UConn:Design,Build & Manage New Rink

[CL82]

PS - I caught in the news there is a new high-speed rail 'vision' being pushed by a public private partnership for the New England and downstate New York. The Phase II of the project includes a new high speed rail link between New York City and Boston that would train cut travel time to 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. The line would run from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma (Long Island) and then north through a new tunnel under Long Island Sound to New Haven. From there, it runs to Hartford and then cuts due East again to Providence before heading North to Boston. The proposal includes one potential stop between Hartford and Providence - Tolland. I assume the right-of-way would be along I-84 between Hartford and Tolland. This route is being propsoed to cut down the travel time overall and to avoid the twists and turns of the existing rail line between New Haven and Westerly RI through several historic towns where local oppostion to expanded high-speed rail is already strong.

The US, especially outside of Boston to DC metro and greater Chicago area has shown no appetite for the modern train service like Europe, Japan, and China have. So, it's a dream. But, if it were to happen, a 45-minute train connection (plus a 15 minute bus ride) to New York and Boston could be a game changer for UConn.

Program Phasing — North Atlantic Rail

northatlanticrail.org

Where are you seeing a Tolland stop?

 

[CL82]

If anyone wants to bid

The Bid Alert Bulletin

Specifications include, but are not limited to: a new three level, approximately 97,000 sf ice hockey arena to meet NCAA Division 1requirements. This facility includes a 2,500 capacity fixed and bench seating arena, club level seating, icerink, concession areas, bathrooms, team rooms, lockers, and strength and conditioning areas.. The majorstructural system is a braced frame steel assembly with concrete slab on metal deck, and precast risers at thearena seating area. The structural roof system over the arena is long span joists. The exterior envelopeincludes curtainwall, brick veneer, and composite metal panel components.

Colonel Calhoun's post about 2,800 capacity is wrong? He's been on a tear lately.

This facility includes a 2,500 capacity fixed and bench seating arena, club level seating, ice rink, concession areas, bathrooms, team rooms, lockers, and strength and conditioning areas.

Maybe the extra 300 seats are the club level seating?

 

[huskymedic]

Colonel Cahoun's post about 2,800 capacity is wrong? He's been on a tear lately.

This facility includes a 2,500 capacity fixed and bench seating arena, club level seating, ice rink, concession areas, bathrooms, team rooms, lockers, and strength and conditioning areas.

Maybe the extra 300 seats are the club level seating?

I’m guessing it’s more SRO in addition to the seating numbers below:

 

[CL82]

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I'd give up the ice lounge seating of 50, placing benches to form ice and concourse level seating of 300 to get a net 250 more people.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Where are you seeing a Tolland stop?

Was able to grab this off of the Courant's website before the paywall locked me out.

"The centerpiece is a high-speed trunk line from New York City to Boston. But instead of following the existing shoreline right-of-way like the last doomed plan, the proposed new route would track to Long Island, cross Long Island Sound via a 16-mile tunnel to the New Haven area, then go north to Hartford. From there it would travel east on a new and yet to be determined right of way, make a UConn stop in Tolland, and then move on to Providence and Boston."

 

[CL82]

Was able to grab this off of the Courant's website before the paywall locked me out.

"The centerpiece is a high-speed trunk line from New York City to Boston. But instead of following the existing shoreline right-of-way like the last doomed plan, the proposed new route would track to Long Island, cross Long Island Sound via a 16-mile tunnel to the New Haven area, then go north to Hartford. From there it would travel east on a new and yet to be determined right of way, make a UConn stop in Tolland, and then move on to Providence and Boston."

I actually remember that article, but they don't show a tolland stop on the linked pages.

 

[kingdobbs]

It is better than just relying on the XL, but overall I agree, its a microcosm of UConn and its relationship with, the State, Hartford, and Mansfield. Earlier in this current building cycle, I believe the University had plans to build a 5K hockey arena and events center where the university owned Mansfield Apartments are today while the current rink woudl be used for practices and community use. But, between the University's and State's budget issues, Hartford fear of losing UConn hockey, and Mansfield's general opposition to anything UConn, the proposal died a quick death.

This badly needed on campus facility is another example of the State's & the University's lack of vision. Shovels will go into the ground as the Men's hockey team is enjoying its greatest success in the Hockey East era. The Lilliputian capacity will ensure that game tickets will be hard to come by. How many will be reserved for students who rightfully should be first in line for on-campus games? Think back to when Gampel was first designed as a dual purpose Colosseum with a capacity of @ 7700 for hockey. UConn would be the envy of the league. The dye has been cast, so its's too late to revisit an architectural design to increase capacity to @ 5000. This will ensure that games against the "traditional" powers will be booked in the XL Center to prop THAT facility up as a venue. Aside the the State's "Scrooge" fiscal mentality, this was probably its game plan all along.

Is it lack of vision, or a recognition of financial and sports industry reality?

When a two time defending national champion in hockey-mad Minnesota, who resides in a city where they are the biggest fish in town, can’t fill their 6700 seat arena on the regular (averaging only 90% in 2019-2020), and a surging program in hockey-mad Massachusetts playing in a Gampel-sized dual use facility still can’t draw more than half full crowds, and a historically strong program in Boston that built a new palace to replace its old barn is still only getting half its seats full, how is a new-ish program just on the cusp of being solidly competitive but still a solid season or two from being contenders and who can easily backslide with an equal number of bad seasons going to draw more than the 3500 they’re averaging in a place that’s more conveniently located for its non-student (ie money-spending) fan base? Especially with its existing financial hardships?

Even before taking into account a global pandemic, in-person attendance at sporting events has been steadily on the decline EVERYWHERE.

UConn is much better off right now aiming for what we can fill, and creating the perception of a hotter ticket. Get a good hockey team in front of students in a small barn and we have an intimidating environment without doing much work. That’ll pay off better in the long term than building ourselves an Agganis or Baxter.

 

[Bomber36]

Is it lack of vision, or a recognition of financial and sports industry reality?

When a two time defending national champion in hockey-mad Minnesota, who resides in a city where they are the biggest fish in town, can’t fill their 6700 seat arena on the regular (averaging only 90% in 2019-2020), and a surging program in hockey-mad Massachusetts playing in a Gampel-sized dual use facility still can’t draw more than half full crowds, and a historically strong program in Boston that built a new palace to replace its old barn is still only getting half its seats full, how is a new-ish program just on the cusp of being solidly competitive but still a solid season or two from being contenders and who can easily backslide with an equal number of bad seasons going to draw more than the 3500 they’re averaging in a place that’s more conveniently located for its non-student (ie money-spending) fan base? Especially with its existing financial hardships?

Even before taking into account a global pandemic, in-person attendance at sporting events has been steadily on the decline EVERYWHERE.

UConn is much better off right now aiming for what we can fill, and creating the perception of a hotter ticket. Get a good hockey team in front of students in a small barn and we have an intimidating environment without doing much work. That’ll pay off better in the long term than building ourselves an Agganis or Baxter.

Very thoughtful take.

 

[CL82]

Is it lack of vision, or a recognition of financial and sports industry reality?

When a two time defending national champion in hockey-mad Minnesota, who resides in a city where they are the biggest fish in town, can’t fill their 6700 seat arena on the regular (averaging only 90% in 2019-2020), and a surging program in hockey-mad Massachusetts playing in a Gampel-sized dual use facility still can’t draw more than half full crowds, and a historically strong program in Boston that built a new palace to replace its old barn is still only getting half its seats full, how is a new-ish program just on the cusp of being solidly competitive but still a solid season or two from being contenders and who can easily backslide with an equal number of bad seasons going to draw more than the 3500 they’re averaging in a place that’s more conveniently located for its non-student (ie money-spending) fan base? Especially with its existing financial hardships?

Even before taking into account a global pandemic, in-person attendance at sporting events has been steadily on the decline EVERYWHERE.

UConn is much better off right now aiming for what we can fill, and creating the perception of a hotter ticket. Get a good hockey team in front of students in a small barn and we have an intimidating environment without doing much work. That’ll pay off better in the long term than building ourselves an Agganis or Baxter.

I think the barn size is more financial than tactical. Hopefully there's enough flexibility designed in to upgrade the facility down the road, as was done in Gampel.

 

[kingdobbs]

I think the barn size is more financial than tactical. Hopefully there's enough flexibility designed in to upgrade the facility down the road, as was done in Gampel.

The tactical benefit is indeed more of a happy accident of the financial reality.

 

[UCONNJACK]

Please let me be wrong, but count me among those who don't believe we'll see a spade in the ground come next April. Public sector construction....................................on time and on budget? Yeah, sure.

If the new arena is again significantly delayed (beyond the already significant delay), don't be surprised if Hockey East's heavyweights (BC, BU, PC, et al) start looking southwestward to replace UConn with QU. Would you blame them? I'm a dyed-in-the-wool UConn alumnus and fan, but if I were a BC, BU PC counterpart, I'd be getting pretty fed up with the broken promises from Storrs.

Arena update from Town/University Committee February 2021 minutes:

UConn Construction Updates. S. Vasington reported that the UCONN hockey arena is moving forward and Turner Construction will be construction manager for the project, launching in April. Arrangements with Department of Transportation and other agencies are being finalized for the 18 to 20-month project. All new athletic field construction is complete, and a formal opening of the performance center will take place in the spring. There may be impact to Separatist Road traffic related to the arena project or other upcoming projects this summer, but the Town will be informed with appropriate notice. Progress has been made at the construction site near UCONN Foundation and Jorgenson across from the North Garage. Hillside Road and Alumni Drive will remain closed through August as the construction project and campus’ first roundabout is installed, but the North Garage will stay open through the process and is accessible from North Eagleville and Discovery Drive.