UConn planning upgrades at Gampel Pavilion, but likely passing on $300 million overhaul (Mike Anthony)

[huskymedic]

Assisted access <<

-> For example, UConn had Populous take a hard look at a nearly total makeover of Gampel. A footbridge would connect the arena to the South Garage across Jim Calhoun Way, a secondary concourse would exist in space currently external to the building and office areas would be leveled in favor of merchandising, beer sales and more. Square footage, currently about 228,000, would increase dramatically. The cost estimate came back at north of $300 million. UConn would be better off building from scratch. <-

-> Perhaps first, or at least up high, on the Gampel to-do list is to replace all lower-level seating that is not permanent, which is most of it. The roll-in, roll-out, bleachers — like the court they have surrounded — are nearing the end of their usable life and new seating must be installed in the next two years.

“We’ll maybe replace them as currently configured,” Benedict said. “Or, could we do some different things? Could we create some premium seating that offers nicer chairs, that are padded, wider, more comfortable? Could you maybe create a second row of floor seats, which we’re completely sold out of now? Could you potentially move students courtside versus being on the ends? Those are all things that we’re talking about.”

-> “We need to try to address our premium offerings, which we have very little of, which means, how do we create some club spaces?” Benedict said. “How do we create better points of sale and options from a concession standpoint? And the biggest thing is how our fans can move in and out and around the building, which is difficult, because we don’t have an outer concourse. So it really clogs things up. We want to be sold out and that creates problems with bathrooms and points of sale and concessions.” <-

 

[XLCenterFan]

It’s so simple and cheap. All they have to do is extend or build out the 4 corners where concessions and restrooms are into “mini-concourses.” There is plenty of room to do this if they build out. They will muck this up and spend way more and do way more than they have to.

 

[Ha Who]

In other words like everything the state does it will be cheap and of no use to the average fan. The bridge was not needed but the current “concourse, like the XL” is a joke

 

[Palatine]

Anything worth doing is worth doing half-arsed.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Assisted access <<

-> For example, UConn had Populous take a hard look at a nearly total makeover of Gampel. A footbridge would connect the arena to the South Garage across Jim Calhoun Way, a secondary concourse would exist in space currently external to the building and office areas would be leveled in favor of merchandising, beer sales and more. Square footage, currently about 228,000, would increase dramatically. The cost estimate came back at north of $300 million. UConn would be better off building from scratch. <-

-> Perhaps first, or at least up high, on the Gampel to-do list is to replace all lower-level seating that is not permanent, which is most of it. The roll-in, roll-out, bleachers — like the court they have surrounded — are nearing the end of their usable life and new seating must be installed in the next two years.

“We’ll maybe replace them as currently configured,” Benedict said. “Or, could we do some different things? Could we create some premium seating that offers nicer chairs, that are padded, wider, more comfortable? Could you maybe create a second row of floor seats, which we’re completely sold out of now? Could you potentially move students courtside versus being on the ends? Those are all things that we’re talking about.”

-> “We need to try to address our premium offerings, which we have very little of, which means, how do we create some club spaces?” Benedict said. “How do we create better points of sale and options from a concession standpoint? And the biggest thing is how our fans can move in and out and around the building, which is difficult, because we don’t have an outer concourse. So it really clogs things up. We want to be sold out and that creates problems with bathrooms and points of sale and concessions.” <-

This is a lesson for college arenas that they can learn from modern pro arenas and football stadiums. Put the kids close to the action. Build the more luxurious experience at a "club" level. The big money season ticket holders care more about amenities than proximity. It's long been sad that we have those empty seats down near the court.

The better not reduce capacity to placate the big money people. The place is too small now.

 

[gampelcrazies]

Wow they really are going to f this up. If they spend less than $100 million it won’t be worth it. And even then it might need more.

 

[Fishy]

We will do what the state of Connecticut does….we will spend too much money on something that will not impact the fan experience and then in ten years, we will do it again.

We’ll eventually spend the $300M and basically just have what we have now.

It’s so predictable that it hurts.

 

[WestHartHusk]

Maybe we can get some sort of student deck with poor sight lines that blocks other seats if we play our cards right.

 

[superjohn]

We will do what the state of Connecticut does….we will spend too much money on something that will not impact the fan experience and then in ten years, we will do it again.

We’ll eventually spend the $300M and basically just have what we have now.

It’s so predictable that it hurts.

You forgot the part where they pay a bunch of money for people to study the feasibility/viability before they waste ungodly amounts of money on the actual construction.

 

[Ha Who]

You forgot the part where they pay a bunch of money for people to study the feasibility/viability before they waste ungodly amounts of money on the actual construction.

Kind of like state agencies scrambling to hire and promote a bunch of middle managers because they know a deficit is looming

 

[zls44]

Maybe we can get some sort of student deck with poor sight lines that blocks other seats if we play our cards right.

I’m wheezing

 

[Drame]

Basically it doesnt make sense to do a big upgrade to Gampel. Needs to much. Do a temporary fix now and start planning / saving for a proper new arena.

 

[Stinger92860]

$300 Milion? What’s the cost of a retractable dome for the Rent, lol. Never give up.

Or just build a new arena on the hill. Make sure it hold 50K with room for more.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Just build out the concourse, his point is correct about it being too crowded during sellouts. Everything else people can stop being soft about.

 

[Kolumbo]

I really hope they consider the cost and benefit of starting from scratch. Brand new, modern, better design, and it will almost certainly be cheaper in the long run.

 

[How Sway?!]

I really hope they consider the cost and benefit of starting from scratch. Brand new, modern, better design, and it will almost certainly be cheaper in the long run.

That's exactly why they are only doing $50 million to fix the most urgent stuff. It would have cost $300 million to fully modernize the building, at which point they realized it would be cheaper to build a new arena, but that'd a decision the state needs to make

 

[Fishy]

You forgot the part where they pay a bunch of money for people to study the feasibility/viability before they waste ungodly amounts of money on the actual construction.

I like how they tell them, “design something nice that we won’t build and also design something crappy that we will.”

 

[superjohn]

I like how they tell them, “design something nice that we won’t build and also design something crappy that we will.”

Me too, they're so sweet about it.

 

[CL82]

I like how they tell them, “design something nice that we won’t build and also design something crappy that we will.”

UConn:“Design something nice that we won’t build and also design something crappy that we will.”

Architect:"OK, on the crappy one crappy and functional or crappy and non-functional?"

UConn:"I think you know the answer Jim"

Architect:"Nonfunctional it is!"

 

[HuskyHawk]

UConn:“Design something nice that we won’t build and also design something crappy that we will.”

Architect:"OK, on the crappy one crappy and functional or crappy and non-functional?"

UConn:"I think you know the answer Jim"

Architect:"Nonfunctional it is!"

UConn: "Oh, and can you have it go over budget so it costs almost as much as the nice one?"

Architect: "I thought you'd never ask".

 

[aburks41]

Is it really that expensive to rip Gampel down to the studs and just rebuild it? Feel like they could just do that for $100M at most.

Houston ripped the Feritta Center down to the studs and replaced everything in 2017 for $60M

 

[Chin Diesel]

UConn: "Oh, and can you have it go over budget so it costs almost as much as the nice one?"

Architect: "I thought you'd never ask".

 

[How Sway?!]

Is it really that expensive to rip Gampel down to the studs and just rebuild it? Feel like they could just do that for $100M at most.

Houston ripped the Feritta Center down to the studs and replaced everything in 2017 for $60M

Gampel is like twice the size, so double that $60 million. Plus 20% inflation, you are looking at close to $150 million.

 

[Fishy]

Gampel is like twice the size, so double that $60 million. Plus 20% inflation, you are looking at close to $150 million.

If it was $150M, they should start it tomorrow

 

[kemba]

Just build out the concourse, his point is correct about it being too crowded during sellouts. Everything else people can stop being soft about.

All I want is to be able to take a piss and then grab a beer during halftime and not have to worry about whether I’ll miss the start of the 2nd half.

 

[navery12]

 

[CL82]

All I want is to be able to take a piss and then grab a beer during halftime and not have to worry about whether I’ll miss the start of the 2nd half.

"Depends"

#planahead

 

[superjohn]

If it was $150M, they should start it tomorrow

They built Wintrust for DePaul like 6 years ago for $160 or so which I thought was a pretty good deal. I would imagine CT construction costs are insane.

 

[jdb50]

The upper level behind the team benches are an insult to fans with the leg room issues. Great seat locations are lost with the sidewalk design. Blow the place up and build a proper arena that seats 12,500. Put the concessions in a nice wide area outside the arena. All chairbacks throughout the arena is a must.

 

[noeynox]

300 million? What did Gampel cost again sheesh.