The XL Center is a Dump

[zls44]

You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.

It needs a wrecking ball.

 

[John]

It’s not that bad. The phased upgrades they made to the facility look really nice. The concourses are small. Not much you can do about that without the full 250 million dollar upgrade. The people have spoken through their representatives and the major upgrade was not approved as part of the state budget. The XL Center will just need to make it work with the $$$ That we’re approved for accential upgrades. You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.

That's the Catch 22: It's the concourse that needs the work most of all, but they can't do the concourse due to the cost so they throw money at much less critical upgrades

 

[intlzncster]

That's the Catch 22: It's the concourse that needs the work most of all, but they can't do the concourse due to the cost so they throw money at much less critical upgrades

Emphasis on 'much less'. The sh1tters don't even work.

 

[zls44]

Emphasis on 'much less'. The sh1tters don't even work.

In the spirit of the season:

 

[John]

Emphasis on 'much less'. The sh1tters don't even work.

the restrooms are a special brand of poor design. I imagine that even when the place was new there were problems with them with the way crowds move through the room. Mainly talking about the sink areas, can they be anymore poorly designed and right in the flow of traffic. Also, the groaning pipes are very alarming. I"ve noticed it doesn't happen at ever game, but there have been times I thought the restroom was literally going to explode due to the loud groaning coming from the plumbing.

 

[Stainmaster]

I'm just glad they got rid of the overpowering deep fryer smell from ~2-3 years ago.

 

[willie99]

All I need is a seat and a court/field to enjoy a basketball /football game. I'm not sure what all these millennial divas need to watch a game.

I'm no millennial, not even sure they even attend games. I like space, comfort, cleanliness, good food and beverages. I still do enjoy the games, but I enjoy the games played at other venues a whole lot more.


PS: I also think the benches at GP and the Rent are shorted sighted and a joke. Luckily for me, I don't have to sit on them anymore

 

[John]

I'm no millennial, not even sure they even attend games. I like space, comfort, cleanliness, good food and beverages. I still do enjoy the games, but I enjoy the games played at other venues a whole lot more.


PS: I also think the benches at GP and the Rent are shorted sighted and a joke. Luckily for me, I don't have to sit on them anymore

I can understand the Rent benches - and they're actually not that bad comfort wise. I find the benches at GP to be very uncomfortable and WAY too cramped.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Makes me glad I haven't been in the place in years. I try to go to a couple of games a year, coming down from MA, but Gampel is much closer for me. I always went to the road game at PC every year, I miss that. No complaints about the Dunk.

As for bench seats, most college stadiums have those. Allen Field house bench seats were designed when the average American was about 50% smaller than they are today. The solution there? Stand up the whole game.

 

[huskymedic]

When all else fails... XL Center happy hour aims to whet appetites for hockey

 

[BRG 1]

Makes me glad I haven't been in the place in years. I try to go to a couple of games a year, coming down from MA, but Gampel is much closer for me. I always went to the road game at PC every year, I miss that. No complaints about the Dunk.

As for bench seats, most college stadiums have those. Allen Field house bench seats were designed when the average American was about 50% smaller than they are today. The solution there? Stand up the whole game.

I lived in Gainesville for 6 years. Even in Football power SEC, their stadiums are benches, which is why it was a big deal in 2004 when I went to the FLA - GA game in Jacksonville and to sit in chairbacks with cup holders.
The Dunkin Donuts Center was completely renovated 15 years ago and the problems mentioned above such as concourses, concessions, bathrooms etc. was fixed.
Colleges at the level of Bentley, AIC are not content with playing in aging municpal arenas - they are moving to new arenas (Webster Bank) or builing their own (Bentley. ) This is why it is a wise move that UConn is putting $$$ into Gampel and looking to build/renovate an on campus hockey arena.