Three Year strategic plan for UConn Football Crowd source

[uconnbill]

Winning solves many issues, including attendance and apathy.

The one thing they need to do is remember those who stuck through thick and thin. I like the idea of a hat or shirt giveaway like the first 10000 adult fans and then something for the kids.

A bowl tie-in is important. UConn needs to be playing later in December at the very least. it gets eyes and helps with recruiting and that is how you win games, recruiting

 

[storrsroars]

As someone who believes our football program will never see another major bowl, I'd concentrate on the fan experience, not copying a damn thing from any other school, rather delivering a totally unique experience available only at The Rent, which will earn publicity and not only attract local/regional fans, but also those from opposing schools who will have read/heard about the weird/fun/non-traditional things happening in E. Hartford:

1. We want to be New England's Team, right? So screw a "Coors Light Deck" and sell the idea to New England Brewing (Sam Adams). They have light beers too (heck even. Guinness is a light beer at 4.3 ABV, 120 calories). This would not preclude a beer garden outside that features micros from all 8 CT counties, or a mocktail bar.

2. A pizza (or apizza) truck or stand capable of reasonable facsimiles of a Big 3 pizza. Pre-order via app for your tailgate. During the game, you can have one delivered to your seat.

3. Blue Angel flyovers? Pffft. We'll celebrate Pratt & Whitney's history with flyovers of a custom logo'd Curtiss P-6 Hawk bi-plane, powered by a P&W R-1340 Wasp engine. It'll do barrel rolls over the field.

4. Our marching band will play only songs from the vast catalog of performers from NYC to Boston, or NY/Boston-themed music. It's subtle, but again, we want this to be our territory and ours alone. So look forward to tributes to Lou Reed, David Johansen, The Pixies and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

5. At halftime, a PT Barnum character will host a three ring circus of performers selected from the crowd, each given 30 seconds to do something they claim to be skilled at. The crowd will vote for a winner, who will get something more valuable than tickets to a future game. Like a lobster roll.

6. After scores, our Husky mascot will not do pushups like every other mascot. Instead, Jonathan will get his belly scratched by the appropriate number of Spirit Squad members based on the score. This will be accompanied by the refrain of "The Dog Days Are Over" by Florence and the Machine.

7. "Sweet Caroline" has nothing to do with sports, yet since its origins as a singalong at Fenway, it's become a popular signalong at numerous college stadiums. Being the unique university we are, we don't want to copy that. We want to find our own quirky singalong. And for that we're going outside New England to England itself. So at the start of the third quarter, be ready to join in on the chorus.


The team may continue to suck, but at least going to The Rent can still be fun if all of the above are part of the experience.

 

[Chief00]

Leverage the recent Blaze recruiting success (maybe Chief was right after-all?)
Power wash steam clean all the filthy seats at The Rent. All.

 

[MCMax]

They should hold those 50/50 raffles that you see at MLB and NBA games where you win half the pot, and the other half goes to charity. Tickets can be sold during the first 3 quarters, and the winners will be drawn late in the 4th quarter. This won’t necessarily improve the game day experience, but it discourages fans from the early mass exodus that you frequently see at the Rent.

 

[Bongo Fury]

As someone who believes our football program will never see another major bowl, I'd concentrate on the fan experience, not copying a damn thing from any other school, rather delivering a totally unique experience available only at The Rent, which will earn publicity and not only attract local/regional fans, but also those from opposing schools who will have read/heard about the weird/fun/non-traditional things happening in E. Hartford:

1. We want to be New England's Team, right? So screw a "Coors Light Deck" and sell the idea to New England Brewing (Sam Adams). They have light beers too (heck even. Guinness is a light beer at 4.3 ABV, 120 calories). This would not preclude a beer garden outside that features micros from all 8 CT counties, or a mocktail bar.

2. A pizza (or apizza) truck or stand capable of reasonable facsimiles of a Big 3 pizza. Pre-order via app for your tailgate. During the game, you can have one delivered to your seat.

3. Blue Angel flyovers? Pffft. We'll celebrate Pratt & Whitney's history with flyovers of a custom logo'd Curtiss P-6 Hawk bi-plane, powered by a P&W R-1340 Wasp engine. It'll do barrel rolls over the field.

4. Our marching band will play only songs from the vast catalog of performers from NYC to Boston, or NY/Boston-themed music. It's subtle, but again, we want this to be our territory and ours alone. So look forward to tributes to Lou Reed, David Johansen, The Pixies and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

5. At halftime, a PT Barnum character will host a three ring circus of performers selected from the crowd, each given 30 seconds to do something they claim to be skilled at. The crowd will vote for a winner, who will get something more valuable than tickets to a future game. Like a lobster roll.

6. After scores, our Husky mascot will not do pushups like every other mascot. Instead, Jonathan will get his belly scratched by the appropriate number of Spirit Squad members based on the score. This will be accompanied by the refrain of "The Dog Days Are Over" by Florence and the Machine.

7. "Sweet Caroline" has nothing to do with sports, yet since its origins as a singalong at Fenway, it's become a popular signalong at numerous college stadiums. Being the unique university we are, we don't want to copy that. We want to find our own quirky singalong. And for that we're going outside New England to England itself. So at the start of the third quarter, be ready to join in on the chorus.


The team may continue to suck, but at least going to The Rent can still be fun if all of the above are part of the experience.

Agree with trying to make it unique. People aren’t coming to CT for something they can get everywhere else. Throw a lobstah on the barby. People might notice.

 

[RSTuthill]

Just win some games. Then lets have this conversation. Pointless before that.

 

[Griggs]

As someone who believes our football program will never see another major bowl, I'd concentrate on the fan experience, not copying a damn thing from any other school, rather delivering a totally unique experience available only at The Rent, which will earn publicity and not only attract local/regional fans, but also those from opposing schools who will have read/heard about the weird/fun/non-traditional things happening in E. Hartford:

1. We want to be New England's Team, right? So screw a "Coors Light Deck" and sell the idea to New England Brewing (Sam Adams). They have light beers too (heck even. Guinness is a light beer at 4.3 ABV, 120 calories). This would not preclude a beer garden outside that features micros from all 8 CT counties, or a mocktail bar.

2. A pizza (or apizza) truck or stand capable of reasonable facsimiles of a Big 3 pizza. Pre-order via app for your tailgate. During the game, you can have one delivered to your seat.

3. Blue Angel flyovers? Pffft. We'll celebrate Pratt & Whitney's history with flyovers of a custom logo'd Curtiss P-6 Hawk bi-plane, powered by a P&W R-1340 Wasp engine. It'll do barrel rolls over the field.

4. Our marching band will play only songs from the vast catalog of performers from NYC to Boston, or NY/Boston-themed music. It's subtle, but again, we want this to be our territory and ours alone. So look forward to tributes to Lou Reed, David Johansen, The Pixies and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

5. At halftime, a PT Barnum character will host a three ring circus of performers selected from the crowd, each given 30 seconds to do something they claim to be skilled at. The crowd will vote for a winner, who will get something more valuable than tickets to a future game. Like a lobster roll.

6. After scores, our Husky mascot will not do pushups like every other mascot. Instead, Jonathan will get his belly scratched by the appropriate number of Spirit Squad members based on the score. This will be accompanied by the refrain of "The Dog Days Are Over" by Florence and the Machine.

7. "Sweet Caroline" has nothing to do with sports, yet since its origins as a singalong at Fenway, it's become a popular signalong at numerous college stadiums. Being the unique university we are, we don't want to copy that. We want to find our own quirky singalong. And for that we're going outside New England to England itself. So at the start of the third quarter, be ready to join in on the chorus.


The team may continue to suck, but at least going to The Rent can still be fun if all of the above are part of the experience.

Like the music idea. Let's have a few hits from Gene Pitney a.k.a. the Rockville Rocket.

 

[CL82]

Being the unique university we are, we don't want to copy that. We want to find our own quirky singalong

Boston, “more than a feeling“?

Frank Zappa, “don’t eat the yellow snow?” (Watch out where the Huskies go...)

How about The Foundations, “build me up buttercup“? (because it’s another rebuilding year?)

For what it’s worth, I’d say more band, less canned music. I know it’s kind of old school, but nothing says college football to me like a big marching band belting out songs.

 

[Husky25]

Within my timeline, I didn't see to whom or about what Orlovsky was responding. Read on it's own and out of context, I absolutely thought he was referring to the Rentschler Red Line Brigade.

Can those guys give it a rest?

 

[Skiblets]

Not for nothing but that new soccer stadium is bangin’

 

[McLovin]

Build a massive open air "sports bar" area that has great beer & food, with TVs that show all the other big CFB games going on at the time. A lot of people already have some interest in the other (often more watchable) CFB products and with sports betting becoming legal, even more people will have an interest in other games. Move that at home TV or bar type viewing experience into the stadium.

Like the XL center bar but way bigger and way better.

Put in a kids area too. Here in Nashville we have a minor league baseball stadium that has a mini golf course in it. If they can do that for minor league baseball, we can do that for a program that is trying to be "big time" CFB. Would get more families to the games and build that next gen of UConn fans.

Winning would obviously help, but just making the stadium a party that people want to go to (and not just tailgate at) every Saturday afternoon would work in the meantime.

 

[GoatHouse]

I know it's super complicated and a logistical nightmare but I don't see the football program having the sustained success that everyone wants without an on-campus stadium.

Which power programs can you think of that dominate with an off-campus arena. UCLA? Pitt? Miami (they were once one of the best, but struggling in consistency as of late).

In order for this program to survive long-term, we need alumni and donor support. Who becomes alumni? Students. Who doesn't go to the games? Students.

Making an on-campus stadium will encourage easy access to the stadium for students and faculty. I have great memories as an undergrad rolling out of bed on the weekend (or even weeknights lol) to go to games at Gampel. There's no "rolling out of bed" for football. Especially for a freshman, you have to plan hours in advance and pay ridiculously high uber prices if you want to make it to the game.

One of the main reasons students leave before the game starts at Rentschler Field is because there's no guarantee that they can get a ride back BEFORE the game ends! If they stay, they have to wait almost the entire time to get home. If it's on campus, students can come and go as they please.

An on-campus stadium would do wonders for the program and the economic community surrounding it. It would also strengthen students emotional attachment to the team, and will likely result in better donations when they eventually graduate and become donors. A positive feedback loop all the way around. Very wishful thinking, but one can hope.

 

[Pudge]

I know it's super complicated and a logistical nightmare but I don't see the football program having the sustained success that everyone wants without an on-campus stadium.

Which power programs can you think of that dominate with an off-campus arena. UCLA? Pitt? Miami (they were once one of the best, but struggling in consistency as of late).

In order for this program to survive long-term, we need alumni and donor support. Who becomes alumni? Students. Who doesn't go to the games? Students.

Making an on-campus stadium will encourage easy access to the stadium for students and faculty. I have great memories as an undergrad rolling out of bed on the weekend (or even weeknights lol) to go to games at Gampel. There's no "rolling out of bed" for football. Especially for a freshman, you have to plan hours in advance and pay ridiculously high uber prices if you want to make it to the game.

One of the main reasons students leave before the game starts at Rentschler Field is because there's no guarantee that they can get a ride back BEFORE the game ends! If they stay, they have to wait almost the entire time to get home. If it's on campus, students can come and go as they please.

An on-campus stadium would do wonders for the program and the economic community surrounding it. It would also strengthen students emotional attachment to the team, and will likely result in better donations when they eventually graduate and become donors. A positive feedback loop all the way around. Very wishful thinking, but one can hope.

NEXT

 

[GoatHouse]

NEXT

NICE Pudge!

 

[Bobol]

I think you just need to win games and play exciting football.

——-
Easier said than done.

UConn is and always be a basketball first school.

Football is a financial drain for few outside of those that post on this board care about (see attendance figures).

The money spent on UConn football could be better used to enhance the schools academic profile and merit scholarships.

An irrelevant football program does not help UConn’s academic footprint.

 

[Skiblets]

——-
Easier said than done.

UConn is and always be a basketball first school.

Football is a financial drain for few outside of those that post on this board care about (see attendance figures).

The money spent on UConn football could be better used to enhance the schools academic profile and merit scholarships.

An irrelevant football program does not help UConn’s academic footprint.

Hockey’s a drain. Rowing a drain. Tennis a drain. Swimming a drain. Track and field a drain. Field hockey a drain. Softball a drain. Baseball a drain. There. Fixed it for you

 

[Husky25]

——-
Easier said than done.

UConn is and always be a basketball first school.

Football is a financial drain for few outside of those that post on this board care about (see attendance figures).

The money spent on UConn football could be better used to enhance the schools academic profile and merit scholarships.

An irrelevant football program does not help UConn’s academic footprint.

I would like to dislike this post with the white hot intensity of 1,000 suns.

 

[UCFBfan]

——-
Easier said than done.

UConn is and always be a basketball first school.

Football is a financial drain for few outside of those that post on this board care about (see attendance figures).

The money spent on UConn football could be better used to enhance the schools academic profile and merit scholarships.

An irrelevant football program does not help UConn’s academic footprint.

Thank you for your interest in UConn Football

 

[hardcorehusky]

——-
Easier said than done.

UConn is and always be a basketball first school.

Football is a financial drain for few outside of those that post on this board care about (see attendance figures).

The money spent on UConn football could be better used to enhance the schools academic profile and merit scholarships.

An irrelevant football program does not help UConn’s academic footprint.

Do you feel better that you got that off your chest? Were you saying this when we were in the Fiesta Bowl? Beat Notre Dame? Beat South Carolina. Since you don't think we will be good again, please don't bother jumping on the band wagon when we are winning those games again.

 

[ucawn]

3. reasonable ticket pricing

 

[DoctorWho85]

I'd love to see them those theme days again, like band day where the bring in a bunch of local high school marching bands to play with the UCMB. Scout day where they get as many boys and girls troops at as possible. Things like that. I always had fun when we brought in highschool bands to play with us when I was in UCMB.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

i’ll weigh in as someone who used to be a fairly dedicated fan (attended every home game, drove to the Meinecke Car Car Bowl) and now is almost entirely apathetic.

• ticket costs are meaningless to me, if i don’t want to go i don’t care if the tickets are free
• an exciting on field product is more important to me than winning (since we aren’t in a conference or playing top competition i don’t care if we get a grind it out win, i would rather see a shootout loss)
• game day experience is king. if the team sucks, need the environment to be a draw. there’s not much to do in CT anyways, so this shouldn’t be too hard. make the tailgate/stadium experience worth attending, outside of the game on the field. few ideas have been good (great food, beer gardens, sports bars, etc), just needs to be known that this is the biggest party in CT on Saturday and you will get the casuals

tl,dr: i’m not going to go out of my way to watch a boring product, eat typical stadium food, and drink overpriced generic beer. need to give me a reason to leave my couch/local bar.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

i’ll weigh in as someone who used to be a fairly dedicated fan (attended every home game, drove to the Meinecke Car Car Bowl) and now is almost entirely apathetic.

• ticket costs are meaningless to me, if i don’t want to go i don’t care if the tickets are free
• an exciting on field product is more important to me than winning (since we aren’t in a conference or playing top competition i don’t care if we get a grind it out win, i would rather see a shootout loss)
• game day experience is king. if the team sucks, need the environment to be a draw. there’s not much to do in CT anyways, so this shouldn’t be too hard. make the tailgate/stadium experience worth attending, outside of the game on the field. few ideas have been good (great food, beer gardens, sports bars, etc), just needs to be known that this is the biggest party in CT on Saturday and you will get the casuals

tl,dr: i’m not going to go out of my way to watch a boring product, eat typical stadium food, and drink overpriced generic beer. need to give me a reason to leave my couch/local bar.

Honestly, this pretty much sums it up.

Greater Hartfords Largest cocktail party has a nice ring to, right @Guapo

 

[Guapo]

It’s not a bad idea, but I’ll believe UConn and the state marketing and embracing “fun” when I see it

 

[Bongo Fury]

i’ll weigh in as someone who used to be a fairly dedicated fan (attended every home game, drove to the Meinecke Car Car Bowl) and now is almost entirely apathetic.

• ticket costs are meaningless to me, if i don’t want to go i don’t care if the tickets are free
• an exciting on field product is more important to me than winning (since we aren’t in a conference or playing top competition i don’t care if we get a grind it out win, i would rather see a shootout loss)
• game day experience is king. if the team sucks, need the environment to be a draw. there’s not much to do in CT anyways, so this shouldn’t be too hard. make the tailgate/stadium experience worth attending, outside of the game on the field. few ideas have been good (great food, beer gardens, sports bars, etc), just needs to be known that this is the biggest party in CT on Saturday and you will get the casuals

tl,dr: i’m not going to go out of my way to watch a boring product, eat typical stadium food, and drink overpriced generic beer. need to give me a reason to leave my couch/local bar.

I agree mostly except I want UCONN to win regardless of how they look.

 

[huskyblooz]

Winning, yes. But we need Offense.

 

[Chief00]

“ My only other suggestions are move #5 to the #1 spot and rethink the 9th word of point #9”
Chief certainly lives in @formerlurker head.

 

[formerlurker]

“ My only other suggestions are move #5 to the #1 spot and rethink the 9th word of point #9”
Chief certainly lives in @formerlurker head.

You can't afford the rent, kid. And it only took you a month and a half to find that, I'm proud of you.

 

[Chief00]

You can't afford the rent, kid. And it only took you a month and a half to find that, I'm proud of you.

LoL - I am sorry to disappoint you, but Chief doesn’t have you on an alert. Usually, the only times I read your posts are when you reply to my post, incidental to reading someone else’s post or when I am really, really, really bored.

As for your comment about affording the rent, people who talk like that are usually the ones who can’t.

 

[formerlurker]

LoL - I am sorry to disappoint you, but Chief doesn’t have you on an alert. Usually, the only times I read your posts are when you reply to my post, incidental to reading someone else’s post or when I am really, really, really bored.

As for your comment about affording the rent, people who talk like that are usually the ones who can’t.

PM me and we can compare portfolios.