Poor fan showing at Gampel

[freescooter]

Not to bring football into the discussion- but I will. If there is concern about filling the seats at Gampel for one of the best teams in the country year after year- that doesn't paint a good picture of on campus football.

Gampel should be packed every game, no matter who the opponent.

It was…in 1999. As with most things over time interest changes. I looked at attendance a couple of years ago and tracked it. It peaked in 2006 then either declined or a couple of years stayed flat but never returned to the 06 level again until Covid. It bounced back in a big way post COVID but is now going back. It isn’t new. We are good agains but we aren’t the surprise team any more. And I think more and more people are recognizing that the NBE ain’t your father’s Big East. The opponent’s shirt might say Georgetown but the players aren’t Ewing and Sleepy Floyd. Then there are ticket prices. You want me to spend how much for tickets to see a bad opponent? For a game we should win by 20? That we didn’t is different issue.

 

[jpeakin]

The crowds mirror the fanbase as a macro. Back to back titles have made us miserable. To the point where we can’t enjoy a 24-2 season.

I should really tune in to a RedHawk game but I wonder what's going on with the fanbase / attendance at Miami OH (25-0) these days. Our records are similar but you would never know it by the reactions here. I know it's comparing apples to oranges but they have to be pretty hyped up.

 

[Nicklo28]

This game was sold out. There were no shows. Did you see the price of tickets for these games at Gampel and Hartford in the secondary market. UConn does have a very strong fan base that pay a lot of money for these games. Unfortunately it is also true there are a lot of diehards that don’t want to pay those prices and watch on their big TV screens at the comfort of their home.

 

[Austin316]

Ticket prices are steep.

I’m usually an obnoxious drunk fan but now with 3 little kids it’s hard getting out there, or taking them to a game.

 

[bendm]

If Duke can sell out every game so should we. Don’t say Gampel is bigger because so is UConn, and Cameron would still be sold out if it sat 700 more.

 

[Taco]

The student tickets should not be 100% free. Add a nominal cost, like $5-10 and only studnets who really want to go will buy them.
What is hapenning now is kids are logging in, getting their free ticket in case they want to go and then not going. Students tickets are also currently non transferable even between students. makes no sense.

I 100% agree they should be cheap, not free. But I agree on no transferring allowed. No doubt that would create a new “business”.

I agree with everything stated about the costs etc., but also it should be noted that as far as I could tell (was there) there wasn’t one GT fan in the arena - not one.

 

[Hoophound]

Then that's another dumb move by UConn. Doesn't seem like we have the best decision-makers at the school.

Gemini says University of Florida's acceptance rate is 24%, UConn's is 54-56%.

Yeah, but that’s not as meaningful as it sounds. So many kids are competing to get into the four major Florida public universities (UF, FSU, UCF, USF) because they are affordable. Florida offers very reasonable tuition and then there is the Bright Futures Scholarship that just about every kid that can even get into these four schools qualifies for. There’s two tiers, 75% and 100% of tuition depending on gpa and SAT scores. So, tons of applications and lower acceptance rates. If UConn offered Bright Futures Scolarships the acceptance rate would be similar.

 

[John]

Lolz, UConn is ranked 69th in U.S. News and World Report. We're behind UMass for crissakes.

That’s not a valid ranking system.

 

[UConnJim]

I went to the last 3 games in Boston and the UConn fans were loud and proud. Great atmosphere. Been to the Big East Tournament at MSG at least 20 times and UConn fans are loud and proud. Personally, I prefer going to games in Hartford over Storrs as I like the dinner and bar options better.

As for this season, the team is having a great year, but you don't have compelling conference matchups to get the fans excited before the games. That said, I am expecting a raucous crowd when St. John's comes to Hartford!

 

[Padutch5]

So I was at the game, and afterward walked around campus. The place was absolutely dead on a Saturday. I took a drive through Hunting Lodge. Nothing. Nothing going at all.

After the game, I tried to get a UConn chant going, and nothing happened.

Are the kids alright? What the is going on?

First, it was a Friday night on a campus that is basically still a commuter campus. Also, its is basically a holiday weekend with Valentines weekend. Third, not just at UCONN, but on many campuses, NIL is becoming a dividing force. People are recognizing that many students are just paid players, not really students.
We have tickets downtown and i think the attendance has been pretty good. The several hundred million dollars spent has been a dramatic upgrade.
Last,and I am an older fan, but i am losing interest in mens basketball. Some other fans I talk to are having the same reaction. When i see who the refs are before a game, and know which ones will not be fair to UCONN, something is wrong. When i see a player using his shoulder to ram into the defender and the defender is called for a blocking foul, something is wrong. Same with all of the holding and the way it isnt called. It has become roller derby [for those of you who even know what that is], without skates. I find women’s basketball it is much closer to what Naismith planned [but some women’s teams are trying to emulate the rough style of mens basketball.] these are all issues that the NCAA and or the Big East can address, but if history is any indication, i have little confidence that they will

 

[LetsGoUC]

I think overall, UConn has a good, relatively large fan base....that being said this year has been bad and our current students are very very pathetic. They almost need to figure out a true "leader" every year of the section who leads the chants.

Again, UConn has a good fan base..lets not act like it doesnt. We have shown that as well....I mean Pitino calls out fans the Kentucky of the East for the last several years!

 

[willie99]

My friends in attendance both told me they thought to crowd was good. Into the game and loud

 

[XLCenterFan]

There’s a bunch of stuff going on.

• we are spoiled
• the BE is down this year
• college kids are softer than ever
• weeknight games and 8:00 games are tough
• lots of casuals bought seasons
• season ticket prices go up and up and up

The Arizona game was wild. If BYU/Illini/Florida were at home, they also would have been. The St John’s game will be a great one. Other than that, the Texas and Nova games had decent crowds. It’s really hard to get up for a game vs some of these other teams. I watch games in other conferences and track their crowds. I don’t think ours has been significantly worse than many others. Dan Hurley needs to chill a bit. No ones going nuts for a Georgetown game in Storrs on Valentines Day.

 

[superjohn]

That’s not a valid ranking system.

What is a valid ranking system?

 

[XLCenterFan]

Hartford is becoming our better venue again. There are more season tickets there then there are seats at Gampel. It’s more central in the state and you can actually eat/drink somewhere before the game. Even considering the AZ game, it’s been the better crowd this year. Johnnie’s game will be wild.

 

[psilotic]

Is there a certain timeframe in which if student tickets arent claimed they open it to the public for a reasonable price?

They attempted this in Hartford for the Sat noon DePaul game (be a student for a day for $50!). The problem was they didn't mean the seats at the front of the student section (the folding chairs on the risers), but the "permanent" ones located behind the risers. I had row J which I assumed was the 10th row of the risers. Other non-students assumed the same thing. The Yellow Jackets descended and tried to boot us but someone had a screenshot of the facebook ad and that kept the jackets at bay. We asked for someone from UConn tickets to come over and sort out the mess but none did. I'd say the risers part of the section was about half full.

 

[huskyjawz]

When people have wives they do. Mine never goes to the games. I negotiated to take her out Friday and to the game Saturday but she is a reasonable person.

(ultimately she was sick yesterday so I had to give the tickets up but at least my seats were filled)

I have a wife and she would think I needed to be committed if I skipped a UConn game for Valentine's Day.

 

[HooperScooper]

That’s not a valid ranking system.

What rankings are?

I think of UConn as a very good public university. But it's not close to a "Public Ivy". Whatever exactly that means. Cal Berkeley, UCLA, UVA, Michigan, UNC, Georgia Tech, etc. are public universities that have an elite reputation.

I'm not sure why this is germane to the discussion in this thread anyway.

 

[Brad Palmer]

Hurley should have asked Ed why only 3,000 people are in the stands at Georgetown games

Spot on! Looked it up and they drew 4,380 for Creighton and 3,422 for DePaul. We seem to live in Ed's mind rent-free. First it was the "spoiled fan base" comments, then this. Wonder if Hurley would have said anything in his presser had Cooley not said something to him in the handshake line?

That being said, if resale market had tix for last night for reasonable prices and not $ 100 and more, the place would be filled.

 

[psilotic]

Here are things I believe:
1). High ticket prices: In this NIL/revenue sharing/pay the players era, it's either accept it or watch the program fall into national irrelevance like Syracuse, BC, etc. etc. The frequent social media pix of a 1/3 full Dome make me thing Orange fans would love to be in UConn's shoes.
2). for at least Gampel games, let the students have as big a chunk of the lower bowl that they get at Duke, Michigan State. IMO if donors balk at that. .... they really don't have the best interest of the program at heart. These kids are only here for four years, let 'em have the perk.
3). Gampel was pretty lit for the Arizona game and I expect PBA will be for Johnnies. Maybe Sat was not the fan base's finest moment. Perhaps the fallout will light a fire under everyone for Wed.