No 'First Night' event this year

[Rings R Us]

I just saw on Instagram we won't have it this year due to ongoing renovations at Gampel Pavilion.

Too bad, always a weekend we try to have our top recruits attend.

 

[GenoWept]

I just saw on Instagram we won't have it this year due to ongoing renovations at Gampel Pavilion.

Too bad, always a weekend we try to have our top recruits attend.

Noooooo! This is always so helpful for knowing who UConn is still actively recruiting and I think it always helps the recruits/players of interest see what playing at UConn would be like. Definitely bummed🥲

 

[Aluminny69]

 

[reelfan]

Renovations ?????

 

[Blond D.]

Theres plenty of other buildings on campus to hold it. There's something they ain't telling us.

 

[Bald Husky]

Theres plenty of other buildings on campus to hold it. There's something they ain't telling us.

Yeah, I suppose they could hold it in the student center, bringing in temporary baskets, but the players can only shoot underhand. Bummer, always look forward to this event.

 

[Skeets]

Mohegan Sun? Bridgeport?

 

[hoopsfan22]

They didn't have one when they were replacing the roof not too long ago.

 

[oldhusky]

Theres plenty of other buildings on campus to hold it. There's something they ain't telling us.

I have had mixed reactions over this event over the last few years. Of course I always look forward to getting an early look at the team, the newcomers etc., but the screw-ups that frankly have been the norm, not the exception, over the last few years have been more of a black eye than an effective recruiting tool IMO.

I want Uconn to have a First Night that everyone affiliated with the program can be proud of, that indeed is an effective recruiting tool, not an embarrassment. The people that planned and ran the last few shouldn't have anything to do with this event in the future.

Many have said this is mostly for the students and I get that part of it, but because it is used as a recruiting tool, it needs to be well run, and it hasn't been. Let the athletic department take it over, and do it with the same professionalism and class they do everything else. They can still do it largely for the benefit of the students, but do it right.

I say do it right, or don't do it at all. That means taking control of the event away from everyone currently involved, and let the program run it in a way the school, the students, the fans, and potential recruits can all be impressed and proud of.

 

[YKCornelius]

I have had mixed reactions over this event over the last few years. Of course I always look forward to getting an early look at the team, the newcomers etc., but the screw-ups that frankly have been the norm, not the exception, over the last few years have been more of a black eye than an effective recruiting tool IMO.

I want Uconn to have a First Night that everyone affiliated with the program can be proud of, that indeed is an effective recruiting tool, not an embarrassment. The people that planned and ran the last few shouldn't have anything to do with this event in the future.

Many have said this is mostly for the students and I get that part of it, but because it is used as a recruiting tool, it needs to be well run, and it hasn't been. Let the athletic department take it over, and do it with the same professionalism and class they do everything else. They can still do it largely for the benefit of the students, but do it right.

I say do it right, or don't do it at all. That means taking control of the event away from everyone currently involved, and let the program run it in a way the school, the students, the fans, and potential recruits can all be impressed and proud of.

Oldhusky, what screw-ups are you talking about? You make a lot of generalizations - no specifics.

Last year watching the festivities from afar, it seemed to me to be like a large fun-filled, over-the-top pep rally. The size of the student turnout looked impressive, and both the players and the students appeared to be having fun. A perfect counter to any mistaken impressions that the basketball program is all business and no fun.

What exactly was missing from your perch? Legit question - inquiring minds want to know.

Any Boneyarders been to First Nights at other schools that are better?

 

[Bald Husky]

Screwups or not, I always want to see the players introduced to the fan base, especially the newcomers who will be introduced to Huskymania for the first time. It's a fun way to begin the season and get us all charged up, at least it does for me. BTW, why is the roof leaking when they paid millions to repair it just a few years ago.

 

[BobbyJ]

I have had mixed reactions over this event over the last few years. Of course I always look forward to getting an early look at the team, the newcomers etc., but the screw-ups that frankly have been the norm, not the exception, over the last few years have been more of a black eye than an effective recruiting tool IMO.

I want Uconn to have a First Night that everyone affiliated with the program can be proud of, that indeed is an effective recruiting tool, not an embarrassment. The people that planned and ran the last few shouldn't have anything to do with this event in the future.

Many have said this is mostly for the students and I get that part of it, but because it is used as a recruiting tool, it needs to be well run, and it hasn't been. Let the athletic department take it over, and do it with the same professionalism and class they do everything else. They can still do it largely for the benefit of the students, but do it right.

I say do it right, or don't do it at all. That means taking control of the event away from everyone currently involved, and let the program run it in a way the school, the students, the fans, and potential recruits can all be impressed and proud of.

So you actually believe that a few 17-18 year old recruits are seriously concerned about the production value of a bunch of loud videos, music, and noise while the players jump around and socialize on the floor? Really? You obviously have no idea what a recruiting visit entails for these kids or what matters to the students at a pep rally.

 

[YKCornelius]

Screwups or not, I always want to see the players introduced to the fan base, especially the newcomers who will be introduced to Huskymania for the first time. It's a fun way to begin the season and get us all charged up, at least it does for me. BTW, why is the roof leaking when they paid millions to repair it just a few years ago.

The extra weight of additional banners, perhaps? 😁

 

[HuskyNan]

This is a free article

UConn cancels annual ‘First Night’ basketball event due to Gampel Pavilion renovations​

​

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

These renovations weren’t supposed to start until after the end of this coming season.

The renovations will be ongoing until finished in 2027 (same end year as earlier intended). They won’t affect &1 the actual 2025-26 season.

&1 I guess the preseason phase of the renovations had to be done to assure this outcome. There might be other considerations (cost effectiveness, availability, income generation, etc.)

 

[HopJim]

Yeah, I suppose they could hold it in the student center, bringing in temporary baskets, but the players can only shoot underhand. Bummer, always look forward to this event.

First Night does not have to include a game. I always thought it was developed to introduce the team and gain publicity. Seemed to be a key part of the recruiting process to demonstrate how strong the fan base is to recruits. UConn has always had a very creative, well managed program. Why couldn't another option be developed? Opportunity lost?

 

[HopJim]

Yeah, I suppose they could hold it in the student center, bringing in temporary baskets, but the players can only shoot underhand. Bummer, always look forward to this event.

In the digital world we now live in, packing a gym is no longer mandatory. While I always enjoyed watching and hearing the reactions of students and other fans, there are other options to have a 500–1000-person event that is broadcast throughout the US. Probably would allow for a more professionally produced team introduction/celebration as well as better video clips and sound bites that would assist recruiting. As I mentioned in another post, was this a lost opportunity to show off UConn's creativity and capabilities?

 

[oldhusky]

So you actually believe that a few 17-18 year old recruits are seriously concerned about the production value of a bunch of loud videos, music, and noise while the players jump around and socialize on the floor? Really? You obviously have no idea what a recruiting visit entails for these kids or what matters to the students at a pep rally.

I am not saying it is a huge factor, but part of the mix. Along with the coaches, the players, the facilities, the dorms, the weather, the rural campus, the championship history etc. We probably haven't lost a recruit that was on the fence just because of First Night, but I think it is possible that we could. We want to make a good impression on every aspect of the recruiting visit, including First Night, so if that is a weak link, why not fix it.

As for the specific gripes, I won't go back and rehash them in detail, but suffice to say the First Night threads for several years have included numerous posts regarding problems. Probably most on those threads thought there were significant problems with the production, but that it wasn't that big a deal. Others like me thought it was a more serious issue. Regardless, it has been part of the debate for several years.

As for the cause of this particular cancellation, as Husky Nan has posted it had to do with renovations. I hope we have future First Nights we can be proud of, think major changes are necessary for that to happen, and if no changes are made at least question whether it should be continued as is. Status quo should not be acceptable IMO for a class organization.