Pretend you were dropped into a seat. No travel, no parking.
Which venue do you enjoy more?
I put XL because it's closer to my house and I don't every have to sit on those god-awful bench seats. From a pure entertainment standpoint, I like Gampel better.
Note the question: Travel is not a consideration.i love gampel, but hartford is about ~30 minutes closer to new haven than storrs, so xl is preferable for weeknight games.
gampel doesn't have a single bad seat, though. can't say that about xl.
I think you'll find the experience at XL vastly better this season than you've experienced so far. The AAC and the crappy UConn teams really killed the whole thing. Now, we should be back to the good times.Current student here, from someone who is admittedly not super in tune with the scheduling logistics that come into play in regards to Gampel vs. XL, the splits this year are HORRIBLE. As someone who came to Storrs in 2017, was forced to watch AAC basketball as well as missing a whole season due to COVID, I wish the first important game in Gampel wasn't all the way in January. One could even argue that there are no must watch, mark your calendar type games at Gampel this year.
It just seems completely illogical from a pure sporting perspective to have Nova and Creighton at XL, the atmosphere is noticeably worse. The student section is notably worse, this is for a variety of reasons but mostly because 1. We have to have the ability to somehow get to Hartford. 2. We are, by this circumstance, less inebriated.
6000 more seats doesn't counteract what you lose when you choose XL, in my opinion. Also, someone who knows more please tell me why these splits, every year, just seem beyond all logic? Am I missing something?
I really don't think so, I had pretty much the same experience as him during my college years and that spanned the last Big East year, the national championship and then the downfall. Students just don't care about going to XL games because it's such a huge inconvenience to get there, especially if you're an underclassmen and don't know anyone with a carI think you'll find the experience at XL vastly better this season than you've experienced so far. The AAC and the crappy UConn teams really killed the whole thing. Now, we should be back to the good times.
Are there no more busses? Having to get a bus pass days in advance always sucked because it meant you could t spontaneously go to a game, but for the big games the busses were always full and the student section was too. At least when I was there.I really don't think so, I had pretty much the same experience as him during my college years and that spanned the last Big East year, the national championship and then the downfall. Students just don't care about going to XL games because it's such a huge inconvenience to get there, especially if you're an underclassmen and don't know anyone with a car
Current student here, from someone who is admittedly not super in tune with the scheduling logistics that come into play in regards to Gampel vs. XL, the splits this year are HORRIBLE. As someone who came to Storrs in 2017, was forced to watch AAC basketball as well as missing a whole season due to COVID, I wish the first important game in Gampel wasn't all the way in January. One could even argue that there are no must watch, mark your calendar type games at Gampel this year.
It just seems completely illogical from a pure sporting perspective to have Nova and Creighton at XL, the atmosphere is noticeably worse. The student section is notably worse, this is for a variety of reasons but mostly because 1. We have to have the ability to somehow get to Hartford. 2. We are, by this circumstance, less inebriated.
6000 more seats doesn't counteract what you lose when you choose XL, in my opinion. Also, someone who knows more please tell me why these splits, every year, just seem beyond all logic? Am I missing something?
They had busses, but I always found it difficult to make work with classes and getting to the game on time. The big games were more fill in the student section but I always found it underwhelming compared to big games at GampelAre there no more busses? Having to get a bus pass days in advance always sucked because it meant you could t spontaneously go to a game, but for the big games the busses were always full and the student section was too. At least when I was there.
That sucks. I was always used to XL rocking for good games. In the 90's and early 2000s I actually hated Gampel for the most part. Of course, there was great games there too, like Texas and Arizona, but XL always seemed more edgy. It had a big city vibe to it when loud.I really don't think so, I had pretty much the same experience as him during my college years and that spanned the last Big East year, the national championship and then the downfall. Students just don't care about going to XL games because it's such a huge inconvenience to get there, especially if you're an underclassmen and don't know anyone with a car
This is just wrong. The XL atmosphere has been noticably better than Gampel pre-COVID. The "suits" at the XL are louder and much less corporate and than their old rep, no matter the competition. Meanwhile, student attendance has fallen off a cliff. Like I mentioned in another thread, Gampel was dead in a late-season game with NCAA implications just 2 years ago. Inexcusable.It just seems completely illogical from a pure sporting perspective to have Nova and Creighton at XL, the atmosphere is noticeably worse. ...Am I missing something?
I would disagree with the assessment that Creighton should be considered a top draw this season and should be split from Nova. They lost their entire team and have a talented recruiting class but all freshmen so skeptical they will be a top half Big East team.Also, someone who knows more please tell me why these splits, every year, just seem beyond all logic? Am I missing something?
All fair points, but I think this is also in addition to an ABYSMAL non conference Gampel home schedule. Along with puzzling decisions just like this that have taken place the past few years. I can say with a reasonable amount confidence that most students are disappointed with the splits at Gampel every year I have been at the University. It’s a trend that I wish we had a bit more insight as to why.I would disagree with the assessment that Creighton should be considered a top draw this season and should be split from Nova. They lost their entire team and have a talented recruiting class but all freshmen so skeptical they will be a top half Big East team.
Villanova at XL sure, but it's one game. Big East preseason will probably go 1. Nova 2. UConn 3. Xavier 4. St. John's 5. Seton Hall 6. Butler 7. Creighton 8. Providence 9. Georgetown 10. Marquette 11. DePaul (bolded at Gampel this season)
In addition to having arguably 3 of the 4 best teams in the conference not named UConn at Gampel, as we saw last time Georgetown came to town, it was a packed XL Center so them along with the other original Big East teams should be a huge draw at Gampel. Granted all of those games are during the week excluding Xavier and DePaul, but in terms of opponent split it seems reasonable.
This year St. John's and Seton Hall should be a bigger draw than Creighton given where I expect them to finish and historical rivalry.
Completely agree on the home non-conference schedule. That needs to improve dramatically.All fair points, but I think this is also in addition to an ABYSMAL non conference Gampel home schedule. Along with puzzling decisions just like this that have taken place the past few years. I can say with a reasonable amount confidence that most students are disappointed with the splits at Gampel every year I have been at the University. It’s a trend that I wish we had a bit more insight as to why.
Like I said it just really sticks out to me that the first important game this year at Gampel is in January to a “ok maybe they’re good” St. John’s team. When UConn is good the students are as rowdy as any set of fans in college basketball and I just wish we had the opportunity to show it more.
'All fair points, but I think this is also in addition to an ABYSMAL non conference Gampel/XL home schedule.'All fair points, but I think this is also in addition to an ABYSMAL non conference Gampel home schedule. Along with puzzling decisions just like this that have taken place the past few years. I can say with a reasonable amount confidence that most students are disappointed with the splits at Gampel every year I have been at the University. It’s a trend that I wish we had a bit more insight as to why.
Like I said it just really sticks out to me that the first important game this year at Gampel is in January to a “ok maybe they’re good” St. John’s team. When UConn is good the students are as rowdy as any set of fans in college basketball and I just wish we had the opportunity to show it more.