New XL Renovations

[HuskyV]

Each endzone has a bar, That's not revenue?

private boxes. standing room with view of court.....more features..... required for those not watching the game.

 

[HuskyV]

It appears that 85% wax nostalgia for Fenway & bitch about XL. Both were good places to watch from seats & had amenities.

 

[Waquoit]

more.......features required for those not watching the game.

Like what? What specific "features" can they add to the end zones that will produce more revenue? And why should they spend money to cater to those not watching the game?

 

[HooperScooper]

I went to the Butler game. I hadn't been to the XL Center in 2 years. I forgot how bad it is. But whatever, I sat in my seat and watched the game and went to the bathroom once. That's all I needed.

I did wonder why there is no Wifi. The only stadium/arena I've ever been to in the last few years with no Wifi. Did I just miss it? Nothing without a password showed up on my phone. And to cut off the people who ask why I needed Wifi when I'm watching a game, I wanted to check out stats from the boxscore. The stats on the Jumbotron are . Plus they're on the corners and wrap around so you can't even see the entire stats box if you're sitting straight on from the middle sections. I do like the Jumbotron at Gampel.

 

[Fishy]

Connecticut will just never be honest with itself about the civic center.

These effectively-municipally controlled venues do not make money and it’s hard to argue for investment when something a) does not make money and b) the investment does not translate into votes.

Worse, they’re afraid to cede control of it to anyone who might make a profit because it would make them look bad….so we get half-measures.

The answer for the civic center is to do what Baltimore did with CFG Bank. Let Oak View handle it from top to bottom. Get out of their way.

Get the losses off the books and enjoy the tax revenue.

 

[UConnSwag11]

So I guess you would do nothing, right? What would your solution be?

Demo it and rebuild to great arena or not play there and put money into Gampel and a football stadium

 

[CL82]

Remove awnings, paint walls grey.

Check.

 

[nadav]

View attachment 106441
Remove awnings, paint walls grey.

Check.

You seem to be dowplaying getting rid of the Problem Gambling banner. What a buzzkill that sign is.

 

[dannyHAM]

You just need to spend time with me in Hartford and you’ll change your view.

No I won’t get you shot.

Where do people even go nowadays in Hartford? Serious question I haven't been out there in forever, other than UConn.

 

[UConnJim]

I've been to a number of arenas over the past few years including MSG, XL, Gampel, TD Garden, the Dunk, Worcester, Conte Forum, as well as some other colleges. I really don't care about the amenities, I care about the game. I prefer to eat outside of the arena so I really don't care what food they serve except maybe popcorn. And, they have to serve beer! XL is not as nice as MSG or TD Garden, but it is similar or better than the Dunk or Worcester and better than Conte and Gampel.

And, XL is one of the easiest arenas to drive to and quickly exit to the highway. Good luck doing that in Boston or New York and even the Dunk is not great.

I think most of the XL upgrades are focused on infrastructure that you don't see which is why I think many people are disappointed.

 

[cullaville]

View attachment 106441
Remove awnings, paint walls grey.

Check.

looks good until there are over 16,000 people in there

 

[UCLJ0211]

So who will have access to the lower level concourse? Is it for people sitting in the 100 levels or just those in the “premium” sections? I’m not sure the extent of how big that concourse will be, but that could be significant in reducing the logjams in the existing concourse. I think many people are understating the importance of that additional concourse- unless I’m totally missing something.

 

[Chief00]

Where’s the expanded restrooms?
Nothing impacts the customers game day XL experience more than the halftime long lines that also logjam the concourse. The CRDA strikes out again for the fans but pads their own salaries for a few more useless years.

 

[John]

So who will have access to the lower level concourse? Is it for people sitting in the 100 levels or just those in the “premium” sections? I’m not sure the extent of how big that concourse will be, but that could be significant in reducing the logjams in the existing concourse. I think many people are understating the importance of that additional concourse- unless I’m totally missing something.

it's still just one concourse for the peasants.

 

[John]

Where’s the expanded restrooms?
Nothing impacts the customers game day XL experience more than the halftime long lines that also logjam the concourse. The CRDA strikes out again for the fans but pads their own salaries for a few more useless years.

you can enjoy the battleship grey ceilings while you wait in line.

 

[CTBasketball]

Where’s the expanded restrooms?
Nothing impacts the customers game day XL experience more than the halftime long lines that also logjam the concourse. The CRDA strikes out again for the fans but pads their own salaries for a few more useless years.

They didn’t put them in the photo but they are included in the upgrades. Allegedly.

 

[CTBasketball]

Where do people even go nowadays in Hartford? Serious question I haven't been out there in forever, other than UConn.

Dinner? Salute, Max Downtown, Trumbull Kitchen, SunBerry, Black Eyed Sally’s, Feng Chophouse, Sorella.

Drinks? Urban Lodge, Russian Lady, The Horse, Vaughns, Brownstone, Pigs Eye, Bar Max.

Any update on Huskies Tavern opening?

 

[Platt81]

Where’s the expanded restrooms?
Nothing impacts the customers game day XL experience more than the halftime long lines that also logjam the concourse. The CRDA strikes out again for the fans but pads their own salaries for a few more useless years.

So for this reason do you think Gampel is a dump? Less bathrooms and way less convenient than XL….its not the arenas fault you go to the bathroom at halftime, that just makes you an uneducated fan of how to use an arena. This message brought to you by: Chiefs Briefs; Casual Fan Edition.

 

[Deepster]

You just need to spend time with me in Hartford and you’ll change your view.

No I won’t get you shot.

Agree to disagree. I grew up in Hartford until my mid teen years, worked in Hartford every day up until Covid and spend tons of time there still. Two of my best friends still live there and are born and raised Hartford.

You can certainly DM me any of these secret amazing spots you know of though. I’d be surprised if I was missing out on them.

 

[Deepster]

It appears that 85% wax nostalgia for Fenway & bitch about XL. Both were good places to watch from seats & had amenities.

I went to the Fenway Bowl last month. Hadn’t been to Fenway in 8-10 years and was surprised how crappy the amenities were. Anyone who thinks the nostalgia is worth that is a moron.

 

[Scoe]

Well at least the Civic Center has more then 2 restrooms, very idiotic for Gampel to have a mens and women’s bathroom on opposite ends what a cluster that is.

 

[Kolumbo]

I don't know what makes the most sense but a new building would seem financially to be the best bet. Better architecture, design, seating, amenities. This old building is still going to be an awful design 20 years from now. The way too distant seats, small concourse, limited bathrooms. I don't see how those are going to be fixed within the same structure.

 

[Waquoit]

Where do people even go nowadays in Hartford? Serious question I haven't been out there in forever, other than UConn.

Lots of good music in Hartford, especially when the weather gets nicer. Even recently I've been to Black Eyed Sally's, Infinity and the Bushnell. Parkville Market is a cool place. So is Real Art Ways. Two top-notch regional theaters. I know that folks of a certain ilk avoid Hartford. Their loss.

 

[uconnric]

Demo it and rebuild to great arena or not play there and put money into Gampel and a football stadium

And you'll pay for it how?

 

[uconnbill]

Tear it down and build a 12500 seat arena