UConn's FBS Football Program - what is our mission?

[Kolumbo]

Acknowledging we will remain at The Rent for the forseeable future. But checking out the new stadium being built at USF and the excitement it is generating. I sure am jealous. I've said it before. USF plays at an NFL stadium just 10 down the road in the center of Tampa and is still making the investment on campus. That's a Power move.

Future USF On-Campus Stadium

"An on-campus stadium is bigger than football. While it will have a tremendous impact on the Bulls football program, the stadium will provide a unique, vibrant, shared campus experience that will contribute to the culture, spirit and connectedness of the university, not just during fall football games but throughout the year. It will provide students, staff and faculty a place of their own to gather and share their passion for USF while giving alumni and community members a compelling reason to return and experience the beauty and energy of our ever-evolving campus and students. It will be a place where incredible memories are built across generations, that reminds us why USF is so great and stirs our passion for the university."

 

[Kolumbo]

USF Stadium revenue opportunities

‘Go big or go home’: USF’s new on-campus stadium will give the Bulls numerous revenue opportunities

The University of South Florida's on-campus stadium project reflects a go-big-or-go-home approach in college sports' revenue-sharing era.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

"Stadium naming rights alone present a huge opportunity. Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton inked a 15-year, $22 million stadium naming-rights deal with Flagler Credit Union in December. It’s not unreasonable to think South Florida, with a stronger football brand than its American Athletic Conference rival FAU, could top that number."

"The rooftop patio above the south-side tower will feature one of the largest bars in college football, measuring 300 feet in total. The open-air space will likely have one of the cheapest premium price points in the stadium with a high vantage point. The space will likely prove useful for the university’s non-football event hosting efforts."

 

[huskymedic]

Acknowledging we will remain at The Rent for the forseeable future. But checking out the new stadium being built at USF and the excitement it is generating. I sure am jealous. I've said it before. USF plays at an NFL stadium just 10 down the road in the center of Tampa and is still making the investment on campus. That's a Power move.

Future USF On-Campus Stadium

"An on-campus stadium is bigger than football. While it will have a tremendous impact on the Bulls football program, the stadium will provide a unique, vibrant, shared campus experience that will contribute to the culture, spirit and connectedness of the university, not just during fall football games but throughout the year. It will provide students, staff and faculty a place of their own to gather and share their passion for USF while giving alumni and community members a compelling reason to return and experience the beauty and energy of our ever-evolving campus and students. It will be a place where incredible memories are built across generations, that reminds us why USF is so great and stirs our passion for the university."

Have to wonder how much further drag on progress a new President search and a new AD Search at the same time will cause: Trustees approve updated USF stadium plan, paving the way for full construction to move forward

 

[JohnFSilver]

The bottom line is the stadium is in the East Hartford wasteland. Programs fly to CT and all they see are Bradley and Retnschler Field. It's college football. Not abandoned airfield football. The stadiums you mentioned are all nice on-campus stadiums which is a far superior model than ours. That's just the way it is.

The visiting teams like coming to UConn. Bradley, 45 minutes to East Hartford decent stadium. Out and back on plane an hour after the game.

It beats some crazy trips for teams out there.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

The visiting teams like coming to UConn. Bradley, 45 minutes to East Hartford decent stadium. Out and back on plane an hour after the game.

It beats some crazy trips for teams out there.

27 minutes with no traffic.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

The visiting teams like coming to UConn. Bradley, 45 minutes to East Hartford decent stadium. Out and back on plane an hour after the game.

It beats some crazy trips for teams out there.

It's a business trip.

 

[Blades]

The visiting teams like coming to UConn. Bradley, 45 minutes to East Hartford decent stadium. Out and back on plane an hour after the game.

It beats some crazy trips for teams out there.

You guys are slow, I live in Windsor and make it back from the Rent in 10 minutes, Bradley in 20 mins no problem ! Traffic exceptions. LOL !

 

[CL82]

The visiting teams like coming to UConn. Bradley, 45 minutes to East Hartford decent stadium. Out and back on plane an hour after the game.

It beats some crazy trips for teams out there.

Because that's what college football is all about… Proximity to airports.

 

[Kolumbo]

The visiting teams like coming to UConn. Bradley, 45 minutes to East Hartford decent stadium. Out and back on plane an hour after the game.

It beats some crazy trips for teams out there.

I'm sure that is top of mind for every college football player and program coming to CT. After flying all over the country, "thankfully we don't have to drive an extra 20 minutes to get to UConn's campus." Approx. 45 minute drive. Forget that they most likely stay at hotels near the stadium which makes the bus ride on game day moot. Sure, teams want to come to Rentschler rather than big time on campus college stadiums.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I'm sure that is top of mind for every college football player and program coming to CT. After flying all over the country, "thankfully we don't have to drive an extra 20 minutes to get to UConn's campus." Approx. 45 minute drive. Forget that they most likely stay at hotels near the stadium which makes the bus ride on game day moot. Sure, teams want to come to Rentschler rather than big time on campus college stadiums.

It is on top of kind for coaches and ADs. Lol.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

You guys are slow, I live in Windsor and make it back from the Rent in 10 minutes, Bradley in 20 mins no problem ! Traffic exceptions. LOL !

I don't doubt that you can get from the airport to the Rent in 20 minutes if it's just you and your Kia.

It's a little different when you're talking about ~100 people, all bringing some luggage.

 

[Kolumbo]

It is on top of kind for coaches and ADs. Lol.

That is a funny comment. Sure, they're all like "well sure the power conferences have some great stadiums in great college settings but that UConn program, dang, it's only a 25 minute drive to east freaking hartford. Get them on the schedule pronto!" driving distance probably has zero to do with anything.

 

[Blades]

It is on top of kind for coaches and ADs. Lol.

I remember something about that in a Courant article 5-6 years ago ......College football scheduling guru "Dave Brown is bullish on UConn’s chances as an independent. The first few years might be tough, he said, but details will soon fall into place."

“The biggest challenge we have is making all the games fit, having the right home-road balance and getting games in November. Not necessarily getting games,” Brown said. “Because people do want to play them. The stadium is great, it’s right between New York and Boston, it’s close to so many people’s alumni bases, student recruiting.”

 

[Blades]

I don't doubt that you can get from the airport to the Rent in 20 minutes if it's just you and your Kia.

It's a little different when you're talking about ~100 people, all bringing some luggage.

So are you saying it might be even a little longer ( like hours not minutes) for opposing teams and fans with 30,000 or 40,000 of em' trying to drive away from the backwoods of Storrs...all we need is that super highway falling out of the sky !

 

[JohnFSilver]

That is a funny comment. Sure, they're all like "well sure the power conferences have some great stadiums in great college settings but that UConn program, dang, it's only a 25 minute drive to east freaking hartford. Get them on the schedule pronto!" driving distance probably has zero to do with anything.

Haven’t you read up on independent and why UConn is attractive to schedule?

UConn has a P4 caliber stadium, facilities. Many mid P5s would rather do a home and home and not pay a huge body bag game fee.

convenience such as in and out matters. Proximity matters to nyc and posting as alumni centers.

I think duke would rather play in east Hartford than Storrs. The visiting team doesn’t give a crap in campus or off.

 

[Kolumbo]

Haven’t you read up on independent and why UConn is attractive to schedule?

UConn has a P4 caliber stadium, facilities. Many mid P5s would rather do a home and home and not pay a huge body bag game fee.

convenience such as in and out matters. Proximity matters to nyc and posting as alumni centers.

I think duke would rather play in east Hartford than Storrs. The visiting team doesn’t give a crap in campus or off.

I disagree. I think every single program would rather play in an on-campus stadium rather than amongst distribution centers. There is no college atmosphere in East Hartford. It works for pro teams like the Giants and Jets. Not for an independent program trying to get in a conference. Only people in Connecticut worry about driving time to anywhere.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I disagree. I think every single program would rather play in an on-campus stadium rather than amongst distribution centers. There is no college atmosphere in East Hartford. It works for pro teams like the Giants and Jets. Not for an independent program trying to get in a conference. Only people in Connecticut worry about driving time to anywhere.

That isn’t true. Opposing teams don’t care.

 

[Windham4th]

I disagree. I think every single program would rather play in an on-campus stadium rather than amongst distribution centers. There is no college atmosphere in East Hartford. It works for pro teams like the Giants and Jets. Not for an independent program trying to get in a conference. Only people in Connecticut worry about driving time to anywhere.

Other teams would prefer a non-campus environment as they are typically less raucous. Do you think basketball teams think they have a better chance of beating at XL or Gampel?

 

[Bonamassa]

Other teams would prefer a non-campus environment as they are typically less raucous. Do you think basketball teams think they have a better chance of beating at XL or Gampel?

Slim chance at XL. Fat chance at Gampel.

 

[billybud]

Skate to where the puck is going...not where the puck is.

 

[gioff2323]

Have a 35 year stretch where the team wins at least 9 and loses no more than 3 games a year. That would be a start.

And have absolutely nothing else to do on a fall weekend

 

[Windham4th]

Slim chance at XL. Fat chance at Gampel.

Exactly

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Because that's what college football is all about… Proximity to airports.

That's true. Name 5 P4 teams that are an hour away from a usable airport not named VA Tech.

 

[CL82]

That's true. Name 5 P4 teams that are an hour away from a usable airport not named VA Tech.

Exactly! Pretty much it's the first question that every recruit asks... "how far are we from the airport?"

 

[Windham4th]

So we all agree.

There are too many airports.

 

[Kolumbo]

That isn’t true. Opposing teams don’t care.

it's fine, you can repeat your opinion as many times as you'd like. I doubt you have any insight.

 

[Kolumbo]

Other teams would prefer a non-campus environment as they are typically less raucous. Do you think basketball teams think they have a better chance of beating at XL or Gampel?

That makes no sense. If a program is worth its salt, the stadium will be raucous. The Rent has been raucous in the past. It's a shame thousands of opposing players have come to play UConn and have never even seen a glimpse of the UConn campus. The campus must be electric on gameday in Athens