Poor fan showing at Gampel

[beerfan]

I didn't want to start a new thread on this and considering were already at 13 pages I figured I'd ask here; I haven't been to Storrs in many years but I am going up for Creighton tomorrow. Im going to get there around 4:00. Should I just park in North garage or will it be a nightmare getting out? I used to park on Discovery Drive coming down the hill but I think I heard those are bike lanes now? If they are I was considering the lot outside Northwest if there are spots, or by the bus depot. Alternatively I thought about parking at horse barn but not sure I want to make that walk after a game, especially if it's raining

Park by the new hockey arena

 

[Scrutineer]

Well, Georgetown shouldn’t be commenting on anyone’s attendance. I’m sorry.

And it was a three-day weekend, which I’m sure someone has said somewhere in this discussion where a lot of kids go home.

But I looked for tickets, and I was looking at $350-500 for 2 crappy tickets for this game.

And I’m not sure if I’m alone in this, but I’ve kind of had it. And it’s not just UConn basketball, but this whole economy we have where it just seems like you’ve got to spend an arm or two to do things which used to be attainable. Not all of us have this type of money.

Red Sox game same thing - no, I don’t want to pay $60 to park my car. I used to pay $60 to stay at a hotel for the night going back a few years ago.

And the tipping point for me was this weekend where I was going to get some egg salad to go with a croissant for dinner at a Coop. It was literally the smallest amount of egg salad in a tiny container (with no croissant) for 7 dollars. Yes, me and the cashier had a good laugh - no, I didn’t buy it.

Sorry this touches a nerve, but this is not a UConn issue. Maybe the secondary selling of tickets needs to be finally looked at because it’s ridiculous.

But a few open seats say nothing about UConn fans in my opinion - at least not the ones that are trying to make their mortgage every month, pay rent, or raise a family. The economy is the worst I’ve seen it for average income folks or lower in my existence on this planet - sure, it’s been worse at some point in history, but not since I’ve been here.

While I agree with you about concessions pricing (they're absurd just about everywhere today) I'd like to know where you found "crappy tickets" for the Georgetown game being offered at $350-500 (for two you seem to have indicated).

I check prices on Seat Geek now and then and late Saturday afternoon I happened to check the Georgetown game. What I found were several hundred tickets available, from the lower bowl sidelines to upper endzones and there were tickets available from $48 in the upper level, including chair back seats, to $250 or so in the lower bowl.

Overall, the highest prices were less than $300 per ticket in the lower bowl and as low as $48 in the uppers. And don't forget, those people selling any of those seats paid a "seat license" as well as the ticket price.

Go to Seat Geek and look at the Creighton game prices. The prices are similar to those for sale for the Georgetown game on Saturday. About 20 available in the lower bowl at $96 to less than $180. Second level? Probably 200 available at under $100.

Maybe you were just using hyperbole, but that doesn't add value to an honest discussion about why there were empty seats.
What makes the most sense about the number of empty seats are the "special" day and a mediocre opponent.

Finally, with so little media revenue we have to find financial support wherever we can, so let's all hope we get invited to join a league with serious media contracts soon.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

@Scrutineer @UCan3 as a frequent Gampel single game buyer I have had the best luck with prices on vividseats

 

[beerfan]

Jeff? I think you mean Lew.

Actually, the priority points seat program started under Toner when we first joined the Big East. As part of that, I remember my Dad buying football and soccer tickets because you got "basketball points". We actually started going to the football games then. We would go up early, and you could just walk into the old Field House and watch the basketball team practice.

 

[TonyClifton]

One of the best AD's in the country and loyal too. He's been a blessing.

Respectfully do not agree......1) he promised long time season ticket holders, like myself, that our basketball seats were "forever seats" if continued to pay during COVID- then 3 years later took them away 2) He's been played 2x by the Big XII, and IMO hasn't done enough to proactively get us into a P4 Conference 3) I can't 100% blame him for losing Mora- but bottom line is he let the coach walk to a school that is inferior to ours....bad optics. 4) I have gone from lower level BE Men's Tourny tickets to upper level center court, to this year only being offered upper corners....he is so about the bottom line $$$, he has turned me completely off 5) He brought Edsall back- a complete disaster of a decision
I know he's done good things as well....ie hiring Hurley.....but just don't act like his s__t don't stink as he's alienated all the long time basketball season ticket holders I know

 

[Hamms30]

There are entire rows of tickets for sale for tomorrow's game on Seatgeek. This is the issue the Athletic Department needs to address, because a lot of people were kicked out of their seats to allow stuff like this to happen.

 

[Waquoit]

Although AD David Benedict has his flaws, our Athletic Dept would be a total poop-show disaster if not for what he has done/has been doing.

He's not tone deaf. He's knows the story and I can't blame him for the what it costs. This is what you have to do in the big-time. I just wish Hurley had the crowds' back a bit. Saturday didn't seem that bad. I've seen him exhort a PBA crowds that didn't need exhorting a couple of times this year. I wish he would spend his emotional resources elsewhere.

 

[Fishy]

The entire fan base, Hurley and AD David Benedict got trolled by Ed Cooley and are now chasing their tails. Good work, all.

We had an 8pm game against a scrub, on Valentine's Day, during a long weekend, before a week off for a ton of school kids.

You're telling me attendance was not great? Well, I am shocked. We should definitely start changing everything we do.

 

[Stew Crew]

There are entire rows of tickets for sale for tomorrow's game on Seatgeek. This is the issue the Athletic Department needs to address, because a lot of people were kicked out of their seats to allow stuff like this to happen.

I don't think that is actually happening. I learned this buying some concert tickets. If a Seat Geek listing shows the seat numbers, then only those seats are highlighted. If the listing does not show the seat numbers, then the whole row gets highlighted even if only 2 or 4 seats are available. I can see only 1 listing for more than 6 tickets and it is in the corner above one of the entrances.

 

[Stew Crew]

Actually, the priority points seat program started under Toner when we first joined the Big East. As part of that, I remember my Dad buying football and soccer tickets because you got "basketball points". We actually started going to the football games then. We would go up early, and you could just walk into the old Field House and watch the basketball team practice.

I used to do the same thing. I got more priority points by buying football and soccer tickets than I would by donating the same amount to the UCADF. I think they did away with that because so many people did the same thing and then they ended up with lots of good seats that remained empty for soccer and football.

Other than that, I don't remember what Perkins or Hathaway did to the point system or prices that would have gotten people riled up.

 

[Deepster]

The entire fan base, Hurley and AD David Benedict got trolled by Ed Cooley and are now chasing their tails. Good work, all.

We had an 8pm game against a scrub, on Valentine's Day, during a long weekend, before a week off for a ton of school kids.

You're telling me attendance was not great? Well, I am shocked. We should definitely start changing everything we do.

And trolled by a guy that plays in a mausoleum every home game.

 

[6in25]

The entire fan base, Hurley and AD David Benedict got trolled by Ed Cooley and are now chasing their tails. Good work, all.

We had an 8pm game against a scrub, on Valentine's Day, during a long weekend, before a week off for a ton of school kids.

You're telling me attendance was not great? Well, I am shocked. We should definitely start changing everything we do.

I think it's less about total attendance and more about fan behavior at the game.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Ed has plenty to worry about with this second crappy team at Georgetown. I would find it funny, but Ed was trolling. That was not a slip of the tongue.

 

[Trudy Gay]

I think people are really overestimating and overstating how loud or crazy some of these really famous college venues get during non ranked matchups, I watched a few minutes of a live stream someone did from Cameron Indoor on TikTok during the Syracuse game, the person was sitting in the top corner so you could see the whole venue. Other than the student section, the fans sat the whole time and were not very loud, and it was a lot of older folks just like Gampel. You have to remember that a good broadcast producer is going to make it seem very loud and crazy on tv, especially in the students section.

I’m not saying Gampel isn’t lacking a bit, but I think some of these other venues aren’t all THAT much better on any given game.

 

[6in25]

I think people are really overestimating and overstating how loud or crazy some of these really famous college venues get during non ranked matchups, I watched a few minutes of a live stream someone did from Cameron Indoor on TikTok during the Syracuse game, the person was sitting in the top corner so you could see the whole venue. Other than the student section, the fans sat the whole time and were not very loud, and it was a lot of older folks just like Gampel. You have to remember that a good broadcast producer is going to make it seem very loud and crazy on tv, especially in the students section.

I’m not saying Gampel isn’t lacking a bit, but I think some of these other venues aren’t all THAT much better on any given game.

I'm sure you're right but it's not too much to ask to stand up when the coaches and players are asking you to. It's not too much to ask you to stay for the whole game, especially when it's close. And it's not too much to ask you to stay a few extra minutes for the AK announcement. I get a select few may have their special circumstances, some didn't hear Fanta's alleged impromptu announcement, but it's a lot of people doing this stuff. I'm a season ticket holder and have been for awhile, so I see it. Going into the game last Saturday they were the number 6 team in the country with a 23-2 record...TWO natty's in 3 years...and people can't be bothered to get off their butts and make some noise or stay a few extra minutes to wait out traffic. What a joke.

 

[superjohn]

The entire fan base, Hurley and AD David Benedict got trolled by Ed Cooley and are now chasing their tails. Good work, all.

We had an 8pm game against a scrub, on Valentine's Day, during a long weekend, before a week off for a ton of school kids.

You're telling me attendance was not great? Well, I am shocked. We should definitely start changing everything we do.

We should absolutely change the policy on student tickets. It's ridiculous what they had in place and I'm glad some of it's being addressed now.

 

[John]

I used to do the same thing. I got more priority points by buying football and soccer tickets than I would by donating the same amount to the UCADF. I think they did away with that because so many people did the same thing and then they ended up with lots of good seats that remained empty for soccer and football.

Other than that, I don't remember what Perkins or Hathaway did to the point system or prices that would have gotten people riled up.

Raises hand: soccer and softball
Still get emails from the softball program despite never attending a single game.

Lew changed the calculus for season ticket holders, moving some very long term patrons to crappier seats because they didn’t (according to the company line at the time) carry the freight. It was a fairly big public relations issue between season ticket holders and the AD. Sounds oddly familiar, right? Jeff Hathaway came from Colorado State and was the “caretaker’s caretaker” (ie. empty suit). He did Jack and You Know What during his tenure, despite being dealt very solid basketball and football hands.

 

[Trudy Gay]

I'm sure you're right but it's not too much to ask to stand up when the coaches and players are asking you to. It's not too much to ask you to stay for the whole game, especially when it's close. And it's not too much to ask you to stay a few extra minutes for the AK announcement. I get a select few may have their special circumstances, some didn't hear Fanta's alleged impromptu announcement, but it's a lot of people doing this stuff. I'm a season ticket holder and have been for awhile, so I see it. Going into the game last Saturday they were the number 6 team in the country with a 23-2 record...TWO natty's in 3 years...and people can't be bothered to get off their butts and make some noise or stay a few extra minutes to wait out traffic. What a joke.

I’m a season ticket holder as well and I fully agree, I just don’t think we need to compare ourselves so much to the Phog and Cameron, which people do a lot.

 

[CTBasketball]

We should absolutely change the policy on student tickets. It's ridiculous what they had in place and I'm glad some of it's being addressed now.

They changed it a few years ago to the non-transfer rule so they could control what they resell and make it easier with SeatGeek to profit. The season ticket reshuffle was pure greed to move in more corporate style donors.

When we received public damning for our policies they reverted within 48 hours. They knew what they were doing was scummy and controlling, just got exposed so they fixed it to save face.

 

[Chief00]

You don't think they're working on foul shooting? That they don't notice that they're not able to get the ball in against pressure and working on it? You really think Hurley, having accomplished what he has, is going to change the way we play D which includes high hedges because some speculate maybe we'd be even more effective defensively if we played it differently?

As I said, I fully agree that this team isn't playing well enough right now to get to the Final Four (although they are playing well enough to get a 1 seed). Most likely, that's because we're not good enough. The most important thing we need to do to be much better isn't schematic. It's that we need more of the 9 guys who play every day to play well EVERY day, so that on any day at least 4 starters and 3 subs shows up and is materially contributing. And the biggest piece of that is playing well most of the time when Solo and Braylon are on the court together.

There is not any visible evidence we have invested in improving inbounding - I see no new concepts applied or tried.
I do agree with you on Danny’s attitude about the high hedge, with Donovan we effectively did not play it. He played it horizontally and usually did not go out above the 3 point line while Reed chases guards near half court.
Yet, our coaching staff seems to be in denial that there is now a scouting report which takes advantage of the vulnerabilities of the high hedge.

Execution is key to any plan. Let’s have enought of $2 beer on hand so not to run out 45 minutes before the game time.

 

[Chief00]

Good to see some action rather than words.

 

[Chief00]

They changed it a few years ago to the non-transfer rule so they could control what they resell and make it easier with SeatGeek to profit. The season ticket reshuffle was pure greed to move in more corporate style donors.

When we received public damning for our policies they reverted within 48 hours. They knew what they were doing was scummy and controlling, just got exposed so they fixed it to save face.

That Seat Geek deals seems to be the source of a lot of mistakes and less than transparent ethics. Did anyone ever do a FOI on it?
Did it have anything to do with 46% of the seats being unavailable before the donor with the most points could select their seat. Really tough to justify that!

 

[Chief00]

While I agree with you about concessions pricing (they're absurd just about everywhere today) I'd like to know where you found "crappy tickets" for the Georgetown game being offered at $350-500 (for two you seem to have indicated).

I check prices on Seat Geek now and then and late Saturday afternoon I happened to check the Georgetown game. What I found were several hundred tickets available, from the lower bowl sidelines to upper endzones and there were tickets available from $48 in the upper level, including chair back seats, to $250 or so in the lower bowl.

Overall, the highest prices were less than $300 per ticket in the lower bowl and as low as $48 in the uppers. And don't forget, those people selling any of those seats paid a "seat license" as well as the ticket price.

Go to Seat Geek and look at the Creighton game prices. The prices are similar to those for sale for the Georgetown game on Saturday. About 20 available in the lower bowl at $96 to less than $180. Second level? Probably 200 available at under $100.

Maybe you were just using hyperbole, but that doesn't add value to an honest discussion about why there were empty seats.
What makes the most sense about the number of empty seats are the "special" day and a mediocre opponent.

Finally, with so little media revenue we have to find financial support wherever we can, so let's all hope we get invited to join a league with serious media contracts soon.

Good research and what if there wasn’t a season ticket holder for many of these seats but rather Seat Geeks and the Athletic Dept having them as part of the 46% of seats that were unavailable when the reseating was done but priced them over the market on Valentine’s Day evening ?
Another thing, great that they found additional student tickets for Wednesday but since student tickets were sold out (correct?) - where did they come from?

 

[LetsGoUC]

I hate that this became a thing man. Good Job Ed Cooley!

 

[bdbdbdbd]

I don't think that is actually happening. I learned this buying some concert tickets. If a Seat Geek listing shows the seat numbers, then only those seats are highlighted. If the listing does not show the seat numbers, then the whole row gets highlighted even if only 2 or 4 seats are available. I can see only 1 listing for more than 6 tickets and it is in the corner above one of the entrances.

It may depend on how many seats you're looking for and what tricks SeatGeek uses to assig you to a seat. I bought tickets to the Georgetown game through SeatGeek. When I searched for 1 ticket, it showed a whole row available and I wouldn't have been able to select which seat I got. When I searched for 2 tickets, it showed only 2 specific tickets for sale in that same row.