Poll: What do you think of Gampel's lower bowl fans?

[Deepster]

So far:

8 people think the lower bowl is great and 6 of those 8 sit there.

41 people think the lower bowl is lame.

Of the 10 people sitting in the lower bowl, 4 think they’re lame.

 

[JeannoCT]

I sit in the lower bowl, and I actually do have a pulse. When I went to the restroom late in the game, I had to wait for about 12 college students to exit the building to get to the restroom. So it's not just the old folks leaving early.

 

[BPT2Storrs]

When Creighton game tipped Gampel appeared to be rocking, we then hit a quick bucket and everyone immediately sat down and the noise stopped immediately.

I know tradition is to stand until the first bucket but I think it’s a bad tradition. With everything Hurley said about the fans, the fact that Creighton has had our number, we are a top 5 team, etc. the crowd should have continued to stand and be loud after that initial possession and basket. No reason to immediately sit down and go silent.

 

[Platt81]

How old are you and where do you sit when you attend games?

45, been going to games at both arenas since I was 10, have been a season ticket holder at both for over ten years. Sit corner of upper bowls in both arenas. Not sure what any of these questions have to do with my opinion frankly.

 

[Husky Alien]

I'd prefer them more if they cheered more and wore haute couture UConn gear less.

Any time I see a UConn fan at Gampel wearing a sweatshirt that costs $200+, I fear the building is going to get gentrified and turn into loft spaces for young alums with trust funds and no college debt.

Wear whatever gear you like. High-end, old-school, or thrift store, it all represents the same team. But once you’re inside, the real requirement is noise. Cheer, stand, get into the game. Style is optional, energy is mandatory.

 

[temery]

I'm not sure about the rest of those in the lower bowl, but those tall guys who sit on the bench have been catching an awful lot of shit this past week.

 

[husky8273]

The fundraising from the UConn donor class is obviously essential to the viability of UConn athletics as we know it. Sadly, if we are going to try to stay at the Big boy table in college athletics, it requires tens of millions of annual fundraising just to stay equal with any P-4 conference member. This is so because we make chicken guano from the Big East.

DB wishes our alumni could provide support like SMU's do.

Mustang Partners Announces Transformative $50 Million Gift to Support SMU Student-Athletes - SMU Athletics

 

[Deepster]

When Creighton game tipped Gampel appeared to be rocking, we then hit a quick bucket and everyone immediately sat down and the noise stopped immediately.

I know tradition is to stand until the first bucket but I think it’s a bad tradition. With everything Hurley said about the fans, the fact that Creighton has had our number, we are a top 5 team, etc. the crowd should have continued to stand and be loud after that initial possession and basket. No reason to immediately sit down and go silent.

1000%. I absolutely hate this tradition.

It sucks when the entire place sits immediately after the first bucket and it’s uncomfortable when it takes too long to get the first bucket.

 

[Deepster]

45, been going to games at both arenas since I was 10, have been a season ticket holder at both for over ten years. Sit corner of upper bowls in both arenas. Not sure what any of these questions have to do with my opinion frankly.

Because your original post sounded like someone that sits in the lower bowl and thinks it’s better than it really is. The stats so far in the poll show the only people who think the lower bowl is good are the people that sit in the lower bowl.

 

[Get a Job]

I'm not sure about the rest of those in the lower bowl, but those tall guys who sit on the bench have been catching an awful lot of shit this past week.

Speaking of them, and the subject of this thread: Millinder is a wildman on the bench. Leading cheers, going nuts, etc. Very fun to watch.

 

[microfich]

Tired old argument with no new opinions. I laugh when I hear folks saying that unless you stand and scream all game you're a less-worthy fan. Short-sighted youth, as ever. Still, I appreciate them standing and screaming - they're students and should defend their team till they're worn out and raspy.

The school needs the money the donors provide and they're not going to provide it if they have to sit in non-prime locations. Live with that, it's not changing.

Donors are typically (not all, to be sure) older, long-time fans who worked for their money and are gratefully giving it to the university. They also come with older bodies and don't pump them up with energy embellishments or 2 hours of concerted beer prep. They pay to sit, yell (yes, yell!), enjoy and rise up when the occasion presents itself, which is generally not in the first half. I'll give you there is less game-long yelling than there used to be and don't blame Danny for asking for more.

As I rose through the seat allocation system over the decades, I've moved from the mountain tops in both venues, over and across the Yukon and finally down to the lower bowl. It was a determined journey well worth it. It did not take $25k/year to get there, it was the journey that piled up the priority points (not $$$) required.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

DB wishes our alumni could provide support like SMU's do.

Mustang Partners Announces Transformative $50 Million Gift to Support SMU Student-Athletes - SMU Athletics

So do I!

 

[Deepster]

Tired old argument with no new opinions. I laugh when I hear folks saying that unless you stand and scream all game you're a less-worthy fan. Short-sighted youth, as ever. Still, I appreciate them standing and screaming - they're students and should defend their team till they're worn out and raspy.

The school needs the money the donors provide and they're not going to provide it if they have to sit in non-prime locations. Live with that, it's not changing.

Donors are typically (not all, to be sure) older, long-time fans who worked for their money and are gratefully giving it to the university. They also come with older bodies and don't pump them up with energy embellishments or 2 hours of concerted beer prep. They pay to sit, yell (yes, yell!), enjoy and rise up when the occasion presents itself, which is generally not in the first half. I'll give you there is less game-long yelling than there used to be and don't blame Danny for asking for more.

As I rose through the seat allocation system over the decades, I've moved from the mountain tops in both venues, over and across the Yukon and finally down to the lower bowl. It was a determined journey well worth it. It did not take $25k/year to get there, it was the journey that piled up the priority points (not $$$) required.

This post makes the lower bowl sound super lame.

 

[temery]

This post makes the lower bowl sound super lame.

Best seats in the house are first row, upper bowl, center court with a rail in front.

 

[temery]

I'll say this. The Champions Club that sits at halfcourt? The minimum donation to qualify for access there is $25,000 a year.

I had a friend with behind the bench seats for decades. I went to a lot of games with him, but it cracked me up when he called me up one day and said he had been called from somebody from the school asking if he wanted to fly with the team to Georgetown, stay in the same hotel, dinner, watch the game, fly home, etc, etc.

The funny part was when he said, "and it's completely free!"

His donations over the years was easily seven figures, but this benefit was FREE!

I swear they do this every away game just to squeeze even more money out of a long time significant donor. My friend was elated to be offered, but he knew exactly what's what. I asked him if they tried to hit him up for a big check he said, of course.

 

[temery]

I always ate my roommates American cheese slices. When there's 64 of them it's hard to monitor the missing.

On a bad day, I put some ipicac in the onion dip mix I had just made. If I made a batch, about a third of it was gone by the next day, and it wasn't me who ate it.

He went to the health center and was told he likely had a food sensitivity to onions.

I very much enjoyed my onion dip for the next year and a half.

 

[John]

I sit in the lower bowl, and I actually do have a pulse. When I went to the restroom late in the game, I had to wait for about 12 college students to exit the building to get to the restroom. So it's not just the old folks leaving early.

Real fans hold it until after the game

 

[BigTenFan]

I had a friend with behind the bench seats for decades. I went to a lot of games with him, but it cracked me up when he called me up one day and said he had been called from somebody from the school asking if he wanted to fly with the team to Georgetown, stay in the same hotel, dinner, watch the game, fly home, etc, etc.

The funny part was when he said, "and it's completely free!"

His donations over the years was easily seven figures, but this benefit was FREE!

I swear they do this every away game just to squeeze even more money out of a long time significant donor. My friend was elated to be offered, but he knew exactly what's what. I asked him if they tried to hit him up for a big check he said, of course.

Sounds like the casino 'comping' your dinner and overnight stay

 

[uconn_jack]

Speaking of them, and the subject of this thread: Millinder is a wildman on the bench. Leading cheers, going nuts, etc. Very fun to watch.

I've noticed this too. One of the main reasons I like going to games in person is to see everything that is going on with the benches and coaching staffs, adds to the interest and drama of a game IMO.

Something else I've noticed during games (at least the several most recent ones) is Luke often tearing into Reed during time outs and when coming back to the bench. Maybe Luke is designated bad cop? Unfortunately Reed sometimes seems to look annoyed and dismissive about it which is surprising because I thought he was a very coachable kid.

 

[uconn_jack]

I’m confused. Is the issue empty seats or how rowdy the fans are? Empty seats is the bigger issue,

I agree, they wouldn't get so much flak if they at least just showed up or made sure their seats got used. They don't necessarily need to be rowdy, that's the students job. Just fill the seats, clap and don't look dead would be a big help.

 

[microfich]

This post makes the lower bowl sound super lame.

You couldn't be more wrong.

 

[BigTenFan]

I think Alabama Football requires every season ticket holder to use every seat for every game or risk losing their season tickets.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Tired old argument with no new opinions. I laugh when I hear folks saying that unless you stand and scream all game you're a less-worthy fan. Short-sighted youth, as ever. Still, I appreciate them standing and screaming - they're students and should defend their team till they're worn out and raspy.

The school needs the money the donors provide and they're not going to provide it if they have to sit in non-prime locations. Live with that, it's not changing.

Donors are typically (not all, to be sure) older, long-time fans who worked for their money and are gratefully giving it to the university. They also come with older bodies and don't pump them up with energy embellishments or 2 hours of concerted beer prep. They pay to sit, yell (yes, yell!), enjoy and rise up when the occasion presents itself, which is generally not in the first half. I'll give you there is less game-long yelling than there used to be and don't blame Danny for asking for more.

As I rose through the seat allocation system over the decades, I've moved from the mountain tops in both venues, over and across the Yukon and finally down to the lower bowl. It was a determined journey well worth it. It did not take $25k/year to get there, it was the journey that piled up the priority points (not $$$) required.

Oh, they worked for their money? Well that clarifies things. I thought they were all crooks.

And yes, sitting silently on your butt all game, no matter where you sit, does indeed make you less of a fan. Believe it.

 

[uconnfan68]

Real fans hold it until after the game

It Depends.

 

[Deepster]

You couldn't be more wrong.

See, it’s an opinion. Like your post which is also an opinion. And I feel like you couldn’t be more wrong. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[Deepster]

Also interesting. 72 votes and 0 people who go and don’t sit in the lower bowl think the lower bowl is great.

 

[uconnfan68]

I really don't like to criticize the folks that are spending their money to support the school, but let's face it... on tv we just don't look like a great college atmosphere. Lots of empty seats behind the bench that stick out, especially compared to places that fill those tv seats with fanatics. There should be a way for the seat holders to let the students take those seats prior the game starting if they won't be used.

 

[Stew Crew]

I agree, they wouldn't get so much flak if they at least just showed up or made sure their seats got used. They don't necessarily need to be rowdy, that's the students job. Just fill the seats, clap and don't look dead would be a big help.

At tipoff, there were ALOT more empty seats in the upper bowl chairbacks than in the lower bowl, at least on that side of GP, for Creighton. I cannot comment on the other side. That’s where I sit and don’t have a clear view of the sideline bleachers.

 

[Stew Crew]

Also interesting. 72 votes and 0 people who go and don’t sit in the lower bowl think the lower bowl is great.

So it’s all about jealousy, then?

 

[Stew Crew]

I really don't like to criticize the folks that are spending their money to support the school, but let's face it... on tv we just don't look like a great college atmosphere. Lots of empty seats behind the bench that stick out, especially compared to places that fill those tv seats with fanatics. There should be a way for the seat holders to let the students take those seats prior the game starting if they won't be used.

The seats behind the bench belong to the Athletic Dept. Hurley and his staff get more than 50 seats per game. That’s where recruits, former players, friends and family sit when they go. There are a couple of HUGE donors that sit near there but they are also at every game.