The New Hockey Arena?

[uconnphil2016]

They aren't putting the new men's/women's soccer stadium on the back burner after they received a $8m donation from Rizza.

Understandable. It’s just annoying that we’re building an arena that is clearly a joke of a plan while a ton of money is getting put into a soccer stadium that doesn’t appear to be as pressing of a need

 

[Guapo]

Hello! As has been previously stated, there’s also a fun discussion about this on the hockey board. Come say hi!

But anyway, to sum things up:

New 2500 seat arena = dumb on many levels.

Related dumbness = taking 4 years FOUR YEARS to build a 2500 seat arena.

Dumb dumb dumb

Just when you think UConn athletics can’t get any dumber, UConn athletics sees itself in the mirror and says to its own reflection “hold my beer” [beer drops, shatters on the ground]

 

[CL82]

Right, and since it absolutely has to be done; we should prioritize making it a sensible stadium. That would require putting Marrone on the back burner.

Of course Tony Rizza pledged $5M for the Marrone upgrade back in 2014, so maybe it is reasonable to do not continue to delay that upgrade.

 

[whaler11]

....or this is phase one of a build that will eventually be expanded....but the budget for this one was passable, the budget for a larger arena wasn't.just maybe.

LOL sure.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

On the bright side, place will be packed and loud.

Unless UConn screws that up to. In typical UConn Athletics fashion, I bet they schedule all the on-campus games for when the students are on break!

 

[Husk1881]

This is an absolute Gong show

 

[Wordbomar]

What is crazy to me is after about 500 student tickets, there will only be room for 2,000 fan tickets. Which is way less than our normal season ticket base. This will cause a multitude of issues.

 

[Guapo]

What is crazy to me is after about 500 student tickets, there will only be room for 2,000 fan tickets. Which is way less than our normal season ticket base. This will cause a multitude of issues.

This was one of the levels of dumb, yes.

 

[firstnline]

Yup that's UConn, honesty, integrity and stupudity.

 

[Dooley]

Unless UConn screws that up to. In typical UConn Athletics fashion, I bet they schedule all the on-campus games for when the students are on break!

I want to laugh and cry because this will definitely happen. Schedule home hockey games at the same time as home football, a XL hoops game and a soccer game 3 hours earlier while the students are home over Thanksgiving break.

 

[Dooley]

Bare minimum at the very last minute is what CT excels at doing. We will have an outdated hockey arena 5 years after it opens very similar to Gampel and the Rent being outdated immediately after opening.

Yet another missed opportunity here to build something of substance and give one of its program a recruiting jump over our geographic r1vals.

 

[UConnNick]

Hockey East Arenas:
View attachment 34697

Penn State's newer-ish arena is 6K
Notre Dame's is 5k

If HE requires 4,500 seats, then why are there a few schools with far less capacity on this list? Did they all get waivers too? If so, the 4,500 rule doesn't really mean much if all you have to do is apply for and get a waiver granted.

Still, UCONN thinking, as always, is small time, New England provincial and parochial. I realize the money isn't there, but expanding the capacity at Freitas is like putting lipstick on a pig. Why even bother spending the money if you can get a waiver? There are a couple of other arenas on this list about the same size or even smaller than Freitas.

If the upgrade allows for a future expansion to the minimum 4,500 then OK, but that's doubtful because in usual, CT political fashion, Hartford will be protected at all costs. Ironically the XL is the largest arena in HE, by a wide margin. The question is how much longer will it be there?

 

[huskymedic]

If HE requires 4,500 seats, then why are there a few schools with far less capacity on this list? Did they all get waivers too? If so, the 4,500 rule doesn't really mean much if all you have to do is apply for and get a waiver granted.

Still, UCONN thinking, as always, is small time, New England provincial and parochial. I realize the money isn't there, but expanding the capacity at Freitas is like putting lipstick on a pig. Why even bother spending the money if you can get a waiver? There are a couple of other arenas on this list about the same size or even smaller than Freitas.

If the upgrade allows for a future expansion to the minimum 4,500 then OK, but that's doubtful because in usual, CT political fashion, Hartford will be protected at all costs. Ironically the XL is the largest arena in HE, by a wide margin. The question is how much longer will it be there?

It's 4k. The minimum seating requirement for on-campus rinks was for "new " schools that join HE.

>>Minimum seating capacity 4000 with 20% of capacity being chair-back seats. Current HEA members must have a minimum capacity of 2000 with 20% of capacity being chair-back seats.<<

Current Freitas seating is about 1600 +/- w/ SRO making up the rest of the capacity of 2k +/-

 

[UCFBfan]

Just out of curiosity, how many people actually travel all the way to Storrs for Hockey? I mean this honestly. It's not like it's a centrally located place. I'm curious if they built a 4.5k arean if they'd fill it.

I'm honestly just wondering. I went to one UConn Hockey game when I was a student in the early 2000s. I know it's a different situation now but no one showed up back then. Maybe since games are on weekends they'd be more likely to fill it?

 

[HuskyBandDad]

Just out of curiosity, how many people actually travel all the way to Storrs for Hockey? I mean this honestly. It's not like it's a centrally located place. I'm curious if they built a 4.5k arean if they'd fill it.

I'm honestly just wondering. I went to one UConn Hockey game when I was a student in the early 2000s. I know it's a different situation now but no one showed up back then. Maybe since games are on weekends they'd be more likely to fill it?

Good question. I went to 4 games last year and there were at least 4500 at each.

 

[Guapo]

Just out of curiosity, how many people actually travel all the way to Storrs for Hockey? I mean this honestly. It's not like it's a centrally located place. I'm curious if they built a 4.5k arean if they'd fill it.

I'm honestly just wondering. I went to one UConn Hockey game when I was a student in the early 2000s. I know it's a different situation now but no one showed up back then. Maybe since games are on weekends they'd be more likely to fill it?

They’d have no problem getting 5-6k on a Saturday vs BC or BU or PC

 

[UCFBfan]

Good question. I went to 4 games last year and there were at least 4500 at each.

On campus??

 

[kibblesnbits]

If HE requires 4,500 seats, then why are there a few schools with far less capacity on this list? Did they all get waivers too? If so, the 4,500 rule doesn't really mean much if all you have to do is apply for and get a waiver granted.

UConn will be tied with Merrimack's Lawler Center (universally considered the worst rink in HE) for smallest rink in the league. Holy Cross is on the list with just 1,600 seats but they are a women's member only.

 

[RSTuthill]

Unbelievable.

Some of the players we will be recruiting from the high level New England High School Prep ranks will be getting a downgrade in facilities by coming to UConn from their fancy prep schools!

Haven't been to many prep rinks, have you. And UConn by and large no longer recruits many preps. Junior hockey such as BCHL, USHL, etc. Twenty one year old freshmen.

But I agree this is insane. I will happily go to the few games they will have in Storrs. OOC games such as Sacred heart and AIC, games that won't draw and games for which the XL can't give them the dates they want. But big games will stay at the XL.

 

[CL82]

It's 4k. The minimum seating requirement for on-campus rinks was for "new " schools that join HE.

>>Minimum seating capacity 4000 with 20% of capacity being chair-back seats. Current HEA members must have a minimum capacity of 2000 with 20% of capacity being chair-back seats.<<

Current Freitas seating is about 1600 +/- w/ SRO making up the rest of the capacity of 2k +/-

Medic you are pretty good a ferreting stuff out. Is there a plan of what this thing will look like. Still hanging on the to dream that it will be built for easy expansion, like Gampel (8,500 to 10k) and the Rent.

 

[huskymedic]

Medic you are pretty good a ferreting stuff out. Is there a plan of what this thing will look like. Still hanging on the to dream that it will be built for easy expansion, like Gampel (8,500 to 10k) and the Rent.

I’ve seen nothing yet

@UCONNJACK ?

 

[UConnNick]

UConn will be tied with Merrimack's Lawler Center (universally considered the worst rink in HE) for smallest rink in the league. Holy Cross is on the list with just 1,600 seats but they are a women's member only.

Yes and no. We will have the smallest on campus arena and the largest off campus arena.

 

[XStorrsion]

Sounds like the "knock one wall down" plan from the 2017 feasibility study

 

[HuskyBandDad]

On campus??

No. All home games are at XL

 

[Storrs South]

Medic you are pretty good a ferreting stuff out. Is there a plan of what this thing will look like. Still hanging on the to dream that it will be built for easy expansion, like Gampel (8,500 to 10k) and the Rent.

The original proposal from nearly a year ago can be found here: On Campus Arena Plans

UConn has posted on its website a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the development of a 3,500+ seat arena.

Here's the article on the arena last year which includes some quotes from AD David Benedict: Jeff Jacobs: XL Center Questions Dog Huskies, State

There will be a two-phase approach.

The same architect used to design the new soccer, baseball and softball facilities has been engaged to design additional Freitas Ice Forum space. When that is done, Benedict said, money would be raised for construction.

UConn has locker rooms, weight rooms, meeting rooms that Benedict recognizes are not comparable to other Hockey East schools. Players stretching in the Freitas lobby does not whisper big time. It screams midget hockey.

"Those things are critical to day to day operations and recruiting," Benedict said. "You don't play or work out every day at XL. We want to demonstrate our commitment to a great program."

The second phase, a much larger undertaking, would be a new arena that meets Hockey East requirements, even if it was home to a small number of men's games.

"It would make the most sense to build it next to and connect it with these additional facilities we're talking about building," Benedict said. "There will need to be a thorough examination to make sure soil conditions aren't in such bad shape it would cost exponentially more build to there.

 

[UCFBfan]

No. All home games are at XL

Thanks. My question was pointed towards wondering how many people would actually go to Storrs for a game. I know they draw well at the XL but Hartford is centrally located, not so much for Storrs

 

[Waquoit]

They're not getting 4K to Storrs for hockey.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Thanks. My question was pointed towards wondering how many people would actually go to Storrs for a game. I know they draw well at the XL but Hartford is centrally located, not so much for Storrs

While UConn hockey draws decent attendance numbers at the XL in Hartford today, the concern is over the long-term. What if the team has a few bad years and people stop comming and/or nothing is done to upgrade the XL and it falls apart? I beleive right now, UConn is the only D1 College hockey team not to use an on-campus arena as its primary venue.

On a side note, Michigan State is looking to spend $14 to $16 Million to update Munn arena, which seats just under 6,500, while Colorado College is partnering with the city of Colorado Springs to build a new 3,000 seat area for $39 million that will be built across the street from campus

 

[Guapo]

They're not getting 4K to Storrs for hockey.

For BC or BU? Yes they would, easily.

 

[Dooley]

Problem is, they're not playing BC or BU on campus. Ever. Those games have drawn 6K or more at the XL every year since joining Hockey East. Always follow the money. And not for nothing, but the atmosphere at those games are always excellent.