UConn Podcast: Leaving Games Early Debate

[Carl Spackler]

I find this whole discussion incredibly stupid.

Arguing about showing up early and staying late, when our last sellout was 5 years ago.

How about we sell 40,000 tickets for a game again, before bringing this asinine subject up again?

 

[Dooley]

I find this whole discussion incredibly stupid.

Arguing about showing up early and staying late, when our last sellout was 5 years ago.

How about we sell 40,000 tickets for a game again, before bringing this asinine subject up again?

Then don't click on this thread and continue to post here. Problem solved.

The thread was created because this was discussed on UConn Pod. The topic is constantly debated across threads. If we created a more fun, lively atmosphere, don't you think more people would come to games? Sure, it's a bit of a chicken/egg conversation. But it's obvious that the school and AD are making several efforts to try to enhance gameday atmosphere. If it's important to UConn, to (most of) its fans, and to the football team, then why dismiss it? We can't force people to go to games but we can have some impact on how they behave while at a game. Don't you agree?

 

[Carl Spackler]

No, friend - sharing my opinion that I think the discussion is stupid, because it creates animosity among people that actually follow the program, when we haven'nt had a sellout in 5 years, is not the same as feeling the need not to share.

Whoever started the podcast on this? poor choice of subject matter.

I've shared my opinions though, and perhaps 'stupid' is a strong word. The more sensitive word would be "misguided, or meaningless" discussion - because it's a really a meaningless discussion when you're talking about people that have chosen to spend money on a losing program for 5 years, and we haven't filled the stadium in 5 years.

Sensitivity training though, not high on the list for me right now.

We've got 3 games left to get this program to it's first +.500 season since 2010, and we can only go one game at a time. We had one good game at home, whoopdee doo.

Stupid discussion, and you telling me I shouldn't share that opinion before not adding again, not - making my mood better.

With that, I will not add to this discussion anymore.



Personally, I think

 

[Husky25]

I generally believe that if you buy a ticket, you should stay until the game is well in hand, either for or against your team, and two scores entering the 4th is not "well in hand." Neither is 10 points coming out of the under 4 minute timeout in basketball, lest we forget Pittsburgh and Duke for the two sports, respectively. Generally, by the time the contest is well in hand, there are only a few minutes left anyway, and if the plan is to get a beer or something afterwards, there is no reason to beat the traffic.
Traffic flows pretty good out of Rentschler whether there are 10,000 or 25,000 cars. It's not The Meadows or Great Woods, where you waste 2 gallons just idling in the parking lot.

I'm iffy on attributing an early departure of night games to children. Personally, even if I had left at halftime of a 7:00 game on Friday, the kid is in bed by the time I walk through the door, so it makes no difference whether I'm home at 8:50 or 10:30. Even for Saturday day games, my son naps until 4:00, so hurrying up to wait doesn't make much sense to me. I suppose it will become more of an issue as my children get older (3 y.o. and 1 on the way), but they may also like the game day experience as they age. My son has already been to a handful of games (albeit, Mom comes too).

At the end of the day, we are talking about the value of entertainment. It's your dollar. Do what you will, but if you are a habitual early exiter without kids in tow (**cough** Student section **cough**), I reserve the right to judge you 6 ways 'til Sunday, and you are obliged to take it.

 

[Dooley]

I can't influence your bad mood any more than I (or anyone) can influence people to buy tickets. You either are in a good mood or a bad mood; you either buy tickets or you don't. Same thing, the action falls to the action owner.

If the conversation should shift towards "how do we sell more tickets?" then that question will be answered with the same answer we have been hearing for years: win more games. I agree 1000% that selling more tickets is a good thing for UConn, the football team, and a whole slew of visceral things associated with the two. We've tried everything: slashing prices by 50+%, promo codes, extra tailgating, season ticket holder hats, flex packs, top of the Rent tickets, keep your seat location, etc and our attendance is still dropping like a rock. We aren't winning at the level that will convince casual fans to buy tickets yet. Maybe that comes next season, but even then, casual fans aren't going to scoop up season tickets because they have higher expectations. For the most part, they need to see wins first then they will buy tickets. If we win in 2016, then hopefully 2017 season tickets will skyrocket. But that's a long ways away.

But until 2017, why not engage in some healthy conversation about what can be done to enhance gameday atmosphere? Even with a sold out stadium, Michigan game aside, we often experience the same challenges as with 23K in the stadium. Address it now so that when the day comes again that we have 40K in the stands (and that day will come again), we have this thing down lock stock and two smoking barrels.

Rent Rewards Program - cause X number of visitor penalties or timeouts, get a t-shirt or some swag/food. Sponsored by ABC Company.

Dedicated student bus lanes to avoid traffic.

Dedicated season ticket holder lanes to avoid traffic.

Turn those 25 additional acres into parking lots NOW to give cars more of a choice of where to park.

Taxi/Uber/CT Transit alley - line 'em up for post-game shuttles for fans who had too much to drink or just want to commute.

Less corporate advertising. Smarter corporate advertising.

Improved stadium enhancements - full bar lounge area by the videoboard, increased UConn pictures/logos in the corridors, etc.

Football season tickets = better access to basketball tickets, men's or women's.

 

[gioff23]

I would rather focus on getting people there in the first place rather than focusing on the time of their departure. But it could be folks have lives away from UConn football. I have a son who plays football, often at times that conflict with UConn - I try to get to both. I get to all of his game and as much of UConn as I can. Am I a bad fan because I want to be a good dad? I'd rather go, make sure the seat is sold, enjoy as much as possible, and not hear a frigging word from someone who either has no conflicts, a life, or simply feels nothing is as important as UConn football.

 

[whaler11]

First thing they should do is turn the scoreboard area into a giant sports bar. Just look how popular the on at XL is.

 

[huskymedic]

Good times indeed.

 

[CL82]

@Dooley is spot on about the buses back to campus and either having a "institutional" tailgate for students that wraps up and moves kids into the stadium prior to the kid off or even including a drink and food in your ticket if you enter the stadium prior to kickoff. I understand the oft stated benefits of having the Rent centrally located but it really prejudices the student experience. We need to be creative to offset that.

For what it's worth, if the idiots rushing to leave ever earlier to escape the traffic that create by leaving ever earlier, watched the end of the game, listened to the band and did a little post game socializing they'd have no traffic leaving the Rent. None, zip, nada. Irony thy name is traffic phobic fan.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I can't influence your bad mood any more than I (or anyone) can influence people to buy tickets. You either are in a good mood or a bad mood; you either buy tickets or you don't. Same thing, the action falls to the action owner.

If the conversation should shift towards "how do we sell more tickets?" then that question will be answered with the same answer we have been hearing for years: win more games. I agree 1000% that selling more tickets is a good thing for UConn, the football team, and a whole slew of visceral things associated with the two. We've tried everything: slashing prices by 50+%, promo codes, extra tailgating, season ticket holder hats, flex packs, top of the Rent tickets, keep your seat location, etc and our attendance is still dropping like a rock. We aren't winning at the level that will convince casual fans to buy tickets yet. Maybe that comes next season, but even then, casual fans aren't going to scoop up season tickets because they have higher expectations. For the most part, they need to see wins first then they will buy tickets. If we win in 2016, then hopefully 2017 season tickets will skyrocket. But that's a long ways away.

But until 2017, why not engage in some healthy conversation about what can be done to enhance gameday atmosphere? Even with a sold out stadium, Michigan game aside, we often experience the same challenges as with 23K in the stadium. Address it now so that when the day comes again that we have 40K in the stands (and that day will come again), we have this thing down lock stock and two smoking barrels.

Rent Rewards Program - cause X number of visitor penalties or timeouts, get a t-shirt or some swag/food. Sponsored by ABC Company.

Dedicated student bus lanes to avoid traffic.

Dedicated season ticket holder lanes to avoid traffic.

Turn those 25 additional acres into parking lots NOW to give cars more of a choice of where to park.

Taxi/Uber/CT Transit alley - line 'em up for post-game shuttles for fans who had too much to drink or just want to commute.

Less corporate advertising. Smarter corporate advertising.

Improved stadium enhancements - full bar lounge area by the videoboard, increased UConn pictures/logos in the corridors, etc.

Football season tickets = better access to basketball tickets, men's or women's.

You're right on one thing - Sorry for the personal mood comment, and you're making me break a promise by continuing to add to the discussion, but so be it.

As for the rest, you want real solutions? Forget everything you're writing about, and get motivated to getting the University active in initiating a plan to buy the property from the state, and own it. otherwise, it's a constant issue dealing with leasing of the venue.

That aside - it's all bellyaching for naught. It really is - making a problem where none exist - and that is just a real, real pet peeve of mine.

We went through the winning records I posted before with essentially ZERO marketing, football media, or any sort of promotion plan from the university. ZERO. The AD and university leadership stuck in a basketball model of understanding intercollegiate athletics, that was failing in and of itself. We still sold out, and people still showed up late and left early - when they felt like it. So what? that's our culture.

I've already discussed how I would turn this into a positive thing for the people actually on the field - because for the people in the stands that really would care about such a discussion - they have personal connection. The true spectator? How about making it worthwhile to stay? Preferably - I wouldn't want it that way - because right now I'm thinking about agame in 2009 I think wehre North Carolina top 25 ranked was in town, and it came down to the end and horsesh+t holding penalty in the endzone by an ACC ref. The game was close all along. Nobody left. Sell out. We lost. GIve me a blow out win with the stadium emptying by the mid 4th quarter every time, than an ulcer.

If I wanted an ulcer, I'd flip channels between Megyn Kelly and Rachel Maddow. I want to be entertained when I go to a game, and most importantly - nothing is as entertaining, as winning.

That written, most people - and I bet whoever started this podcast thing, hasn't really spent much time traveling and experiencing life - and that's fine - just learn from it. Poor choice of subject matter, and I'm not waivering on that. Creates animosity among die hard fans? Stupid.

THe reality is that Rentschler field, is a phenomenal venue for college football. We have by far the best facility for division 1 college football game day experience in the entire northeast. There is no place where you can park so many people, so close to the stadium, and they all can tailgate. There is no stadium, that when full - is louder and presents a real weather, wind, sound, home field advantage.

What we have never experienced at UCONN, is the winning that we had from 2003-2010, combined with decent media, marketing and promotion.

THe wild card, is the conference change - but in reality - this new conference is much better of a football product, than what we had before - and the years of losing - might actually turn out to be a decent buffer.

there is opportunity to create some real waves in the college football post season by the AAC this year - and we are part of that conference these days.

woud I rather be big 10?

obviously.

 

[Husky25]

@Dooley is spot on about the buses back to campus and either having a "institutional" tailgate for students that wraps up and moves kids into the stadium prior to the kid off or even including a drink and food in your ticket if you enter the stadium prior to kickoff. I understand the oft stated benefits of having the Rent centrally located but it really prejudices the student experience. We need to be creative to offset that.

For what it's worth, if the idiots rushing to leave ever earlier to escape the traffic that create by leaving ever earlier, watched the end of the game, listened to the band and did a little post game socializing they'd have no traffic leaving the Rent. None, zip, nada. Irony thy name is traffic phobic fan.

Aside from the "idiots" comment and watching the band, this post could not be more spot on.

It's one thing to criticize someone for leaving the game early, but I have no problem with the people who choose to leave before the marching band lines up. I know they've been doing it for years, and if you choose to listen, great, but the band is not the reason you are at the stadium. I, for one (and I know I'm not the only one), wish they played more during the game.

 

[CL82]

Aside from the "idiots" comment and watching the band, this post could not be more spot on.

It's one thing to criticize someone for leaving the game early, but I have no problem with the people who choose to leave before the marching band lines up. I know they've been doing it for years, and if you choose to listen, great, but the band is not the reason you are at the stadium. I, for one (and I know I'm not the only one), wish they played more during the game.

Fair enough Husky25. My point is simply that if you stick around after the game traffic is virtually non-existent. So for people whose sole motivation for leaving early is avoiding traffic, they would be well served to stay until the end of game.

Could not agree more about having less canned music and more band during the games. The same can be said for basketball games. For me listening the band is part of the college game day experience. We have an outstanding band. I'd love to hear them more.

 

[FartMan69]

This isn't a UConn problem, in fact it isn't even a problem it's just that the die hard hardos are annoyed the casual fan isn't as dedicated as they are. This happens at every program we just have people on this board comparing our fans to big time programs (Michigan) that dwarf our fan base making it seem like they dont have this "problem" when in reality they just have thousands of more die hards. We will never be that national brand in football due to many factors and maybe it's just me but how about we stop getting worked up about the people that paid for their seat and focus on actually filling the thousands of empty ones.

 

[Carl Spackler]

This isn't a UConn problem, in fact it isn't even a problem it's just that the die hard hardos are annoyed the casual fan isn't as dedicated as they are. This happens at every program we just have people on this board comparing our fans to big time programs (Michigan) that dwarf our fan base making it seem like they dont have this "problem" when in reality they just have thousands of more die hards. We will never be that national brand in football due to many factors and maybe it's just me but how about we stop getting worked up about the people that paid for their seat and focus on actually filling the thousands of empty ones.

25 years ago, people talked about UConn would never be a national brand in basketball. Other than how that sentence applies to what you wrote, I agree with everything else.

This entire thing is creating a problem, where none exists. Some people like to do that, and live for it. It annoys me.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

To be honest, it has been a problem for UConn athletics for a while. I clearly remember chanting with about 5 minutes left at any UConn basketball game at Gampel in the mid 1990's, 'Rush home alumni, beat the traffic.'

And in advance, my own apologies for likely leaving the Houston game early. I am taking my 5 year old to his first college football game and I highly doubt he will make it past the 3rd quarter. He's 5.

 

[Dooley]

For what it's worth, if the idiots rushing to leave ever earlier to escape the traffic that create by leaving ever earlier, watched the end of the game, listened to the band and did a little post game socializing they'd have no traffic leaving the Rent. None, zip, nada. Irony thy name is traffic phobic fan.

In a weird kind of way (probably in relation to Fishy's point about New Englanders obsession with traffic), part of me gets excited to see some people leave games early. It means that if I stay until the end of the game, eat some post-game cookies with my brother (tradition), and talk about the game and upcoming schedule for about 10-15 minutes, I will have absolutely zero traffic resistance by the time we are ready to part ways. Not one car - ever.

But I would be more than happy to sacrifice my own traffic obsessions for a few more game clock minutes of rocking Rent atmosphere, especially if it helps us win games.

 

[Dooley]

First thing they should do is turn the scoreboard area into a giant sports bar. Just look how popular the on at XL is.

1000% agree. It's already an unofficial sports bar area. Might as well spruce it up a bit with some picnic tables, extended bar options, and maybe even some food service deal. If we ever expanded that side of the stadium with a second deck, you could cover the bar up and install some TVs and fans to circulate air.

 

[Dooley]

Good times indeed.

I admit that I was blackout drunk at this game (was much younger back then) and don't remember much of it. I do remember the pick-6 and the place going bonkers. I know every home game will not sound like this but it's too bad that this kind of atmosphere isn't more of the norm than a once every several seasons type of thing.

 

[Dooley]

You're right on one thing - Sorry for the personal mood comment, and you're making me break a promise by continuing to add to the discussion, but so be it.

As for the rest, you want real solutions? Forget everything you're writing about, and get motivated to getting the University active in initiating a plan to buy the property from the state, and own it. otherwise, it's a constant issue dealing with leasing of the venue.

That aside - it's all bellyaching for naught. It really is - making a problem where none exist - and that is just a real, real pet peeve of mine.

We went through the winning records I posted before with essentially ZERO marketing, football media, or any sort of promotion plan from the university. ZERO. The AD and university leadership stuck in a basketball model of understanding intercollegiate athletics, that was failing in and of itself. We still sold out, and people still showed up late and left early - when they felt like it. So what? that's our culture.

I've already discussed how I would turn this into a positive thing for the people actually on the field - because for the people in the stands that really would care about such a discussion - they have personal connection. The true spectator? How about making it worthwhile to stay? Preferably - I wouldn't want it that way - because right now I'm thinking about agame in 2009 I think wehre North Carolina top 25 ranked was in town, and it came down to the end and horsesh+t holding penalty in the endzone by an ACC ref. The game was close all along. Nobody left. Sell out. We lost. GIve me a blow out win with the stadium emptying by the mid 4th quarter every time, than an ulcer.

If I wanted an ulcer, I'd flip channels between Megyn Kelly and Rachel Maddow. I want to be entertained when I go to a game, and most importantly - nothing is as entertaining, as winning.

That written, most people - and I bet whoever started this podcast thing, hasn't really spent much time traveling and experiencing life - and that's fine - just learn from it. Poor choice of subject matter, and I'm not waivering on that. Creates animosity among die hard fans? Stupid.

THe reality is that Rentschler field, is a phenomenal venue for college football. We have by far the best facility for division 1 college football game day experience in the entire northeast. There is no place where you can park so many people, so close to the stadium, and they all can tailgate. There is no stadium, that when full - is louder and presents a real weather, wind, sound, home field advantage.

What we have never experienced at UCONN, is the winning that we had from 2003-2010, combined with decent media, marketing and promotion.

THe wild card, is the conference change - but in reality - this new conference is much better of a football product, than what we had before - and the years of losing - might actually turn out to be a decent buffer.

there is opportunity to create some real waves in the college football post season by the AAC this year - and we are part of that conference these days.

woud I rather be big 10?

obviously.

I do agree with a lot of what you wrote. And don't worry, I never take anything personally on here - we're all allowed differing opinions.

It really is too bad that Jeff Hathaway ever served as our acting AD, especially during a time of such UConn athletic prominence. We were winning national championships in basketball and getting to bowl games on the norm. Instead of building upward from there (ex - expanding the Rent to 50K), he was content with status quo and expecting all of us to gobble down his pretentious line of bullsquirt year after year. I still recall him saying in an interview that he won't consider expanding the Rent until it is sold out on a season ticket basis. That line of thought is so alienating and so backwards, it's maddening to even think about. I still don't understand how attendance and interest in UConn football went down during his tenure, even when we winning. Were the first few years of D-1 just a novelty item? Even if they were, Hathaway (and UConn) missed a golden opportunity to make lifelong diehard fans out of thousands of more people than he did. The final nail: his lazy, unimaginative "safe" hire. But I digress...

The way Rentschler Field is designed and built, with fans so close to the action, it can create ALOT of noise. Expelling the noise in a more consistent manner to help our team win is what I'm interested in.

Aside: I'm still upset about the BS holding call in the end zone. No friggin' way that was a hold.

 

[Waquoit]

When I went to Michigan, more fans left early than fit into The Rent.

 

[noeynox]

I don't tailgate. I'm there on time for the game and stay till the end. It does not bother me one bit that some leave early no matter the reason. Ad others have said, those people aren't the problem, it's the empty seats that are the enemy.

 

[uconnric]

This will be debated every year, and it won't make a bit of difference. Don't have a problem with it, we need people to show up, period.

 

[FartMan69]

25 years ago, people talked about UConn would never be a national brand in basketball. Other than how that sentence applies to what you wrote, I agree with everything else.

This entire thing is creating a problem, where none exists. Some people like to do that, and live for it. It annoys me.

2 entirely different animals. The amount of money it takes build a basketball power is chump change compared to what these football powers have spent to keep their programs (socially and athletically) on the top of the food change. The culture in college football is far more elitist than in basketball and in this day and age any up and coming program that tries to retain their successful coach just won't be able to pay them what the powers can.
It also doesn't help the northeast is dominated by two of the biggest brands in Pro Football.

 

[businesslawyer]

I left early last Friday. I had children to get home to. Don't tell me to bring them. I have. They don't enjoy it, which makes it so that I don't enjoy it. I've occasionally left early when we've gotten blown out. Why stay and continue to get angrier and angrier, over something that shouldn't be that important? Better to leave and enjoy what's left of the day, life is short. I'll be right back in the stadium the next game anyway.

I could run down my laundry list of what I've done to support the program. It would be more than some here, and less than others. But anyone who wants to question my fanhood because I choose to leave and spend time with my kids can, to quote Scuba Lou, eat a dick.

FOH with that "insult to leave early" nonsense. I wouldn't leave a broadway play early because they're entertaining. Even the bad ones are entertaining. I'm also not emotionally involved in the outcome. If someone misses a line, IDGAF. I have left 2 movies early. But movies
are generally half the time of a football game, and don't involve a gridlocked parking lot afterword. So those are two poor analogies.

It's o.k. to walk out on a movie early. Unless, of course, you are watching it on a plane.

 

[Nostical]

It really is too bad that Jeff Hathaway ever served as our acting AD, especially during a time of such UConn athletic prominence. We were winning national championships in basketball and getting to bowl games on the norm. Instead of building upward from there (expanding the Rent to 50K), he was content with the status quo.

Hathaway was inherently afraid to ask for more. I wrote him (and Pres Austin) after the Motor City Bowl when we watched in Detroit as our Marching Band came onto Ford Field with mismatched sousaphones. Some were gold, some white--it was embarrassing. David Mills had been asking for help. Hathaway ignored it until he couldn't. The UConn Club then raised almost $100,000 and now we have 21 Silver beauties. David Mills was constantly hitting his head against the wall trying to upgrade the band. Hathaway was a no-bird--so was Austin. He never pursued asking for a stadium expansion during a time when the purse holders might very well have been receptive. He never made the case. Would have required him to ask for more. It was what made him reluctant to push for a more expensive coach and thus he sold us on Coach P. And it didn't take Susan Herbst long to realize she needed a competent leader who could help her raise our endowment and our spirits to much greater heights. He was soon (but not soon enough) out the door!