Some old info on stadium expansion

[Palatine]

How do we know schools have rejected scheduling us based on the Rent's seating capacity? It certainly was not an issue for Michigan and Tennessee.

It's a huge issue for Michigan. We'll see about Tennessee. There is no question it hinders our ability to schedule attractive opponents.

 

[hexlub]

It's a huge issue for Michigan. We'll see about Tennessee. There is no question it hinders our ability to schedule attractive opponents.

Well, it seems to be an issue for Michigan because the smaller stadium is making it more difficult make the game a home-game for them on the road. If we are going to expand the stadium to allow for more space for the opponents fans, we might as well play at a neutral site and get more money.

 

[Palatine]

Well, it seems to be an issue for Michigan because the smaller stadium is making it more difficult make the game a home-game for them on the road. If we are going to expand the stadium to allow for more space for the opponents fans, we might as well play at a neutral site and get more money.

Punishing the loyal season ticket base is not good policy.

 

[hexlub]

Punishing the loyal season ticket base is not good policy.

Agreed. I guess my point was I dont understand why we are rushing to expand the stadium so we can fill it with other fans. And what happens when we are playing Buffalo rather than Michigan/OSU/Tennessee, etc? The stadium will be half-filled. And I can bet you there will always be more Buffalo games on the schedule for the foreseeable future. And that only makes sense. Why would you bring in multiple teams every year that you have worse than a 50/50 chance of beating outside your conference?

 

[Palatine]

Agreed. I guess my point was I dont understand why we are rushing to expand the stadium so we can fill it with other fans. And what happens when we are playing Buffalo rather than Michigan/OSU/Tennessee, etc? The stadium will be half-filled. And I can bet you there will always be more Buffalo games on the schedule for the foreseeable future. And that only makes sense. Why would you bring in multiple teams every year that you have worse than a 50/50 chance of beating outside your conference?

Perhaps, but we have averaged well over 30,000 even for Buffalo. And expansion only gets us to around 50,000. So the stadium wouldn't be that empty.

That's given current circumstances. I think we could do a couple of things to affect that number positively. Win, of course. I would also see us 1. market the team in a more professional manner and 2. price tickets more reasonably in an effort to sell out 3. provide a better in stadium product by using the jumbo-tron to update statistics during the game, give more frequent out of town game updates and replay even controversial plays.

I also believe playing a more high profile schedule will create more fans and improve the on-field product.

Of course, I have been wrong before.

 

[hexlub]

Perhaps, but we have averaged well over 30,000 even for Buffalo. And expansion only gets us to around 50,000. So the stadium wouldn't be that empty.

That's given current circumstances. I think we could do a couple of things to affect that number positively. Win, of course. I would also see us 1. market the team in a more professional manner and 2. price tickets more reasonably in an effort to sell out 3. provide a better in stadium product by using the jumbo-tron to update statistics during the game, give more frequent out of town game updates and replay even controversial plays.

I also believe playing a more high profile schedule will create more fans and improve the on-field product.

Of course, I have been wrong before.

When 30K fans show for a game now, it's noticeably 'empty' in the current 40K seat stadium.

I do agree, though. Consistent winning cures all.

 

[Nostical]

That empty look is caused as much by people not in their seats as anything. We need to solve that architectural mistake and close up the lurker portals and the end zone standing area. If that is done during expansion we'll solve some of our lackluster looking stadium attendance.
The best thing we can do now is create some buzz around this program. The question is pretty simple, it's the answers that are hard. What can UConn do in the short term to create buzz and thus have people more eager to take in the football scene on Saturdays.
I'll start. Bring in a big name coach for 2014 that will have people nodding their heads saying "Wow, if UConn got this guy-- things should get interesting".
Your turn.

 

[hexlub]

Win outright conference title and go to BCS game.

 

[John]

Win outright conference title and go to BCS game.

Drive-in Stadium

"Probably the most distinctive features of O’Harra/Dunham are the ability of the home team fans to adjust car lights and horns so as to bedevil the visiting team. Often Sioux Falls fans complain about this unfair home field advantage for the Rapid City teams."

 

[huskymedic]

Drive-in Stadium

"Probably the most distinctive features of O’Harra/Dunham are the ability of the home team fans to adjust car lights and horns so as to bedevil the visiting team. Often Sioux Falls fans complain about this unfair home field advantage for the Rapid City teams."

Best place to watch UConn was from the top of the parking garage in Storrs. Great endzone sight lines, a cigar and a full cooler.

 

[John]

Best place to watch UConn was from the top of the parking garage in Storrs. Great endzone sight lines, a cigar and a full cooler.

A classic Drive-in Stadium - everyone's there at kickoff

 

[uconNYC]

That empty look is caused as much by people not in their seats as anything. We need to solve that architectural mistake and close up the lurker portals and the end zone standing area. If that is done during expansion we'll solve some of our lackluster looking stadium attendance.

I know what you mean, but if you look at all the new/renovated stadiums and arenas, like MSG, Barclays Center, FedEx Field, Cowboys Stadium - the trend is for more "loitering" areas with bar stool seating, party zones, standing room areas, etc.

I actually think UConn could kill two birds with one stone by simply creating several categories of non-seating tickets. It would increase capacity without stadium expansion and provide a good ticket option for people who are less inclined to sit in their seats.

You could put dozens of pub style tables in the open areas below the scoreboard and bar counters with bar stools in the concourse areas that lookout into the field.

 

[Dann]

we need to sell 1 to 2k walking tix on top of the 40k sellout we try to get. that will solve it

 

[uconNYC]

A classic Drive-in Stadium - everyone's there at kickoff

I'm all for it. Put a big screen in the parking lot for those who want to tailgate throughout the game. Be the most customer centric program in all of college football.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

This is lunacy.

We don't sell out a 38,500 seat stadium when there are ticket packages starting at $120. Please explain to me how increasing the stadium size is going to solve our issues? All it does to me is further gut the season ticket holder base. If you can't get people to sign up for $120 season tickets, how do you sell them on $120 when they will know damn well they can go to any game (aside from a Michigan) by getting a $10 scalp before kickoff?

Rutgers got invited over UConn because NJ has far more cable subscribers than CT.
Louisville got invited over UConn because they are a 'southern' school with a perceived higher national football brand than ours. I think UConn/Louisville was a tough decision, but Florida State used all of their leverage to push Louisville. Had we continued on with our standard 8 win type seasons, I think maybe the decision is swayed. Who knows though.

Having 15,000 empty seats at The Rent every game doesn't demonstrate you are 'big time' or have made a bigger commitment to football.

At this point in time, we still have to overcome the fact that our national brand for college football is still in it's infancy. The only thing that can fix that is winning and time.

I'm of the opinion that expansion isn't over and that when P is fired after this season, hopefully someone new can come in and revitalize the program and fanbase. We just have to hope that it's not too late and that the P hire didn't doom us for eternity.

 

[Alum86]

But Warde the RockStar gives the wink and nod to Methusela for another year. He knows he can extort us to pay for season tix to get the Mich. game. That will give cover to coach Blue and Luther for another year.
RockStar best be making the announcement at the Maze and Blue vs. Luther and Blue game we are joining the B1G, 'cause we have no games OOC in the future and a shatty Frankenconference future.

 

[Waquoit]

I say screw expansion until the Rent gets sold out consistently. As a taxpayer, I certainly don't want my money going into unfilled seats.

Don't worry about it. We'll make sure your taxdollars go exclusively to the busway.

 

[Dougsts]

Don't worry about it. We'll make sure your taxdollars go exclusively to the busway.

*L* there ya go, a great example of well spent tax dollars.

 

[John]

Don't worry about it. We'll make sure your taxdollars go exclusively to the busway.

let's make a wager - how many years until that busway is turned into a public street? Let's do over-under on 5 years.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Exactly Jeff Hathaway's position. And its wrong.

The stadium needs to be big enough to accommodate the big payday games. If you biggest game of the year (Michigan in this case) sells 55,000 seats, it should seat over 50,000.

If a stadium is constantly sold out, you have waited too long to expand, you're losing money.

Exactly. Time to start thinking big time Connecticut.