Perhaps, but the latter likely depends on one's definition. How does @brasssbonanzaa define "very modest price"? Whether whatever that sum can be summoned up via arena-targeted donations, possible revenue bonds, etc. may be the biggest current challenge.
Modest as compared to other recent arena builds. QU's arena does a nice job of being modern but fairly bare bones. I don't know how much it cost exactly since it was built in tandem with the basketball arena, but at $52M in total for both, that's half of what BU's arena cost, below Omaha's, PSU's, and ND's. I'd ballpark it at around $35M. Obviously a large amount of money, but modest compared to what others have cost.
I have been to way too many buildings in Manhattan that have started to or were in the process of failing due to under pinning....If there isn't a safe way to do it then I say no way.
Got it, modest as you define yet even a moderately estimated $35M is not just a large amount of money for a public university in 2017 (versus Quinnipiac's private school fundraising a decade+ ago). Based on today's Connecticut state economic and political climate, UConn's historical fundraising limitations, UConn's overall conference and resulting media contract challenges, and building non-UConn affiliated opposition to things UConn, prospects of raising $35M's not just a subjective large amount of money. It's a sh|t load of money!
Some greater fundraising success, yes. However, sufficient to surprisingly have to cover $40-something million (or, even a good chunk) much sooner than projected?
You also have to add that a “promissory note” or term of league admittance is coming due as well. Benedict was pretty clear in the Jacobs article posted in this thread that they needed shovels in the ground and facility done by 2019 as terms of the acceptance/upgrade into HE but that HE has given them an extension. I’m sure this is also part of that the extension Deal.
Yes. The portion of the parcel that fronts on 195 is just north of Mansfield Supply.
Agree that a centrally located site is preferable, however I believe that UConn is putting out the Tech Park parcel in an attempt to finance a hockey arena as part of a larger privately financed, mixed use development. They’re dangling 25.8 acres of university property to developers to have them include an arena into a mixed used development. The sweetener, property that can accommodate approximately 130,000 sq. ft. of development. The Freitas site has no potential for private sector development - other than an ice arena - so I doubt it will attract as much interest unless we have some rich alumnus that wants an arena named after themselves, a la Terry Pegula at Penn State.
Acknowledged, yet would be surprised if HE would not work with UConn on another undesired, possible extension. Not so good faith and all in particular on Molloy's and the state legislature's part and consequently UConn, but with concrete design, construction, and fundraising/financing plans in place I highly doubt HE would boot the Huskies if an arena is not operational by 2019. Could be ...
Good faith will be shown in that case by plans, location and fundraising efforts. If it was just lip service ..well that’s a whole other story.
Yes, it's a lot of money in general but if we're talking about building an arena, that sum of money has been accepted by the university as needing to be spent. If they've put out an RFP they've already accepted a very large sum of money would need to be spent to build it. My point is UConn can build an arena of requisite size that's comparatively less expensive than others. How they would get the money, I don't know - and you're right the state's in awful shape. But while Hockey East is more than willing to work with UConn playing games at XL longer than anticipated, if XL shuts down due to state funding and UConn is forced to play at Freitas, that would NOT be a long or short term solution. Not to mention UConn's recruiting would get absolutely pillaged.
Indeed, with particular emphasis on UConn's historical challenges sourcing large donations let alone the potentially required sh|t load of money in record time. For your entirely reasonable latter point, sure hope some big swinging ball sacks step up for the face off.
Think you went to well one too many times buddy.
Think you went to well one too many times buddy.
