new seat selection email?

[FfldCntyFan]

Benedict is everything that's wrong with college sports.

Please elaborate.

 

[CTBasketball]

Please elaborate.

Dan Hurley would’ve been here regardless of Benedict or not. In fact, if Benedict got his wishes we would’ve probably hired Jeff Capel.

I credit him taking a big swing on Jim Mora. Other than that he’s handled conference realignment, treating the fans, and promotions like a 3 year old.

 

[Blue Blood]

Dan Hurley would’ve been here regardless of Benedict or not. In fact, if Benedict got his wishes we would’ve probably hired Jeff Capel.

I credit him taking a big swing on Jim Mora. Other than that he’s handled conference realignment, treating the fans, and promotions like a 3 year old.

Genuine question what would you like him to do differently? He's delivering championships level programs along with competitive football with a deck massively stacked against him with the current financial model. I understand a degree of being upset with forever seats I liked my seats too but if that is what it takes to drive more money into the program than that is what it takes.

 

[CTBasketball]

Genuine question what would you like him to do differently? He's delivering championships level programs along with competitive football with a deck massively stacked against him with the current financial model. I understand a degree of being upset with forever seats I liked my seats too but if that is what it takes to drive more money into the program than that is what it takes.

I’m not mad about the forever seats, it’s a typical scumbag big business move. We all should’ve seen it coming.

I think I’m most upset he let one of his employees distribute a “Big 12 Pick Me!” PowerPoint that was 4th grade level. The ultimate desperate move.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Dan Hurley would’ve been here regardless of Benedict or not. In fact, if Benedict got his wishes we would’ve probably hired Jeff Capel.

I credit him taking a big swing on Jim Mora. Other than that he’s handled conference realignment, treating the fans, and promotions like a 3 year old.

Do you post under two handles? Perhaps you can read Champ's mind.

For the record, you are dead wrong on the first statement. DB defied the school's trustees in order to move to secure landing Hurley before he landed at Pitt.

His presentation to fans can be called into question (forever seats being a major issue) but in his defense on overall fan issues, there is a very large part of our fan base that expects P2 results while providing a G5 level of commitment. Believe it or not, the athletic department needs money to operate.

 

[CTBasketball]

Do you post under two handles? Perhaps you can read Champ's mind.

For the record, you are dead wrong on the first statement. DB defied the school's trustees in order to move to secure landing Hurley before he landed at Pitt.

His presentation to fans can be called into question (forever seats being a major issue) but in his defense on overall fan issues, there is a very large part of our fan base that expects P2 results while providing a G5 level of commitment. Believe it or not, the athletic department needs money to operate.

No haha just this one. But I have heard a completely different story on the bolded portion, very good sources higher up at the University.

I think people need to divorce the idea of P2 results from what we’re doing and spending. We can’t keep up with that spending, we are tactically navigating those waters. So that’s why none of this seat selection and donation scam comes as a surprise to me. I just wish they were more honest about all of it.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

The story I heard (from a few very well placed sources) was that DB targeted Danny as KO's replacement about six months before KO was dismissed.

When the season ended for non-tournament schools, Pitt fired Stallings immediately after their season ended and also targeted Hurley. DB was not given approval to dismiss KO (and leave the school on the hook for the remainder of his contract), and told that he needed to wait another year before considering a new men's basketball head coach.

DB put his job on the line by using a very shaky loophole to dismiss KO for cause on order to get Dan Hurley behind the bench at UConn. He (and basically everyone other than a few UConn trustees and a handful of boneyarders) knew that KO would win the lawsuit. DB felt getting Hurley was important enough that it was worth the cost of dismissing KO (which would have been cheaper if the school acted professionally on the matter).

DB did not believe there was an acceptable second choice if he couldn't land Danny.

 

[Stew Crew]

No haha just this one. But I have heard a completely different story on the bolded portion, very good sources higher up at the University.

I think people need to divorce the idea of P2 results from what we’re doing and spending. We can’t keep up with that spending, we are tactically navigating those waters. So that’s why none of this seat selection and donation scam comes as a surprise to me. I just wish they were more honest about all of it.

After having a few months to digest this situation, I am not sure how they could have made a significant improvement to the process. Gampel needed an upgrade and XL upgrades were essentially outside UConn control. They could have decided not to reduce the number of seats at Gampel but it is clear that they big donors were calling for better seats. I can't say I blame them. For almost $2000/year per seat, something better than those plastic seats was warranted.

You can question the number of seats that were held back for institutional purposes, but I don't think the number is much larger than in the past. It is only now that we actually got a picture.

We all knew ahead of time what the process was going to be and had opportunity to improve our standing by increasing our donations. I've already voiced my displeasure with diluting the old priority points, but at least by using priority points, they marginally acknowledged long time donors without alienating the current big-time donors.

This process is certainly more transparent than the old annual seat relocation where we had no input. Seats were supposed to be reassigned every year based on priority points. I had the exact same seats for 3 - 4 years despite increasing my donations. One year, I sat next to Big Red at Gampel. Meanwhile, he had lower bowl seats at the Civic Center while I was still in the upper half of the upper bowl.

At the end of the day, it seems that most season ticket holders were not negatively impacted in a major way, outside of the months of stress the process induced. Certainly, some got a swift kick in the nuts, but it seems like a very low percentage.

 

[gampelcrazies]

Civic Center as of 9:57 (6/12)

 

[gampelcrazies]

If anyone has a Gampel screenshot I would be curious to see what it looks like

 

[John]

I saw this interesting question asked on the women's board - in subsequent years, are we keeping the same seats we just purchased, or are we going back to the older system where they're reassigning us seats (or reshuffling the entire building every year)? Anyone here hear anything about this?

 

[WrenchFan69]

I saw this interesting question asked on the women's board - in subsequent years, are we keeping the same seats we just purchased, or are we going back to the older system where they're reassigning us seats (or reshuffling the entire building every year)? Anyone here hear anything about this?

Haven't heard anything but I would not remotely count on these being your forever seats. Especially as Gampel eyes a more serious renovation next summer

 

[Stew Crew]

Haven't heard anything but I would not remotely count on these being your forever seats. Especially as Gampel eyes a more serious renovation next summer

There was a section in the FAQs that sort of addressed it. See below.

They also sent out a survey to season ticket holders last week. One question asked about certain upgrades that was qualified by saying, "without affecting lower bowl seats" or something to that effect. I took that to mean that they were done with lower bowl modifications for a while.

I have annually renewed the same seats for several years and am concerned about going through a seat selection process. Why is this being done? Will it happen again in the future?
The restructuring of the lower level seating area in Gampel Pavilion involves the introduction of various physical seat types, which is typical in arenas across the country. This seating renovation will enhance the gameday experience for our loyal supporters. As such, with a new seat map, it would not be possible to overlay season ticket holders into the exact same seats as previously held. While our normal protocol is for season ticket holders to renew their seats annually, there are circumstances which may periodically arise, like the Gampel upgrade project currently underway, which trigger a diversion from the regular renewal process. We recognize the anxiousness that may accompany situations involving change, but please know that we will always make best efforts to be as fair and accommodating to all of our season ticket holders as possible, within the established process and consistent with Husky Athletic Fund donor policies and guidelines.

 

[gampelcrazies]

I saw this interesting question asked on the women's board - in subsequent years, are we keeping the same seats we just purchased, or are we going back to the older system where they're reassigning us seats (or reshuffling the entire building every year)? Anyone here hear anything about this?

Anything is possible but I don't think we see another reseat for awhile.The earliest would be in 3 years I think and even then I doubt they will. The renovations they are looking to do would be more adding to the building

 

[Deepster]

Had my time slot (Gampel) this morning (6/12) at 10 am. Didn't donate anything more and got the same exact seats. Section 223, Row G.

 

[Vancat]

Had my time slot (Gampel) this morning (6/12) at 10 am. Didn't donate anything more and got the same exact seats. Section 223, Row G.

yeah it was the lower bowl people that got a little screwed.

 

[gtcam]

No haha just this one. But I have heard a completely different story on the bolded portion, very good sources higher up at the University.

I think people need to divorce the idea of P2 results from what we’re doing and spending. We can’t keep up with that spending, we are tactically navigating those waters. So that’s why none of this seat selection and donation scam comes as a surprise to me. I just wish they were more honest about all of it.

Agreed
Dan Hurley was never headed to Pitt - his brother was rumored to go there
Dan Hurley was waiting to officially hear from UConn that in fact the university was moving on to the NBE and he met with DB and J Calhoun who promised Dan Hurley and his atty/agent that the deal was cemented. This took place before KO was fired.

I can understand why they did this but is was not equitable to KO yet in the end, KO is better off and UConn is better off.

 

[ctkaiser]

That’s quite an accusation. Care to elaborate?

Biggest problem with college sports is that it's now pro sports.

 

[Ha Who]

Biggest problem with college sports is that it's now pro sports.

Not much in the way of elaboration.

 

[Marbles90]

I picked this morning - I am Civic Center only. I did not donate more so I had low expectations coming into the process. I became increasingly optimistic as the weeks passed and so many of the 200 level seats were still available. As of yesterday, not only were my forever seats - which I considered the absolute best value level seats at HCC - still available, but quite a few around my seats were still available.

That completely changed by the end of the day yesterday. My seats were gone and there was just one pair left of what I would consider comparable. And by the time my window opened at 11:30AM this morning that pair was gone and I was down to just picking the best available.

So the process ended for me the way I thought it would have gone. After putting my seats in the cart and waiting the full half hour, I contemplated just letting them go but decided to just take what I can get.

I have no complaints because while I have been a season ticket holder for both basketball and football for many years, I do not donate all that much compared to other people. So I feel like I got what I deserved.

I do feel bad for those that got screwed by the process and certainly agree that the AD could have handled this better. But, honestly, as much as I love the Huskies, it is stuff like this that keeps me from donating more.

 

[Waquoit]

DB did not believe there was an acceptable second choice if he couldn't land Danny.

He nails the two most important hires and has increased revenues incredibly. That's the job.

 

[John]

I picked this morning - I am Civic Center only. I did not donate more so I had low expectations coming into the process. I became increasingly optimistic as the weeks passed and so many of the 200 level seats were still available. As of yesterday, not only were my forever seats - which I considered the absolute best value level seats at HCC - still available, but quite a few around my seats were still available.

That completely changed by the end of the day yesterday. My seats were gone and there was just one pair left of what I would consider comparable. And by the time my window opened at 11:30AM this morning that pair was gone and I was down to just picking the best available.

So the process ended for me the way I thought it would have gone. After putting my seats in the cart and waiting the full half hour, I contemplated just letting them go but decided to just take what I can get.

I have no complaints because while I have been a season ticket holder for both basketball and football for many years, I do not donate all that much compared to other people. So I feel like I got what I deserved.

I do feel bad for those that got screwed by the process and certainly agree that the AD could have handled this better. But, honestly, as much as I love the Huskies, it is stuff like this that keeps me from donating more.

I'm an alumni so I'm going to donate extra, but moving forward it's going to be to sent to academics.

 

[Ha Who]

I'm an alumni so I'm going to donate extra, but moving forward it's going to be to sent to academics.

They just sent me an email this morning. If you change your mind I’m sure you probably got it too.

 

[gtcam]

Benedict is everything that's wrong with college sports.

FfldCntyFan said: Please elaborate.

I wouldn't say DB is everything wrong with college sports but he is ineffective in many areas and gets credit for success he may not deserve.

DB would probably have been fired at most any other school for the way he wormed around proper protocol in handling the KO firing.
He did very well in getting Mora - 100%
Everything else in terms of soccer, baseball, hockey etc was/is handled in a 2nd rate or worse level. I tried to have a conversation with him at a donors function a few years back about soccer and the diminishing presence of Friends of Soccer at UConn. He was embarrassingly uneducated about the sport and what it means to UConn - past and present. No interest/no care. All he did was brag about the new hockey rink which is a waste of space and money and lacks sufficient seating. He told me to speak to HCCG about the soccer team.
Recently I had an email conversation about our season tickets and seating for basketball since 1965 and he suggested that I gave x. Not unexpected TBH, but the tenor was void of any empathy and read like a template.
I Love UConn and all it's athletics but the school deserves better than DB. I'm sure I'm in the minority - especially among those mens basketball folks who believe that DB is responsible for bringing Dan Hurley to UConn - nothing could be further from the truth.
I will spend money and invest in UConn but will be sure to earmark the funds towards soccer, baseball and academics. Basketball and football will get the lion's share of revenue from the athletic department, as expected.

 

[John]

They just sent me an email this morning. If you change your mind I’m sure you probably got it too.

all I've gotten this week is an email about the FB home schedule announcement, and a invitation to elect alumni trustee candidates from the UConn Foundation. I did get a donation request last Saturday from the Husky Athletic Fund, sorry fellas not happening.