UCONN hockey program won't be complete until on-campus barn/team facility opens

[TheDoggPound]

There's no good way to section off an arena. Curtains muffle noise and they look minor league. UConn would be pushing it to average 8K a night playing on random nights in Hartford against the likes of Merrimack, Vermont, RPI, and Northeastern. Will they probably bring in 8K for the likes of BU and BC? Sure, but so does UMass. The question for the program remains how will the fan support be when the new car smell wears off. Those bottom of the league games will be the litmus test for what the realistic fan support of the program is and will be.

The Moda Center and Portland Winterhawks do a good job sectioning off their arena.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/05/...am-on-par-with-winterhawks-system-in-portland

Good article on curtain systems^

Also IMO attendance will only rise the upcoming seasons. Once the "new car smell" wears off that's when the team will actually start challenging for the league title and Frozen Four births.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

The Moda Center and Portland Winterhawks do a good job sectioning off their arena.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/05/...am-on-par-with-winterhawks-system-in-portland

Good article on curtain systems^

Also IMO attendance will only rise the upcoming seasons. Once the "new car smell" wears off that's when the team will actually start challenging for the league title and Frozen Four births.

That's better than what's in Hartford, but far from ideal, and far from having an arena that is the right size to begin with. The new car smell will be gone in about 1-2 years. You think UConn's going to be regularly challenging for Frozen Fours in two years? That is an entirely unrealistic expectation, even if we extend the period out to five or six years. This was a great first season in Hockey East, but there's a ways to go for the program to be at the top of the league, and there's an enormous logjam at the top over the coming seasons among BU, BC, Lowell, and a resurgent UNH. Not to mention the team that won the national championship.

Not to mention, these delusions of grandeur that have floated around this board at times throughout the season of filling up XL on a regular basis are based in absolutely no precedent. No one, not even the top attendance drawers in the country pull in that much on a regular basis. Expecting anything over the lower bowl (I believe is somewhere ~6K) of XL to be filled with regularity across the whole of the season, year in and year out, is not realistic, especially if games continue getting placed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Friday afternoons.

 

[TheDoggPound]

That's better than what's in Hartford, but far from ideal, and far from having an arena that is the right size to begin with. The new car smell will be gone in about 1-2 years. You think UConn's going to be regularly challenging for Frozen Fours in two years?

Yes, I believe year 4 will be the year we start our ascent to the top and we'll be challenging for the league title.

Not to mention, these delusions of grandeur that have floated around this board at times throughout the season of filling up XL on a regular basis are based in absolutely no precedent. No one, not even the top attendance drawers in the country pull in that much on a regular basis. Expecting anything over the lower bowl (I believe is somewhere ~6K) of XL to be filled with regularity across the whole of the season, year in and year out, is not realistic, especially if games continue getting placed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Friday afternoons.

The ST base is only going to keep growing. It'll jump up from last year meaning it's safe to predict we'll see a rise in attendance for the 15-16 season. Will it likely stagnate at some point over the next couple of off-seasons, yes sure but it's safe to say last year's 5,814 avg. is just the tip of the iceberg for UConn Hockey in Hartford.

 

[dbmill]

Brass bonanza is exactly right on this. In every way. Hockey East is the best league in the country from both level of play to location. The other issue with Hartford is that UConn is at the mercy of 3 other programs. Just look at last years schedule when everyone is playing Fri-Saturday home-home series were stuck playing Tuesday and Sunday afternoon games. Or moving attractive opponents to Bridgeport (or Brooklyn). On campus arena is a must long term...midterm actually. 6000+- build long term fans among the students.

As opposed to where - Bridgeport? Freitas? Taft School? Was there really any other option than "pulling more" to Hartford?

My bet is a state of the art showcase training facility/rink will be built on campus and games will be split between Htfd and Storrs based on opponent and demand.

Both these posts hit it right on the button. No offense to the minor league team, but I'm sure UConn is not exactly looking forward to playing more hockey doubleheaders with the Wolf Pack.

 

[TheDoggPound]

Both these posts hit it right on the button. No offense to the minor league team, but I'm sure UConn is not exactly looking forward to playing more hockey doubleheaders with the Wolf Pack.

There were plenty of dates open that UConn could of used - not sure if the issue was on UConn's end or Global's end but I brought this up way back. At the time I counted, iirc something like 7-8 prime dates (Fri/Sat) that were open yet UConn was playing on Monday's and Tuesday's. I think it's just a matter of coordinating and scheduling better.

Also the WP are on their way out after next season, I wouldn't be surprised if the CRDA tells Global to give UConn preferential treatment. That would be a good way to scratch UConn's back too while they're wrangling over the lease.

 

[huskymike]

World is ending posts incoming!

I for one am perfectly fine with this if it does happen. If they went to Storrs support for the program would only diminish imo. I understand the angle of the students should get to watch them on campus but let's not act like the student section at last year games was anything else than underwhelming; it was borderline embarassing. Granted it would be better if they played on-campus but I think Greater Hartford's appetite for hockey far out paces the UConn students appetite.

And it's totally possible that the soccer team could end up outdrawing the hockey team at certain times (chance they're more popular too). I wouldn't want to see that. Plus selfishly if they move to Storrs I won't make any of the games and I suspect that would be the case with quite a good % of current ST holders. I would wager that UConn is none to thrilled by the idea of replacing full-paying ST holders with Student ST holders.

I heard it from a friend with insight to planning/infrastructure for campus. I Didn't mean to cause a storm. For selfish reasons I would love an on campus arena. I think we could do like basketball. Most games on campus with big games at XL. I still think it would be awesome to host BC/BU on campus. The one XL game I didn't go to was due to a snowstorm. If the arena was on campus I would have braved the trip.

 

[MASSconn]

Not one Big 10 or Hockey East team plays off-campus at a neutral venue.

If they don't build an on-campus arena they are crazy!! All they need to do is put it at an area accessibility to 44 and 195. (depot campus- that's where our football should be too IMO)

This is so disheartening. Lightning does strike twice

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Not one Big 10 or Hockey East team plays off-campus at a neutral venue.

If they don't build an on-campus arena they are crazy!! All they need to do is put it at an area accessibility to 44 and 195. (depot campus- that's where our football should be too IMO)

This is so disheartening. Lightning does strike twice

Or really any team in the country. The only one who played any modicum of distance from campus was Nebraska-Omaha, but they're moving into an on-campus arena this fall.

 

[bleedgreen]

Hartford is not off-campus. Planning for attendance to decrease is planning for failure and ridiculous. Storrs was never meant to be home to the amount of activity these athletics programs generate, and the writing is clearly on the wall to begin expanding UConn's presence, all on fronts, in Hartford. It makes sense and it is the best option for everyone except for a minority who enjoys Storrs being it's own little petty fiefdom.

I get that for some people Storrs is a comfortable location, but for most of the state it's a long backroad drive at night through the middle of nowhere. It's silly to cram two, nevermind three, programs which are attracting support and interest comparable to a professional team into that little town.

 

[huskymike]

Hartford is not off-campus. Planning for attendance to decrease is planning for failure and ridiculous. Storrs was never meant to be home to the amount of activity these athletics programs generate, and the writing is clearly on the wall to begin expanding UConn's presence, all on fronts, in Hartford. It makes sense and it is the best option for everyone except for a minority who enjoys Storrs being it's own little petty fiefdom.

I get that for some people Storrs is a comfortable location, but for most of the state it's a long backroad drive at night through the middle of nowhere. It's silly to cram two, nevermind three, programs which are attracting support and interest comparable to a professional team into that little town.

You make some valid points, however I would consider Hartford being 25 miles west of Storrs to be off campus.

 

[auggie22]

You lose sight of the fact that we are talking about college athletics, not professional franchises. They exist in their current form to attract prospective students and faculty, not make more convenient the commute of middle-aged men.

It can be done well in Storrs even if the school gives up a little revenue to do it. The students are in storrs. The rest of us can take the lonely drive to the games if we wish to attend.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Hartford is not off-campus. Planning for attendance to decrease is planning for failure and ridiculous. Storrs was never meant to be home to the amount of activity these athletics programs generate, and the writing is clearly on the wall to begin expanding UConn's presence, all on fronts, in Hartford. It makes sense and it is the best option for everyone except for a minority who enjoys Storrs being it's own little petty fiefdom.

I get that for some people Storrs is a comfortable location, but for most of the state it's a long backroad drive at night through the middle of nowhere. It's silly to cram two, nevermind three, programs which are attracting support and interest comparable to a professional team into that little town.

Odd, never heard the same about Penn State athletics which face the same if not more challenges than Storrs does (100k football venue, 15k basketball arena, etc) and the same for towns like Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Chapel Hill, Bloomington, Iowa City, Tuscaloosa, College Station, etc. Those towns have all grown with their universities, not chased them away.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Hartford is not off-campus. Planning for attendance to decrease is planning for failure and ridiculous. Storrs was never meant to be home to the amount of activity these athletics programs generate, and the writing is clearly on the wall to begin expanding UConn's presence, all on fronts, in Hartford. It makes sense and it is the best option for everyone except for a minority who enjoys Storrs being it's own little petty fiefdom.

On a limited basis, some significant changes are occurring involving UCONN and downtown Hartford. Yes, the MBA /graduate business program will shift more courses to Stamford and to Hartford; the Hartford-area branch will return downtown after 1/2 century in West Hartford; about 2,300 students (part time, and full time) will study downtown; and the UCONN dental and medical schools and Medical Center will continue on the growing suburban campus in Farmington. None of this changes the clear fact Storrs has been, is, and will be UCONN (or, vice versa!) nor the obvious fact the massive UCONN 2000, 21st Century UCONN, and more recent $1.5 billion Next Generation investments focused most in and on Storrs.

On the other hand, it is a big reach to suggest UCONN's presence will expand on all fronts in Hartford. It's not supported by facts, but perhaps it's a convenient opinion to support an incorrect perspective. However, it is reasonable to acknowledge Huskies' hoops will continue playing some games in Hartford; hockey will play some games at least until the new arena absolutely is built on the continually expanding Storrs' campus (as it will); the increasing Storrs' student population will continue to grow; and football will continue playing home games across the Connecticut River in East Hartford.

Getting to/from Storrs may not be overly convenient, especially for the under informed or non-creative driver, but that consideration nor the fact some UCONN sports will play some games in Hartford or East Hartford does not support the ill-informed view suggesting all things UCONN are moving or will move to downtown Hartford. Forever ideally is a long time, but that wrong footed view about UCONN moving all sports or all everything simply is not happening in most of our lifetimes!

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Just...no.

 

[SAMCRO]

Hartford is not off-campus..

stopped reading here.

 

[TheJerk]

Odd, never heard the same about Penn State athletics which face the same if not more challenges than Storrs does (100k football venue, 15k basketball arena, etc) and the same for towns like Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Chapel Hill, Bloomington, Iowa City, Tuscaloosa, College Station, etc. Those towns have all grown with their universities, not chased them away.

Key line there is "those towns have grown with their universities". This is the larger issue. Storrs can never be any of those locations due to the town not growing with the school.

You need some games in Hartford to keep the casual fan more interested in the program. The bulk of the state views going to Storrs as a pain in the butt.

 

[TheJerk]

Odd, never heard the same about Penn State athletics which face the same if not more challenges than Storrs does (100k football venue, 15k basketball arena, etc) and the same for towns like Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Chapel Hill, Bloomington, Iowa City, Tuscaloosa, College Station, etc. Those towns have all grown with their universities, not chased them away.

Key line there is "those towns have grown with their universities". This is the larger issue. Storrs can never be any of those locations due to the town not growing with the school.

You need some games in Hartford to keep the casual fan more interested in the program. The bulk of the state views going to Storrs as a pain in the butt.

 

[whaler11]

Having spent 40 years living in every part of the state I'm curious how one creatively gets to Storrs. Is there a Tron like portal I don't know about?

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Key line there is "those towns have grown with their universities". This is the larger issue. Storrs can never be any of those locations due to the town not growing with the school.

You need some games in Hartford to keep the casual fan more interested in the program. The bulk of the state views going to Storrs as a pain in the butt.

I have no problem with some games, especially when the students are not on campus during winter break, in Hartford and even a marquis game during the school year in NYC to drum up national TV (basketball primarily); but, no way should the XL be looked at as UConn hockey's (nor basketball's) primary venue. College sports should be played at a college as its a key part of student life at a major university such as UConn (or any other D1 school). Off-hand, I would no more than 25% of 'home' games should be off campus in Hartford or elsewhere.

 

[TheJerk]

I have no problem with some games, especially when the students are not on campus during winter break, in Hartford and even a marquis game during the school year in NYC to drum up national TV (basketball primarily); but, no way should the XL be looked at as UConn hockey's (nor basketball's) primary venue. College sports should be played at a college as its a key part of student life at a major university such as UConn (or any other D1 school). Off-hand, I would no more than 25% of 'home' games should be off campus in Hartford or elsewhere.

I can agree with the 25% number. But utilize the XL for maybe 5 games that you know will have the states attention (BC/BU/ND/etc..)

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Having spent 40 years living in every part of the state I'm curious how one creatively gets to Storrs. Is there a Tron like portal I don't know about?

Depends on point of origination, but never 84 E or W to 195. Not too creative with a map or GPS.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

I can agree with the 25% number. But utilize the XL for maybe 5 games that you know will have the states attention (BC/BU/ND/etc..)

Winter/Thanksgiving break games and a big game in Hartford with the rest on campus would be a decent setup. So long as UConn gets some priority in scheduling those games and they're not Wednesday at 5:00 or some crap like that. If they're playing BC in Hartford, that game has to be 7:00 on a Friday or Saturday, not a Wednesday. It's better for the players and it's better for the fans.

 

[husky8273]

Depends on point of origination, but never 84 E or W to 195. Not too creative with a map or GPS.

from the west 384 to 44 or 31 to 44; from the east 32, 74 or 320; the real creativity begins once you are nearer campus

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

from the west 384 to 44 or 31 to 44; from the east 32, 74 or 320; the real creativity begins once you are nearer campus

Alumni association perspectives may have you all confused, including west and east direction. Except for bad weather conditions, 2 time savers or traffic avoidance routes include 384 eastbound to 44 to 31 to 275 to back entry via Stadium Road, and 84 westbound to 320 to 74 (briefly) to back roads in Willington or whatever towns they are to 195 next to Four Corners on to campus. Don't recall the roads, but there's also a route which follows back roads, crosses over 195 and then 44, and gets to campus via Hunting Lodge Road and North Eagleville Road.

 

[husky8273]

Alumni association perspectives may have you all confused, including west and east direction.

"coming from the west" and "going eastbound" are one and the same

 

[bleedgreen]

Predictably the responses here for the Storrs diehards ignored the fact that the overwhelming majority of UConn alumni, who are at least if not more important to the sports programs than the current students, live in the Hartford area. The fact is that this university is an expense (and asset!) to ALL of the state and not the tiny but vocal minority in the Storrs area who want everything UConn does to be crammed into this tiny and inaccessible part of the state. Step outside of the bubble of the hardcore UConn fan and you will find that the overwhelming popular opinion of people who actually attend UConn hockey games is not to let the program become a distant third priority in an undersized facility on the Storrs Campus. Those people are all taxpayers who have a say and the governor's ear. And I'm sorry if people choose to stop reading when I point out that Hartford is now a UConn campus and the state is more and more interested in shifting more of the University that way, but it's a reality. The provincial attitude is on its way out and I'd be sad to see the potential of this hockey program wasted while we deny that inevitability.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Yes! The hockey program will be wasted away if it stays on campus, just like all of the other hockey, football, and basketball programs that have wallowed in misery because they stayed on campus in rural and absolutely inaccessible parts of their respective states..

 

[FDNY99]

Predictably the responses here for the Storrs diehards ignored the fact that the overwhelming majority of UConn alumni, who are at least if not more important to the sports programs than the current students, live in the Hartford area. The fact is that this university is an expense (and asset!) to ALL of the state and not the tiny but vocal minority in the Storrs area who want everything UConn does to be crammed into this tiny and inaccessible part of the state. Step outside of the bubble of the hardcore UConn fan and you will find that the overwhelming popular opinion of people who actually attend UConn hockey games is not to let the program become a distant third priority in an undersized facility on the Storrs Campus. Those people are all taxpayers who have a say and the governor's ear. And I'm sorry if people choose to stop reading when I point out that Hartford is now a UConn campus and the state is more and more interested in shifting more of the University that way, but it's a reality. The provincial attitude is on its way out and I'd be sad to see the potential of this hockey program wasted while we deny that inevitability.

Another "UCONN Fan" who ONLY wants to see games in Hartford. You guys should start your own website. Last I knew students were supposed to be part of college sports...they do foot a fair amount of the bill for most athletic departments with their student activities subsidy. And before you say they will lose $ because of student ticket prices...remember this UCONN pays a pretty steep price per game to play at the XL Center, the games at a on-campus arena will cost them MUCH less...and if there are no bonds to pay off become all profit after operating costs. I also would love to hear your take on basketball attendance...since both the men and women fill Gampel...and there is no shortage of Alumni coming to campus for those games! And just so you know I have season tickets to football AND hockey...live in Westchester County and would get screwed pretty bad by them moving games to campus.

 

[FDNY99]

Yes! The hockey program will be wasted away if it stays on campus, just like all of the other hockey, football, and basketball programs that have wallowed in misery because they stayed on campus in rural and absolutely inaccessible parts of their respective states..

Don't bother with him Brassbonanza...there are a few on this board who seem to think that the ONLY solution for UCONN is to play in the XL Center. I want to see what they have to say if HE ever called UCONN on not coming up with solid on-campus arena plans and told them they violated the terms of their HE membership and it was being terminated.

 

[zls44]

Predictably the responses here for the Storrs diehards ignored the fact that the overwhelming majority of UConn alumni, who are at least if not more important to the sports programs than the current students, live in the Hartford area. The fact is that this university is an expense (and asset!) to ALL of the state and not the tiny but vocal minority in the Storrs area who want everything UConn does to be crammed into this tiny and inaccessible part of the state. Step outside of the bubble of the hardcore UConn fan and you will find that the overwhelming popular opinion of people who actually attend UConn hockey games is not to let the program become a distant third priority in an undersized facility on the Storrs Campus. Those people are all taxpayers who have a say and the governor's ear. And I'm sorry if people choose to stop reading when I point out that Hartford is now a UConn campus and the state is more and more interested in shifting more of the University that way, but it's a reality. The provincial attitude is on its way out and I'd be sad to see the potential of this hockey program wasted while we deny that inevitability.

The whalers are dead and they're never coming back. Deal with it.

College sports on college campuses.