The Rent Can Be Expanded to 60,000

[jostar1]

I'm posting this here because the question always comes up.

According to Gilbane, the contractor, the Rent can be expanded to 60,000.

Accelerated project schedule delivers this state-of-the-art stadium three months early and on budget

The state of Connecticut selected the joint venture team of Gilbane Building Company and Hunt Construction Group as their construction manager for a new 16-acre open-air college football stadium. Rentschler Field serves as the home field for University of Connecticut’s Huskies. The new stadium seats 40,000 fans, with the ability for expansion to 60,000. Patrons of the stadium enjoy specialty areas including 700 indoor club seats, 4,000 outdoor club seats and 36 luxury suites. Rentschler Field features a natural Kentucky bluegrass playing field, obtained from a specified sod farm to ensure quality.

University of Connecticut Rentschler Field Football Stadium | Gilbane

Accelerated project schedule delivers this state-of-the-art stadium three months early and on budget The state of Connecticut selected the joint venture

www.gilbaneco.com

 

[LoyalFanCT]

It can also be demolished!

 

[jostar1]

It can also be demolished!

Not getting into that discussion. Just posting the facts.

 

[GoConn]

Think we should work on filling the stadium first with 40K. Big 12 probably wants to see that first IMO

 

[JoeyBuckets]

50k would be perfect. We would never be able to get 60k to a uconn football game.

 

[willie99]

Winning cures a lot of problems

C'mon Jim, this is on you

 

[CL82]

50k would be perfect. We would never be able to get 60k to a uconn football game.

It certainly is tough to envision given the amount of seats we had last season. I think the Rent expansion vs Storrs stadium question will be largely decided based upon what the big 12 indicates that they value more. If they're focusing on capacity and speed of getting there, expanding or Existing stadium is the answer. If they want an on-campus stadium, we're going to give it to them.

 

[Waquoit]

Think we should work on filling the stadium first with 40K. Big 12 probably wants to see that first IMO

We've already done that. For years.

 

[Blades]

We've already done that. For years.

Yep in a BCS conference with a competitive team......Uconn fans turn out !

 

[Forte]

Forget about capacity—Nippert Stadium, with just 40k seats, has more vibe than most off-campus stadiums. On-campus stadiums, like Nippert, offer a better atmosphere and truly engage the student body and community. It's not about size; even the Big House, despite its massive crowd, can't match the atmosphere or noise intensity of many smaller stadiums. The obsession with Rentschler Field seems more about avoiding a 30-minute drive a few times a year than about the actual game-day experience.

 

[CL82]

Sellouts:

 

[CL82]

 

[Windham4th]

IMO the Big 12 schools are going to prefer ease of access for their visiting teams and the city of Hartford is more equipped to handle influx of visiting teams fans each weekend. I don't see them trying to force an on campus location. Every team will be traveling like 1000 miles so convenience will be a good selling point.

 

[Blades]

IMO the Big 12 schools are going to prefer ease of access for their visiting teams and the city of Hartford is more equipped to handle influx of visiting teams fans each weekend. I don't see them trying to force an on campus location. Every team will be traveling like 1000 miles so convenience will be a good selling point.

Good call, this was mentioned a few years back in an article, from a national CFB scheduling guru, in regards to visiting teams he speaks to, and them loving the Rents proximity to BDL and Hartford.

 

[Slick]

It certainly is tough to envision given the amount of seats we had last season. I think the Rent expansion vs Storrs stadium question will be largely decided based upon what the big 12 indicates that they value more. If they're focusing on capacity and speed of getting there, expanding or Existing stadium is the answer. If they want an on-campus stadium, we're going to give it to them.

How much would a 60,000 seat stadium cost? How many years to build it? It’s impossible to get out of the Gampel pavilion after a basketball game. I think Gampel only holds 10,000 people. This would be 5 or 6 times the crowd for the Gampel. It would take 4 or 5 hours to clear out the parking. Kind of hard to envision. Also what happens to the rent?

 

[Waquoit]

Visitors can get to The Rent from NYC without a car. Easily.

 

[CL82]

It’s impossible to get out of the Gampel pavilion after a basketball game. I think Gampel only holds 10,000 people. This would be 5 or 6 times the crowd for the Gampel. It would take 4 or 5 hours to clear out the parking. Kind of hard to envision.

 

[LoyalFanCT]

How much would a 60,000 seat stadium cost? How many years to build it? It’s impossible to get out of the Gampel pavilion after a basketball game. I think Gampel only holds 10,000 people. This would be 5 or 6 times the crowd for the Gampel. It would take 4 or 5 hours to clear out the parking. Kind of hard to envision. Also what happens to the rent?

Not sure of exact price. 35,000 seat stadium at USF 340M. Only four B12 teams have seating for 60,000 or above. Other people here have pointed out there is not an exact time when people come and go for FB game. Some tailgate mornings, afternoons or into the evening. By putting it on Discovery Drive, a bunch of traffic will go through Route 44 and not on 195 through Mansfield Center. The Rent can be used by Central CT football. Their campus is closer to it than UConn's.

 

[Patman]

I have no doubt at a reasonable price and traffic situation 60k on the semi regular can happen. Lose and it's not. Funny that

 

[UCFBfan]

Know what helps filling a 40k stadium besides a winning team? A home slate of Big 12 teams and not the hodgepodge garbage we have now. Why were we selling out in the 2000's? Because we were playing in a BCS conference with known teams who even casual fans wanted to see. If the Big 12 wants to see attendance improvement, have some kind of scheduling agreement where we play 2-4 schools a season until 2031. That'll put butts in the seats.

 

[Blades]

Know what helps filling a 40k stadium besides a winning team? A home slate of Big 12 teams and not the hodgepodge garbage we have now. Why were we selling out in the 2000's? Because we were playing in a BCS conference with known teams who even casual fans wanted to see. If the Big 12 wants to see attendance improvement, have some kind of scheduling agreement where we play 2-4 schools a season until 2031. That'll put butts in the seats.

After listening to some "Big 12 perspectives" podcasts ( and not much negative feedback on the Uconn add overall) that would hopefully be part of the FB agreement and would make the most sense for Uconn's move. Kinda like an other Indy's ( Notre Dame) current agreement with the ACC, though for different reasons. Especially with just 2 Indy's left in CFB for scheduling purposes.

 

[Stinger92860]

I was at most of the games listed above by @CL82 and I miss tailgating on the runway before and after games. What I enjoyed more was that we were competitive.

 

[UCFBfan]

I was at most of the games listed above by @CL82 and I miss tailgating on the runway before and after games. What I enjoyed more was that we were competitive.

I agree. I had season tickets from 2004 until 2011. Then we had kids and it all went downhill from there. Lol! But I do miss packed houses and great tailgating. Tailgating on the runway was an experience! Trying to throw a football without being hit by a car. Getting yelled at by the golf cart security that our tailgate was too far out. Lol. The good ole days.

 

[RSTuthill]

50k would be perfect. We would never be able to get 60k to a uconn football game.

Oh, ye of limited vision. First let's postulate UConn is in the B12, B1G, or whichever Px that floats your boat. And UConn is fighting for the conference championship and a spot in the CFP. I am guessing that 50K won't be enough. The last time UConn was accepted to a Px conference, it took them only 6 years to win a conference championship. Do you build it right away? No. When UConn starts selling out the Rent again.

 

[Jimdish255]

The Rent was an ambitious and positive sign of our elevation to FBS or D1 Football 20 years ago. It still has a useful life which UConn Football should take advantages of in the next 3-5 years, and other sports and events should be able to utilize beyond that time frame. Proper maintenance and modest renovations can accomplish that with a business plan focused on private investment and public incentives. But if we're serious about college football success that showcases the University in its best light, and prioritizes the student atmosphere and support of our program, it would be best to look at how we can build an on campus stadium to coincide with another step forward for the program by 2030.

We all know the obstacles and costs involved but everything comes down to priorities and political will. A positive outcome in realignment can galvanize and energize supporters, and those with the resources and influence to move this project forward. Honestly the campus experience has been the main thing missing from the program even when we were winning. That atmosphere is what many people fell in love with attending games or even watching on television. One of the great things about going to other sporting events is always the opportunity to get back to campus. And for those of us traveling over an hour for a game you're already spending most of your day on the event. A slightly longer distance is not an impediment. And yes I think there is a longer term impact on Alumni engagement. Winning will increase attendance but it will never replace the connection between a program, it's current students, and it's campus atmosphere. There are no guarantees and we haven't received any news yet. But hopefully people with the power to get things done are looking at it if this is the expectation.