PBA games v GP games this season

[HooperScooper]

Enjoy the Hartford games while you have them, because when I'm named UConn AD you'll get 0. Not even an exhibition game against a local HS team

I'd bet on you getting the AD job one day. There's no way they could pass on someone who knows everything and is always right.

 

[navery12]

I'd bet on you getting the AD job one day. There's no way they could pass on someone who knows everything and is always right.

I'll have a lot of competition from this board then if those are the requirements

 

[John]

Enjoy the Hartford games while you have them, because when I'm named UConn AD you'll get 0. Not even an exhibition game against a local HS team

Can’t wait to see how you window dress the revenue loss.

 

[navery12]

Can’t wait to see how you window dress the revenue loss.

Easy, by putting a superior product on the court and playing college sports where they belong, on campus

 

[John]

Easy, by putting a superior product on the court and playing college sports where they belong, on campus

superior product = expensive

 

[Waquoit]

Easy, by putting a superior product on the court and playing college sports where they belong, on campus

I'm thinking Miami, and USC aren't giving back their football titles.

 

[zls44]

O

I'm thinking Miami, and USC aren't giving back their football titles.

Ok now ask about the other 95% of the titles you didn’t mention

 

[John]

O

Ok now ask about the other 95% of the titles you didn’t mention

Villanova will be giving theirs back

 

[Waquoit]

O

Ok now ask about the other 95% of the titles you didn’t mention

Was I talking to you? I know we’re not giving our six back. Playing in an arena, prepares us for the big dance. That’s why we win so much and you want to take it away from us.

 

[Scoe]

lol at the anti Hartford hysteria, a lot of it is a pile on narrative.

 

[Stew Crew]

I have been following this program 10x longer than most of 'em. And they're just giving you their personal take. My take is based on all of the facts at hand. I get that they feel more comfortable playing in Gampel. But so do the visitors. Especially when they make a few 3's in a row. Crickets.

Respectfully, looking only at the past 3 years can be misleading. We have been so dominant for much of that time and should have been beating everyone everywhere. If you look at the whole Hurley era, ignoring the games with no fans, UConn has won 89% of their Gampel games and 78% of their XL games. One can argue about differences in SOS between the two sites but with over 100 data points, it is unlikely that SOS is the predominant factor. If it was, it would also be counter to your other argument that a disproportionate number of "good" games are at Gampel. Yes, that was the case last year, but in general the schedules have been balanced. Conflicts with the Wolfpack also factor in. Last year, I think Marquette and St. John's games were on same night as Wolfpack home games.

But what do I know? I've only been a season ticket holder for 35 years that sits in the lower bowl so I'm not a loyal fan.

 

[CL82]

I object to the PBA moniker.

The People'sBank is one word.

Should be PA.
PeBa Arena is an elaxceptable alternate.

PBA is a bowling league and using it probably puts this board at risk for trademark infringement much like the World Widelife Fund made Vince bend at the knee.

Also, Police Benevolent Association.

In any event, though People'sBank maybe one word, but it has two caps in it. "PBA" will be hard to shake as a nickname. I could see "the bank" catching on as an informal nickname.

 

[InTheRed]

Easy, by putting a superior product on the court and playing college sports where they belong, on campus

So the superior product will allow you to fit an extra 6k fans in Gampel?

 

[Lafayette]

Dang, late to this thread as saw PBA = Professional Bowler's Association and I don't bowl.

 

[Waquoit]

Respectfully, looking only at the past 3 years can be misleading.

Gampel was even worse during the AAC years. You lower bowl guys couldn’t even bother to show up during weekday games. But what do I know? I was just sitting in the upper corner looking at all those empty seats being vigorously guarded by the yellow shirts wondering what else better you had to do.

And if you wanted to be honest, you would do an apples to apples comparison between Gampel and the XL since Gampel opened. It’s virtually even.Gampel never hosted Perno teams or teams with soccer goalies, and lefty pitchers in the rotation.

 

[Windham4th]

In order to avoid putting 5 'best' big east teams in GP every year...would it be reasonable to split venues by original big east vs new big east?

Perhaps original in storrs...new in hartford? Or alternate each year?

Should we build a football/basketball dome like the CarrierDome on campus and kill 2 birds...

 

[navery12]

So the superior product will allow you to fit an extra 6k fans in Gampel?

Yes, as the UConn AD I'll invest in improvements to the arena in the location where college sports should be played, on campus. Including expanding the number of seats

 

[Stew Crew]

Gampel was even worse during the AAC years. You lower bowl guys couldn’t even bother to show up during weekday games. But what do I know? I was just sitting in the upper corner looking at all those empty seats being vigorously guarded by the yellow shirts wondering what else better you had to do.

And if you wanted to be honest, you would do an apples to apples comparison between Gampel and the XL since Gampel opened. It’s virtually even.Gampel never hosted Perno teams or teams with soccer goalies, and lefty pitchers in the rotation.

I appreciate your self-proclaimed loyalty to the program and can partially understand your frustration but you are incorrect on so many levels. Your persistent attempt to engage in class warfare within UConn Nation is getting quite tiring, as is your standard response "Dom Perno" to justify your positions.

As we learned this year, the Athletic Dept controls over 1000 seats in the lower bowl of GP. The majority of empty seats you supposedly "saw" were likely AD seats that went unused.

It's also insulting to imply that I was being dishonest by expanding the data set to a natural break point (Hurley' hiring). In any case, I was able to go back to 2011 (after that, the data is not so readily available). The numbers are still similar. 84% win % at GP. 75% win % in Hartford.

Long live Perno!

 

[Stew Crew]

Can’t wait to see how you window dress the revenue loss.

Top line may be lower but bottom line would improve if we played all games at Gampel. in 2023 - 2024, UConn paid $1.55 million to play 20 games (8 MBB, 8 WBB, 4 hockey) in Hartford which is likely way above market value. But the CRDA needs to justify its existence. When pre-rated, that comes out to about $90,000 per game for MBB. $10,000 in transportation costs for team, staff, band, students. Add in $25,000 in lost parking revenue and probably $50,000 - $75,000 in profits from concessions, and you can easily get to $175,000 - $200,000 per game.

Lost revenue from lower ticket sales would be around $70,000 (3500 less fans x $20 per seat). Add in $50,000 to operate GP (which is mid-range cost to operate that size of arena).

This does assume that corporate sponsorship money is not affected and AD would double seat donation price at GP. Most GP fans also have seats in Hartford, so paying double seat donation would be cost neutral to many fans.

 

[Stew Crew]

So the superior product will allow you to fit an extra 6k fans in Gampel?

The average Hartford attendance is around 3500 more than Gampel, with almost all of those 3500 paying $20/ticket or less. Between out-of-pocket costs (rent and transportation) and lost revenue opportunities (parking and concessions), it would be more cost effective to play at GP. It would also reduce available inventory, allowing for higher ticket prices. I doubt it would impact recruiting. I can't imagine any recruit choosing UConn so that they can get on a bus and take a 35 minute ride to play half their games at the mecca of college basketball now known as Peoples Bank Arena.

 

[Scoe]

It would be nice if Gampel added restrooms. If you have to use the restroom and go to concessions at halftime good luck getting back to your seat prior to the under 16 mark.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

The average Hartford attendance is around 3500 more than Gampel, with almost all of those 3500 paying $20/ticket or less. Between out-of-pocket costs (rent and transportation) and lost revenue opportunities (parking and concessions), it would be more cost effective to play at GP. It would also reduce available inventory, allowing for higher ticket prices. I doubt it would impact recruiting. I can't imagine any recruit choosing UConn so that they can get on a bus and take a 35 minute ride to play half their games at the mecca of college basketball best known for an NHL team that left town 30ish years ago now known as Peoples Bank Arena.

FIFY

 

[uconngb]

Gampel was even worse during the AAC years. You lower bowl guys couldn’t even bother to show up during weekday games. But what do I know? I was just sitting in the upper corner looking at all those empty seats being vigorously guarded by the yellow shirts wondering what else better you had to do.

And if you wanted to be honest, you would do an apples to apples comparison between Gampel and the XL since Gampel opened. It’s virtually even.Gampel never hosted Perno teams or teams with soccer goalies, and lefty pitchers in the rotation.

That’s a John Shea reference for all you newbies…..well done

 

[DSquiz]

The average Hartford attendance is around 3500 more than Gampel, with almost all of those 3500 paying $20/ticket or less. Between out-of-pocket costs (rent and transportation) and lost revenue opportunities (parking and concessions), it would be more cost effective to play at GP.

That’s not even close to being true. Playing in Hartford makes UConn a ton more money than Gampel. Direct from Benedict:

“I know this is a very emotional-driven conversation in the context of our fan base. The realities are we can sell 16,000 tickets, and we do for our men’s and women’s basketball teams when we play there. It produces over double what we can at Gampel. We’re not talking about increasing the number of games we play there, but we have an opportunity to make that more financially viable than it is today because of the work that Oak View is doing, and the state investment. There’s going to be more revenue coming from that building, even than what we’re currently generating, on top of the fact that the agreement is going to be better for us. So, more revenue, more favorable lease, much better. You have that piece.”

 

[Son of Robert]

Enjoy the Hartford games while you have them, because when I'm named UConn AD you'll get 0. Not even an exhibition game against a local HS team

It is Connecticut's team, not just the college. Being centrally located Hartford increases the access and visibility of the games to more of the state's population. There are many factors to building and maintaining the fan base, why would you go away from what has been working for the last 30 or 40 years?

 

[Stew Crew]

That’s not even close to being true. Playing in Hartford makes UConn a ton more money than Gampel. Direct from Benedict:

“I know this is a very emotional-driven conversation in the context of our fan base. The realities are we can sell 16,000 tickets, and we do for our men’s and women’s basketball teams when we play there. It produces over double what we can at Gampel. We’re not talking about increasing the number of games we play there, but we have an opportunity to make that more financially viable than it is today because of the work that Oak View is doing, and the state investment. There’s going to be more revenue coming from that building, even than what we’re currently generating, on top of the fact that the agreement is going to be better for us. So, more revenue, more favorable lease, much better. You have that piece.”

It’s good to see they are negotiating better deals but read the quote closer. Benedict is talking about the future. “We have the opportunity to make that more financially viable than it is today,”. Benedict is also talking about a more favorable lease and implying getting a cut of concessions and possibly loge/box seating. That is not the case today. In the past, Benedict has publicly said that attendance needs to be north of 10,000 in Hartford to just break even. If UConn can get reasonable lease and a cut of other revenue streams, then yes Hartford could be more viable.

 

[CL82]

This does assume that corporate sponsorship money is not affected and AD would double seat donation price at GP. Most GP fans also have seats in Hartford, so paying double seat donation would be cost neutral to many fans.

I think the way to address this would be to have two sessions in Gampel each with a separate seat donation. That way people who promised "x" number of games Gampel, would still get them. If they wanted to add the "second session games", they could. If former "Hartford only" ticket holders, wanted to buy them, they could.

That said, the Hartford games aren't going anywhere in the near term. Dave Benedict has indicated that there will be a renegotiated price that Connecticut plays to pay in Hartford, hinting that it will be lower. If that is the case, at least one of the problems of playing in Hartford is mitigated.

 

[CL82]

That’s not even close to being true. Playing in Hartford makes UConn a ton more money than Gampel. Direct from Benedict:

“I know this is a very emotional-driven conversation in the context of our fan base. The realities are we can sell 16,000 tickets, and we do for our men’s and women’s basketball teams when we play there. It produces over double what we can at Gampel. We’re not talking about increasing the number of games we play there, but we have an opportunity to make that more financially viable than it is today because of the work that Oak View is doing, and the state investment. There’s going to be more revenue coming from that building, even than what we’re currently generating, on top of the fact that the agreement is going to be better for us. So, more revenue, more favorable lease, much better. You have that piece.”

This is the quote I referenced in my above post. It surprised me when I read it originally. The notion that 16,000 seats produces "more than double" what 10,000 seats produces seems counterintuitive, but I have no reason to doubt Benedict. The word "produces" is interesting. Is that gross revenue or net revenue? I think pretty much everyone would agree that Hartford has the ability to generate more gross revenue. The question is with the current exorbitantly high lease rates and lack of access parking and concession revenue, does it generate more net income. I'd love to see the actual numbers to understand this better.

I do think things are happening that will make Hartford a better deal for us. The first is the renegotiated lease deal, if it meaningfully decreases the cost to Connecticut to rent the facility. A second is the redesign on the lower bowl, which should allow the school to make more revenue. I'm curious about what that change will do to atmosphere. If the new pricier seats end up being "empty corporate seats" that may end up being a bit of a net negative for atmosphere/tv.

I'm very curious to see how everything turns out, but so far the renovations seem to be very "unCDRA" and by that I mean, seem to be actual meaningful improvements that will ultimately benefit Connecticut.

 

[DSquiz]

It’s good to see they are negotiating better deals but read the quote closer. Benedict is talking about the future. “We have the opportunity to make that more financially viable than it is today,”. Benedict is also talking about a more favorable lease and implying getting a cut of concessions and possibly loge/box seating. That is not the case today. In the past, Benedict has publicly said that attendance needs to be north of 10,000 in Hartford to just break even. If UConn can get reasonable lease and a cut of other revenue streams, then yes Hartford could be more viable.

The first part of the quote talks about right now. A full PBA “produces over double what we can at Gampel.”

He then talks about the future and the upcoming terms making that even more lucrative. So your statement that Gampel is “more cost effective” isn’t the case.

So great news, and the renovations/new premium seating should be send even more money UConn’s way. Remember Gampel doesn’t offer any premium seating (which is fantastic for the vibe but bad for the bottom line).

 

[Stew Crew]

This is the quote I referenced in my above post. It surprised me when I read it originally. The notion that 16,000 seats produces "more than double" what 10,000 seats produces seems counterintuitive, but I have no reason to doubt Benedict. The word "produces" is interesting. Is that gross revenue or net revenue? I think pretty much everyone would agree that Hartford has the ability to generate more gross revenue. The question is with the current exorbitantly high lease rates and lack of access parking and concession revenue, does it generate more net income. I'd love to see the actual numbers to understand this better.

I do think things are happening that will make Hartford a better deal for us. The first is the renegotiated lease deal, if it meaningfully decreases the cost to Connecticut to rent the facility. A second is the redesign on the lower bowl, which should allow the school to make more revenue. I'm curious about what that change will do to atmosphere. If the new pricier seats end up being "empty corporate seats" that may end up being a bit of a net negative for atmosphere/tv.

I'm very curious to see how everything turns out, but so far the renovations seem to be very "unCDRA" and by that I mean, seem to be actual meaningful improvements that will ultimately benefit Connecticut.

I imagine there is a certain level of hyperbole coming from the guy tasked with closing a $40 million gap in the budget, all in the face of upcoming revenue sharing. 3 years ago, XL was a losing proposition according to Benedict. Then he negotiates a new deal in Hartford that is bringing in more revenue and gets some major upgrades to enhance revenue. This year, he is pumping up the financial benefits of Hartford while planning a major expansion of Gampel that will need funding. Shrewd move.