they would more than likely be interested in. Increased exposure to the prized hoops recruits of the northeast would benefit them.
 
Dooley said:
Miami isn't coming up here to play at the Rent when 1) we can't sell out our stadium and 2) they already come up here to play Syracuse and BC (and they can't sell out their stadiums either). There is absolutely no incentive for Miami to play football in Connecticut until the day ever arrived that we became conference mates. Scheduling a one-off road game isn't groveling, it's reality (and it would really help us build a relationship with Miami AND help with recruiting/exposure).

Basketball, on the other hand, is something that they would more than likely be interested in. Increased exposure to the prized hoops recruits of the northeast would benefit them.
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And yet UConn has no reason to play Miami in basketball. They can't sell out their arena and aren't very good. We don't need access to Miami area recruits. I think the premise of these arrangements is that a trade can be made.
 
HuskyHawk said:
And yet UConn has no reason to play Miami in basketball. They can't sell out their arena and aren't very good. We don't need access to Miami area recruits. I think the premise of these arrangements is that a trade can be made.
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Miami is in a P5 conference. We are not. The reality is that UCONN needs Miami far more than Miami needs UCONN. We're trying to sway some anti-UCONN votes in the ACC. Call it groveling or bowing or whatever - if it helps UCONN get out of the AAC, I'll fly to friggin' Miami and wax Shalala's bikini line. Now is not the time for UCONN to play the "we're too good for _____" nonsense.
 
We need them more than they need us so that has to be factored in but yeah.
 
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Just to be clear, I'm not saying that UCONN basketball needs Miami basketball. We obviously don't. But our football program sure could use Miami on the schedule, even if it's one road game. If we have to schedule a H&H hoops series to get 1 road football game, then do it. This is more about mending fences with a school that clearly hates us. We need to build relationships with as many P5 schools as possible and it would be great if we could do something with Miami, now that Shalala is gone.
 
Dooley said:
Just to be clear, I'm not saying that UCONN basketball needs Miami basketball. We obviously don't. But our football program sure could use Miami on the schedule, even if it's one road game. If we have to schedule a H&H hoops series to get 1 road football game, then do it. This is more about mending fences with a school that clearly hates us. We need to build relationships with as many P5 schools as possible and it would be great if we could do something with Miami, now that Shalala is gone.
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But why Miami? I know she's gone, but the football program is in tatters as well. And is there any school in the country that likes Miami? We need allies, I just don't know if that is the best one, even if you can't wait to break out that bikini wax. ;)
 
Dooley said:
Just to be clear, I'm not saying that UCONN basketball needs Miami basketball. We obviously don't. But our football program sure could use Miami on the schedule, even if it's one road game. If we have to schedule a H&H hoops series to get 1 road football game, then do it. This is more about mending fences with a school that clearly hates us. We need to build relationships with as many P5 schools as possible and it would be great if we could do something with Miami, now that Shalala is gone.
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There's nothing easier than getting a road football game in exchange for nothing. That's worth millions of dollars to the host school. We could get a road football game with no return from every single member of the P5.

Offering such concessions isn't likely to get us into the P5.

We do need to build relationships but they need to be based on mutual respect, not desperate supplication and submission.
 
pj said:
There's nothing easier than getting a road football game in exchange for nothing. That's worth millions of dollars to the host school. We could get a road football game with no return from every single member of the P5.

Offering such concessions isn't likely to get us into the P5.

We do need to build relationships but they need to be based on mutual respect, not desperate supplication and submission.
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Which is why I suggested that rather than playing a road game against any P5 team, we offer up home-home basketball, women too, to get a home-home engagement. There are schools that could benefit from that arrangement, a school like UGA or Ole Miss, trying to be the third team from the SEC with UK and Florida, could point to UConn on the future schedule to recruits.
 
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