New article: XL Center vs Gampel

[Waquoit]

Comparing the ECU home game is the epitome of cherry-picking. The players prefer Gampel. The students prefer Gampel. Atmosphere-wise, most people prefer Gampel. There are quotes upon quotes upon quotes that state this.

Two mid-week games in consecutive weeks is cherry-picking? Fail. Are you trying to say that one of the no-name teams was so much more of a power than the other it made a big difference? But what team was the power? The one that played in Gampel and had a 7 point lead at halftime? Or the team that played in the XL got their butts kicked from the opening tap, losing by 25?

 

[Stainmaster]

Realistic? A new 13,500 seat arena in Storrs is realistic? okay

Totally realistic! Just nuke every acre of property within Storrs's boundaries and build on top of the rubble. </sarcasm>

 

[Fishy]

This continues to be the dumbest argument in the entirety of the UConn universe.

The buildings are inanimate. They just sit there. When empty, they are both just as quiet as Babbidge.

You can have a great atmosphere at XL. You can have a great atmosphere at Gampel. You can have a crappy atmosphere at both.

The people that go to one are the exactly same people that go to the other - the biggest and most important variable tends to be the opponent.

With a good opponent, both places are fine.

 

[Montaleno]

This continues to be the dumbest argument in the entirety of the UConn universe.

The buildings are inanimate. They just sit there. When empty, they are both just as quiet as Babbidge.

You can have a great atmosphere at XL. You can have a great atmosphere at Gampel. You can have a crappy atmosphere at both.

The people that go to one are the exactly same people that go to the other - the biggest and most important variable tends to be the opponent.

With a good opponent, both places are fine.

You forgot one other important variable: The students!! More students go to Gampel games, a lot more. Which makes for the better atmosphere.

 

[August_West]

This continues to be the dumbest argument in the entirety of the UConn universe. The buildings are inanimate. They just sit there. When empty, they are both just as quiet as Babbidge. You can have a great atmosphere at XL. You can have a great atmosphere at Gampel. You can have a crappy atmosphere at both. The people that go to one are the exactly same people that go to the other - the biggest and most important variable tends to be the opponent. With a good opponent, both places are fine.

Except msg. MSG is not an inanimate building. It is bathed in the magic of Wicca. Except for the Knicks, wiccans hate the Knicks.

But that room DOES have a vibe, not just for sports but for music too. Way too many athletes and performers have spoken about it to discount.


I do agree with your gampel/XL point though.

 

[CTBasketball]

I wrote this last summer.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Two points.

First, one of the reasons Gampel has a better 'reputation' than the XL is where the student section is. XL has a few floor seats and the pep band with everyone else up on the 3rd deck. Gampel has the entire section behind the visitor's hoop filled with students. It's an easy fix; but the loss of money will keep the XL from making any changes.

Second, expanding Gampel will be difficult and costly. There are classrooms under the floors and stands and the pool is under part of the south stands. Not an engineer; but, I would not be surprised if building a new arena would be cheaper. Very unlikely that UConn can afford 2 arenas, thus a dual purpose area, while not idea, is likely more feasible.

 

[Waquoit]

Hartford's problems are Hartford's problem.

Playing games in Hartford isn't about doing a solid for Hartford, it's about doing what's best for the program.

 

[Palatine]

We've only managed 4 NC playing the way we currently do.

 

[CL82]

Playing games in Hartford isn't about doing a solid for Hartford, it's about doing what's best for the program.

It's a little of both and should be. The tricky part is in weighting those two interest when the don't align.

I'd love to see gross and net figures at both Gampel and the XL. I suspect that the XL needs to be about 3/4 full for games there to be profitable.