UConn v UMass 2023

[businesslawyer]

Why can't we play at Holy Cross again?

Why would I rather play in Worcester than in Amherst?

 

[Waquoit]

Why would I rather play in Worcester than in Amherst?

Of course, one wouldn't. But it's neutral. I was wondering why it doesn't seem to be an option.

 

[businesslawyer]

Of course, one wouldn't. But it's neutral. I was wondering why it doesn't seem to be an option.

My guess is that if someone calls the Holy Cross athletic department and asks about renting their field, you'd have to wait twenty minutes for them to finish laughing before they told you that you had to be kidding.

 

[freescooter]

I'd be happy with the university just owning whatever comes next because I feel like state stewardship doesn't actually help much. Putting things on the university ledger gives them an interest in developing the facility and they're routinely in the business of marketing as it is so you're giving it to people who know what they're doing. Maybe that's not really feasibly flipping facilities from one ledger to another but clearly Rentschler, the parts that surround the field, are quickly entering into decay.

Not really. These are (mostly) normal repairs/upgrades that need to be done on any building after 20 years of operation. Technological changes have been through a period of rapid change. My first game at the Rent I had a Blackberry. My friends were amazed at such a magical piece of equipment. It is clearly time for a technological upgrade.

If you have a roof, you know it needs to be replaced.

 

[Patman]

Not really. These are (mostly) normal repairs/upgrades that need to be done on any building after 20 years of operation. Technological changes have been through a period of rapid change. My first game at the Rent I had a Blackberry. My friends were amazed at such a magical piece of equipment. It is clearly time for a technological upgrade.

If you have a roof, you know it needs to be replaced.

Regardless I think whatever needs to be done it'll happen faster if the school is in charge than if the state is in charge. Moreover, I think UConn stewardship can get more out of the facility (better marketing) than what currently occurs. Athletics aligned staff is more likely to think about it as a venue for operations and already primed to be thinking in an entertainment sort of mind.

 

[freescooter]

This is why playing in Gillette makes zero sense to me. I can't see how it won't lose a lot of money, I can't see why anyone would want to drive 90 minutes to 2.5 hours to watch a game in an empty NFL stadium, no matter how nice it is, and frankly I'd just rather drive to Amherst if that's the option and be home earlier.

Guessing that Gillette is being donated. It was earlier in UMass’s foray into BCS football. Wouldnt be my choice but it is a UMass home game. They want to play in the I91 median in Springfield thats their call.

 

[HuskyAlum012]

Yale Bowl for a neutral site game would be much more fun than any of the alternatives.

 

[mymustang]

Yale Bowl for a neutral site game would be much more fun than any of the alternatives.

Would love that. I live on the shoreline, so that would be closer then the Rent for me

 

[LIUCHusky]

Yale Bowl for a neutral site game would be much more fun than any of the alternatives.

What makes anyone think Yale would be remotely interested in allowing any other college team not named Yale play in their stadium? Other than those playing against Yale obviously.

 

[mymustang]

What makes anyone think Yale would be remotely interested in allowing any other college team not named Yale play in their stadium? Other than those playing against Yale obviously.

I agree not going to happen, even thou it would be convenient for me. But at least if the game was played there it would dust off some of the seats that go untouched each year. Yale averaged less than 7 thousand fans a game last year in five home games. You could play their games at the Surf club in Madison

 

[BlueandOG]

Gillette is the place to play. It has excellent tailgating space, seats, food, beer, etc. Fenway is nostalgic but it is not great for watching football (or baseball for that matter).

 

[Woof 101]

What makes anyone think Yale would be remotely interested in allowing any other college team not named Yale play in their stadium? Other than those playing against Yale obviously.

But, but, Yale only has a 42.3 billion endowment. Could they not use the chump change? Skull and Bones just ain't what it used to be.

 

[NE Football]

I would think that we would bring 30k to Gillette and UMass about 15k. Not bad but still 23,000 empty seats. UConn alone would sell out Fenway Park.

 

[TMB4405]

I would think that we would bring 30k to Gillette and UMass about 15k. Not bad but still 23,000 empty seats. UConn alone would sell out Fenway Park.

I hope you are right but I think you are bring very optimistic. Part of it is how the season is going but I would sign up for 45 k right now. I think you are more likely to end up at 30 k.

 

[HartfordHank]

I would think that we would bring 30k to Gillette and UMass about 15k. Not bad but still 23,000 empty seats. UConn alone would sell out Fenway Park.

UConn averaged just over 22,000 per home game last year but you will bring 30,000 to Gillette? You had a recent home game at Fenway and overall attendance was 20,133 but UConn will sellout Fenway?

 

[Waquoit]

I would think that we would bring 30k to Gillette and UMass about 15k. Not bad but still 23,000 empty seats. UConn alone would sell out Fenway Park.

Nice try, Sonny James. I can't see UConn bringing more than 5K to Gillette.

 

[Hoophound]

Yeah. The UMass game isn’t very exciting to the fan base. It should be played in Amherst where the stands can be filled. The atmosphere would be much better there. Maybe down the road both programs can be better and make it a more appealing game to fans on both sides. There is no point at all to playing in Foxboro at this point.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Yeah. The UMass game isn’t very exciting to the fan base. It should be played in Amherst where the stands can be filled. The atmosphere would be much better there. Maybe down the road both programs can be better and make it a more appealing game to fans on both sides. There is no point at all to playing in Foxboro at this point.

They don't fill the stands for anyone, not us, no one. I have been there a few times and neither was a sell out.

 

[Hoophound]

They don't fill the stands for anyone, not us, no one. I have been there a few times and neither was a sell out.

I think a slightly better UMass, and a much better UConn would do well in Amherst. Last time we were there, the game had absolutely nothing going for it.

 

[HCCForever]

As bad as Fenway is for a football game, the Daytona Speedway seems even worse for football. I just saw on the ESPN crawler that the speedway is offering the use of their facility when Jacksonville renovates the TIAA Bank Field around 2025.

 

[huskymedic]

FWIW:

 

[Husky92]

FWIW:

Now THAT is interesting…

makes more sense than just UConn & UMass playing in an empty stadium.

 

[BugsyCT]

I doubt Gillette would get many more fans for UConn/UMass than Amherst would, even with the Miami/BC game before it.

 

[Drew]

FWIW I don’t think he’s saying both BC/Miami and UConn/UMass are at Gillette- if that was the case you almost certainly would play one on Friday and one on Saturday or something as teams typically need 90+ minutes pregame for stretching, walkthrough, warmup, etc

Think he’s saying Miami is @ BC in Chestnut Hill at noon and that UConn/UMass will be in the greater Boston area as well at 4:00pm. If they were somehow going to pull off a same day double header you’d almost certainly have the BC/Miami game after the UConn/UMass game and one would need to be at like 11am with the other at like 8pm

 

[Drew]

this seemingly affirms my previous post that the BC/Miami game is in Chestnut Hill

 

[HartfordHank]

Now THAT is interesting…

makes more sense than just UConn & UMass playing in an empty stadium.

BC Miami is at BC, not Gillette.

 

[Blades]

Confusing, so the BC grad means combined attendance at 2 venues. not a double header at one.

 

[Waquoit]

And Doug Flutie's not walking through that door.

 

[uconnric]

There will be more people at the Chestnut Hill Mall than at the BC game, and probably the UConn-UMass game as well.

 

[husky10]

FWIW I don’t think he’s saying both BC/Miami and UConn/UMass are at Gillette- if that was the case you almost certainly would play one on Friday and one on Saturday or something as teams typically need 90+ minutes pregame for stretching, walkthrough, warmup, etc

Think he’s saying Miami is @ BC in Chestnut Hill at noon and that UConn/UMass will be in the greater Boston area as well at 4:00pm. If they were somehow going to pull off a same day double header you’d almost certainly have the BC/Miami game after the UConn/UMass game and one would need to be at like 11am with the other at like 8pm

That's disappointing UConn-Umass at Gillette will feel very empty, even with a decent sized crowd there. I initially did read it as both games were going to be played at Gillette.

I understand your point about warmups, but why couldn't the 2nd game teams make use of the Patriot's practice facility that is right next door? This would require the Patriots playing on Thanksgiving or on the road that weekend, but that should not be very difficult to arrange/plan ahead.