No XL Center Next Year?

[uconnbill]

As much as I love Gampel more than XL, they need to continue to have games there.

UConn overall has a pretty awful fan base and I think they would be best served to have half of their games closer to the majority of their fan bases population.

In any event, I'll be getting season tickets again regardless because it's about 45-50 minutes from New London to XL or Gampel for me. Only difference is getting hit up for parking in Hartford.

Side note: the garages in Hatford that close 1 hour after the game, is there anyway to change that? I mean, you can't even get food after a game without getting your car stuck in the garage (happened to a buddy's Dad). I mean, isn't half the point of the state having the XL Center to drive Hartford's downtown economy? I park in the street lots now for weekends, but the garage is a lot more convenient from where I'm coming from.

I never said they shouldn't use the XL center but do think the on campus atmosphere is better in most cases

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I never said they shouldn't use the XL center but do think the on campus atmosphere is better in most cases

Wasn't really directing my post at anyone specifically. Just throwing in my $.02.

Agree with Gampel being better atmosphere most of the time, too.

 

[zls44]

Start somewhere. Otherwise the adage, "if you can't beat someone on the facts, get personal" comes in to play.

WTF is the experience in Hartford? Ye Olde Morgan Street Garage?

 

[RS9999X]

I support moving the XL to East Hartford. Share parking with The Rent.

UConn will be an important part of an XL rebuild or refurb. As soon as the economy gets better or when Malloy runs in 2014 it will be an issue

 

[UCHuskies08]

I prefer XL Center games..... because I live in Rocky Hill.

Also, if you pay for parking in Hartford, you're doing it wrong.

 

[NHUConnfan]

I support moving the XL to East Hartford. Share parking with The Rent.

UConn will be an important part of an XL rebuild or refurb. As soon as the economy gets better or when Malloy runs in 2014 it will be an issue

Queue the spaceship to teleport the XL center to East Hartford!

 

[Ts5034]

Villanova. MLK day last year. Halfway though the first half after sitting for an hour in traffic, I finally threw in the towel and just went to Bidwell.

Yes, that was BAD! When i finally got to my seat there was only 2 minutes left in the first half. I think the reason for the ridiculous amount of traffic that day is because it was move-in day for the spring semester. Other then that ive never had any issues getting on campus and parking for a game.

 

[uconndoit]

For those that say a small arena will be a negative, Duke does pretty well playing at Camren (spelling?).

Nope - you spelled dook wrong.

 

[Waquoit]

WTF is the experience in Hartford? Ye Olde Morgan Street Garage?

Try again. The issue on the floor is: "For game day experience the Gampel wins hands down."

I enjoy being in a larger building where I also watched Bird and Gretzky. I like the far more comfortable seats, the better lighting. I like the area where we meet at halftime with others. I like not having the oppressive yellow jackets micromanaging your every step. Yes, I like having beer available at the game. I like going to City Steam or Vaughns or the Tavern or McKinnons before and/or after the game. I like the easy in/easy out parking and driving situation. Gampel games it's maybe Huskies before, game, leave. Once a year during a big national game the student section brings their A game and that's fun. Otherwise...meh. What's superior about that?

Support your side of the debate.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Try again. The issue on the floor is: "For game day experience the Gampel wins hands down."

I enjoy being in a larger building where I also watched Bird and Gretzky. I like the far more comfortable seats, the better lighting. I like the area where we meet at halftime with others. I like not having the oppressive yellow jackets micromanaging your every step. Yes, I like having beer available at the game. I like going to City Steam or Vaughns or the Tavern or McKinnons before and/or after the game. I like the easy in/easy out parking and driving situation. Gampel games it's maybe Huskies before, game, leave. Once a year during a big national game the student section brings their A game and that's fun. Otherwise...meh. What's superior about that?

Support your side of the debate.

I'm closer to Storrs, so it is easier, but all of this is true. The challenge remains in part because Storrs just doesn't have enough food/bar options among other things. Went to the NCAA soccer game this year (they lost) and a crowd waited outside Ted's for 40 minutes before it finally opened. Huskies was closed. The other place in the newer plaza east of Frats, closed. This is freaking Saturday at noon. Nothing is even open? Come on.

The reality is the Mansfield and Tolland have been growing and adding population. If the state was smart, it would try to encourage office parks near campus. Get more people living in and around Storrs. More shops, more restuarants, movie theaters etc. Then you've got the makings of a real college town. I loved my 4 years in Storrs, but it has almost no appeal as a destination for any non-student.

Spent 3 years in Lawrence, KS for Law School. Fantastic college town. Working people from KC drive the hour west without hesitation, leaving work early and heading to the many restaurants and bars before the game. So they have no problem selling out 16,000+ for every home game.

 

[zls44]

Every other blue-blood college in the country plays on-campus. There's a reason. It isn't hard to figure out.

Duke and UNC could play in Charlotte. They don't. UCLA could have moved permanently to Staples Center instead of spending 9-figures re-building Pauley. They don't. IU could move the games down the road to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. They don't. Kansas could move the games to the vacant Sprint Center in KC. They don't.

This is about a home-court advantage. The bars and the restaurants and the parking are all whiny, meaningless things. A larger building where you watched Bird and Gretzky? Classic living-in-the-past New Englander mentality.

The XL Center is an outdated piece of garbage that should be imploded tomorrow. It's outdated in terms of seating, it's outdated in terms of technology, it's outdated in terms of the concourse, every single thing about it sucks.

Gampel has a lot of issues...but it's still on campus. The team is the UNIVERSITY of Connecticut basketball team. It belongs at the UNIVERSITY of Connecticut.

If you want to pick a team based on the bars, based on the ease of getting in and out, go root for CCSU. Lot of nice dive bars in New Britain, and your mild sensibilities won't be affected by the affront of having to wait in traffic for more than 15 agonizing minutes.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Every other blue-blood college in the country plays on-campus. There's a reason. It isn't hard to figure out.

Duke and UNC could play in Charlotte. They don't. UCLA could have moved permanently to Staples Center instead of spending 9-figures re-building Pauley. They don't. IU could move the games down the road to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. They don't. Kansas could move the games to the vacant Sprint Center in KC. They don't.

This is about a home-court advantage. The bars and the restaurants and the parking are all whiny, meaningless things. A larger building where you watched Bird and Gretzky? Classic living-in-the-past New Englander mentality.

The XL Center is an outdated piece of garbage that should be imploded tomorrow. It's outdated in terms of seating, it's outdated in terms of technology, it's outdated in terms of the concourse, every single thing about it sucks.

Gampel has a lot of issues...but it's still on campus. The team is the UNIVERSITY of Connecticut basketball team. It belongs at the UNIVERSITY of Connecticut.

If you want to pick a team based on the bars, based on the ease of getting in and out, go root for CCSU. Lot of nice dive bars in New Britain, and your mild sensibilities won't be affected by the affront of having to wait in traffic for more than 15 agonizing minutes.

The second half of that is a little over-the-top, but I agree completely with the first part. Top-flight programs play on campus and foster a home-court environment that is hostile and intimidating to opposing teams. Playing at the XL Center in front of the suits occupying the first 20 rows doesn't accomplish that.

 

[Vuce]

I don't mind having games at both places but if I had to choose one it would be Gampel. It is further away from me but love having college games on Campus. I wish we had a better arena in terms of seating (hate the crammed in aspect of the benches) but it is what it is.

 

[Waquoit]

Every other blue-blood college in the country plays on-campus. ..This is about a home-court advantage. The bars and the restaurants and the parking are all whiny, meaningless things. ... Classic living-in-the-past New Englander mentality.... your mild sensibilities won't be affected by the affront of having to wait in traffic for more than 15 agonizing minutes.

Just to recap, the issue we were talking about was "game-day experience"? You said "This is a farce. Where do I even begin." When challenged to elaborate you added nothing except insults (not that I care, it's just a message board and you consider the source). When challenged again you changed the subject to home-court advantage. You clearly have a high opinion of yourself, don't let that ruin your game. As things stand now, you are all heat and no light. "Because" isn't a real reason.

I seem to be in the minority here by the fact I actually pay full price and go to (almost) all the games. I don't sense any greater home-court advantage in Storrs based on on-court play or fan response. I prefer going to Hartford and the superior "gameday experience". I think it's funny hearing from fans that don't go to all the games disregard the actual facts of the matter concerning the ticket buying fanbase.

 

[mcs333]

Duke and UNC would never play in Char.. it's 2.5 hours away!!

 

[zls44]

Just to recap, the issue we were talking about was "game-day experience"? You said "This is a farce. Where do I even begin." When challenged to elaborate you added nothing except insults (not that I care, it's just a message board and you consider the source). When challenged again you changed the subject to home-court advantage. You clearly have a high opinion of yourself, don't let that ruin your game. As things stand now, you are all heat and no light. "Because" isn't a real reason.

I seem to be in the minority here by the fact I actually pay full price and go to (almost) all the games. I don't sense any greater home-court advantage in Storrs based on on-court play or fan response. I prefer going to Hartford and the superior "gameday experience". I think it's funny hearing from fans that don't go to all the games disregard the actual facts of the matter concerning the ticket buying fanbase.

I prefer free parking, walking the campus, checking out the Sports Museum/Student Union, and Ted's over anything Hartford has to offer. Going to games in Storrs takes me back to being in college. Going to games in Hartford reminds me of what a *hole Hartford is.

 

[Marty Jackson]

the xl center is owned by the city, so I'm sure there is some agreement that uconn would continue to play games there. this notion that uconn will stop playing their games in hartford is ridiculous. It's the state capitol, it's centrally located, and a 16K seat arena exists.
Does the xl center need to be updated? sure. should the seating be more preferential to students? sure... But these are easy fixes. Moving games another hour away from stamford, greenwich and fairfield isn't going to help.
And for the genius who suggested that you could easily make up the 5K seat difference (only 50% of Gampel's capacity), at $50/seat that's $250K of lost revenue per game. at approx. 10-11 games per year, that's $3M of lost revenue per year.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Just to recap, the issue we were talking about was "game-day experience"? You said "This is a farce. Where do I even begin." When challenged to elaborate you added nothing except insults (not that I care, it's just a message board and you consider the source). When challenged again you changed the subject to home-court advantage. You clearly have a high opinion of yourself, don't let that ruin your game. As things stand now, you are all heat and no light. "Because" isn't a real reason.

I seem to be in the minority here by the fact I actually pay full price and go to (almost) all the games. I don't sense any greater home-court advantage in Storrs based on on-court play or fan response. I prefer going to Hartford and the superior "gameday experience". I think it's funny hearing from fans that don't go to all the games disregard the actual facts of the matter concerning the ticket buying fanbase.

trust me, you're not in the minority. That's why games are played in hartford.

 

[UCHuskies08]

We've won 3 NCs with our current set-up

All this talk about "REAL PROGRAMS ONLY PLAY ON CAMPUS" is a bunch of hot air.

I like driving 10 minutes to a game instead of an hour. Sue me.

 

[uconnell]

that's gotta be a joke

No, unfortunately is not. I know the people who gave up their tickets. Truthfully, if we didn't know the backway into Storrs so we wcould park in the south garage we wouldn't go either. Guess you don't know any elderly people..

 

[UConn5]

I'm torn. I like to ease of being able to attend games at the XL center (I'm down in Fairfield County) instead of having to trek to campus. However, if I am not attending the game, it is almost always evidence on TV that the crowd is much more intense at Gampel. Ultimately, I'd choose to ditch XL except for maybe a game or two early in the year. I understand the dual-streams of income that XL creates and the ease of access, but it just doesn't seem consistent with what other programs do, and I like the atmosphere to be as loud as possible.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Duke and UNC could play in Charlotte. They don't. UCLA could have moved permanently to Staples Center instead of spending 9-figures re-building Pauley. They don't. IU could move the games down the road to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. They don't. Kansas could move the games to the vacant Sprint Center in KC. They don't.

Those arenas are significantly further from campus and the other schools home arenas hold a lot more seats than Gampel. Do I wish all the games were at Gampel? Sure I think we have a more consistent home court advantage there. Over time though, I think we would hurt the fan base. Right or wrong, that's just the facts.

Gampel (10,027) to XL Center - 30 minutes

Duke (12,000) UNC (21,750) to Charlotte 2.5 hours
Indiana(17,472) to Bankers Life 1 hour
Kansas (16,300) to Sprint Center 45 mins
UCLA (12,829) to Staples Center 20 mins

 

[whaler11]

Comparing the fan base here to the fan bases of other colleges is pointless. The people here behave differently than they do in other places. If you'd like to ignore that to the detriment of the program, that is your business. Hopefully the people that control the Athletic Department are smarter than that.

 

[uconnsox23]

Those arenas are significantly further from campus and the other schools home arenas hold a lot more seats than Gampel. Do I wish all the games were at Gampel? Sure I think we have a more consistent home court advantage there. Over time though, I think we would hurt the fan base. Right or wrong, that's just the facts.

Gampel (10,027) to XL Center - 30 minutes

Duke (12,000) UNC (21,750) to Charlotte 2.5 hours
Indiana(17,472) to Bankers Life 1 hour
Kansas (16,300) to Sprint Center 45 mins
UCLA (12,829) to Staples Center 20 mins

Cameron Indoor only holds (9314) slightly smaller than gampel. I think gampel could use a face lift regardless. The roof is in bad shape. It's a shame there's no way to expand the capacity.​