Warde on Record: 10,000 More Seats (Hartford Business Journal)

[Nostical]

I think WM's "10 years" comment qualifies as either a non-sequitur or throw-away line.

Yes

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Agree with most - the time to proactively expand the Rent has come and gone.

Not true. Time to expand proactively is right now. This comes before an invitation to a P5 conference - or at least the commitment to expand immediately comes before an invite.

 

[Chief00]

Warde and Susan constantly say conference realignment is beyond their control - if they can't even positively influence outcomes we have the wrong folks in those jobs.

 

[CTMike]

Warde and Susan constantly say conference realignment is beyond their control - if they can't even positively influence outcomes we have the wrong folks in those jobs.

Just a bizarre comment. They do not possess a gun they can use to force an invite from another league. However, everything they have done has positively influenced our profile.

 

[BlueMAB]

Warde and Susan constantly say conference realignment is beyond their control - if they can't even positively influence outcomes we have the wrong folks in those jobs.

Yes, because "control" and "influence" mean exactly the same thing. Great post.

 

[sportsart]

Warde and Susan constantly say conference realignment is beyond their control - if they can't even positively influence outcomes we have the wrong folks in those jobs.

It's kinda like influencing your post content. We've been trying for years and yet you still cease to amaze.

Please tell us what you would be doing to influence CR, that they have not done.

 

[BlueMAB]

It's kinda like influencing your post content. We've been trying for years and yet you still cease to amaze.

Please tell us what you would be doing to influence CR, that they have not done.

 

[junglehusky]

Warde and Susan constantly say conference realignment is beyond their control - if they can't even positively influence outcomes we have the wrong folks in those jobs.

Of course! Why didn't I think of that - we just needed to hire a prez and an AD who say they will control the outcome. I'm sure that's the only reason we aren't in the ACC or B1G right now. Boy, the UConn trustees sure are a bunch of morons for not asking Herbst if she could control the outcome, ha ha ha!

 

[rich1122]

I'm lost.. I thought the Rent currently seats 40k... ???? are we looking to add 10k more seats in 10 years? If that's the case, that's too long a wait...

Too long a wait when we have only 20K ST Holders??? Keep dreaming.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

It's kinda like influencing your post content. We've been trying for years and yet you still cease to amaze.

Please tell us what you would be doing to influence CR, that they have not done.

Fired Paul P on the first day they arrived on campus. Stadium expansion commencement the next day.

 

[CTMike]

Fired Paul P on the first day they arrived on campus. Stadium expansion commencement the next day.

Since we are apparently living in an imaginary fantasy land they should have carried the Rent brick by brick to Horsebarn Hill too!

 

[uconnbill]

Too long a wait when we have only 20K ST Holders??? Keep dreaming.

Sitting by does what? UCONN has to be proactive otherwise it will be left behind for good.

Again small time thinking is why UCONN is in the position it is in now.

 

[rich1122]

Sitting by does what? UCONN has to be proactive otherwise it will be left behind for good.

Again small time thinking is why UCONN is in the position it is in now.

Fill up this stadium and then you have a chance to do something, otherwise nothing is going to happen And it should not. If we can get the ST back up to the 30K range and build momentum, then yes.

 

[Dooley]

I agree with Money: the play is to raise private money to a certain level then go to the state to fill in the rest.

Or wait for me to win PowerBall.

 

[BlueMAB]

Fill up this stadium and then you have a chance to do something, otherwise nothing is going to happen And it should not. If we can get the ST back up to the 30K range and build momentum, then yes.

Nonsense.

a) what was the season ticket totals for Memorial Stadium before we built the rent?
b) who's paying for the stadium upgrade?
c) we're not the only show at the Rent. We can attract bigger soccer games and bigger concerts with additional seating.
d) it is highly likely that a) we get an invite or b) we're party of an antitrust suit against the P5. The additional seats will be more proof we are at the same level and can compete with schools like Rutgers, BCU, Saracuse, Duke, Northwestern, Indiana, Wake Forest, etc, etc, and they cannot lock us out of the competition "just because".

 

[rich1122]

Worry more about filling up what we have than adding another 10K empty seats. If we constantly fill it up we can always make the promise to add more after the invite. It will take 2 years to change leagues, ample time to add the seats. If we build it and it's empty then we really look stupid,

 

[BlueMAB]

Worry more about filling up what we have than adding another 10K empty seats. If we constantly fill it up we can always make the promise to add more after the invite. It will take 2 years to change leagues, ample time to add the seats. If we build it and it's empty then we really look stupid,

We aren't getting an invite without another 10k. And if we don't get an invite (and assume there is no anti-trust suit) then we'll already look stupid.

Sitting around and not being proactive with our football program is the reason we are stuck in the AAC. Arguing that we continue to do what hasn't worked is crazy.

 

[rich1122]

We aren't getting an invite without another 10k. And if we don't get an invite (and assume there is no anti-trust suit) then we'll already look stupid.

Sitting around and not being proactive with our football program is the reason we are stuck in the AAC. Arguing that we continue to do what hasn't worked is crazy.

Need people NOT seats.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Need people NOT seats.

Small time.

 

[BlueMAB]

Need people NOT seats.

I'll try one last time.

Is that how the Rent got built? By selling out Memorial?

 

[Gilligan]

Sorry to rain on you're guys parades but Rentschler Field was pushed through as part of the Adriens Landing Project in Hartford. When all the local politicians near UConn put up a good fight and stopped the momentum of building a stadium on campus. Governor Rowland as much as you love him or hate him, was the main person involved who along with Lew Perkins to get the Rent done. UConn already commited to the Big East and needed a newer and better facility. 40,000 was the number that was easy to get done through the legislature than a larger stadium at the time and there are plans for the stadium to be expanded. I actually at some time saw the plans and renderings and it was for 55,000. There are some people who think UConn thinks small time. You guys forget that UConn is a state school and any money used for large projects need state approval. Gampel was built with 8200 seats because the state did not want another venue to compete with the old Hartford Civic Center. They expanded after agreeing to have more games also in Hartford and the need was there. I like what Warde is doing, to take a quote from Kevin Ollie. He's planting seeds and getting the conversation started here and out in conference alignment land where everyone will hear what he has to say. The UConn brand right now is a hot topic and whatever Warde might say, he's like EF Hutton. People will listen and the media from all over will jump at the chance to cover it. I think it gets done in 5 years.

 

[UConnJim]

Let's look at facts. 29 out of the first 58 games at The Rent were sellouts. Only the last 3 years of PP showed only one sellout, Michigan.

Since The Rent has had many sell outs in the past, you have to assume that UConn has left money on the table every time there has been a sell out as they could have sold more tickets. Let's assume that we could sell an average of 15,000 tickets per year based on adding 10,000 additional seats. (Some years we would sell more, some less.) Let's assume we sold them for $30 apiece and you get about $450k of additional seat revenue plus, say an additional $100k in other revenues to total $550k of additional revenues. (This year, we probably would only have sold 10k additional seats as Michigan would have been the only game needing additional seats.)

Also, there is revenue available from other events at The Rent like concerts and soccer which could sell additional seats. (The Rent with a greater capacity would attract better concerts and soccer matches.). Let's assume you could get another $400k to $500k in additional revenues from other events.

Let's estimate that it costs $30 million to add the seats and we invested $10 million (through donations or naming rights in the future) and borrowed $20 million at 3% for an annual interest cost of $600k which means its in the ballpark. Even if it costs an additional $10 to $15 million to add the seats, it's still in the ballpark. And, making UConn more attractive to a P5 conference is worth $10 to $40 million per year in additional revenues.

The time is now to do it with interest rates low and to make UConn a more attractive option to P5 conferences.

 

[UConnJim]

Need people NOT seats.

29 out of the first 58 games at The Rent were sellouts. We have the people and left money on the table by not having more seats. Don't let 3 years of PP, which is a cyclical downturn, skew the historical facts and our thinking.

 

[Dooley]

UCONN and the state really needs to think about expanding the stadium right now. Get to 55-60K. If they have to curtain the top off while we play against Memphis and Tulane types, then so be it. UCONN won't be moving anywhere with a small 40K stadium. Even 55-60K is small when we're comparing capacity with other stadiums in the B1G. But at least 55-60K puts UCONN in the neighborhood. Keep the venue intimate and trap sound to keep it LOUD. 55-60K can make a heck of a lot noise too.

There is a place in the P5 world for "basketball schools" as long as they show *some* effort and willingness to invest in football. If UCONN can open a new basketball facility, renovate XL Center, AND announce a football stadium expansion all within 1-2 years, then that is one heck of a statement and commitment to athletics. And all of that is a good thing in CR.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Fired Paul P on the first day they arrived on campus. Stadium expansion commencement the next day.

Yeah, because a president and AD have enough clout to commission and begin a multi-million dollar athletic construction project on day one of their employment.

 

[Palatine]

Build it and they will come.

 

[rich1122]

WE are

Let's look at facts. 29 out of the first 58 games at The Rent were sellouts. Only the last 3 years of PP showed only one sellout, Michigan.

Since The Rent has had many sell outs in the past, you have to assume that UConn has left money on the table every time there has been a sell out as they could have sold more tickets. Let's assume that we could sell an average of 15,000 tickets per year based on adding 10,000 additional seats. (Some years we would sell more, some less.) Let's assume we sold them for $30 apiece and you get about $450k of additional seat revenue plus, say an additional $100k in other revenues to total $550k of additional revenues. (This year, we probably would only have sold 10k additional seats as Michigan would have been the only game needing additional seats.)

Also, there is revenue available from other events at The Rent like concerts and soccer which could sell additional seats. (The Rent with a greater capacity would attract better concerts and soccer matches.). Let's assume you could get another $400k to $500k in additional revenues from other events.

Let's estimate that it costs $30 million to add the seats and we invested $10 million (through donations or naming rights in the future) and borrowed $20 million at 3% for an annual interest cost of $600k which means its in the ballpark. Even if it costs an additional $10 to $15 million to add the seats, it's still in the ballpark. And, making UConn more attractive to a P5 conference is worth $10 to $40 million per year in additional revenues.

The time is now to do it with interest rates low and to make UConn a more attractive option to P5 conferences.

This trend has been going on even during the Fiesta Bowl years. Fill this up for two years then somebody is interested. otherwise we won't expand.

 

[Waquoit]

Reasonable sounding energy vampire is still an energy vampire.

With same on a different day.

 

[Waquoit]

Sorry to rain on you're guys parades but Rentschler Field was pushed through as part of the Adriens Landing Project in Hartford. .

It moved so fast because CT wasn't gonna let Kraft have the last word.

 

[CL82]

How many additional seats can be added to the Rent without major renovation? Figure 2500 just by putting seats in the concourse area. How much just by going to seat backs? (Possibly a net negative.) How much if just cut back on the inches allotted per seat? I think we can show progress and indicate our commitment to grow the program without a big cash investment. In this way we can show continuous incremental growth. One would think that midway point between the "build it and they will come" and the "fiscal responsibility" camps creates a positive vibe at a minimal cost and paves the way for an eventual expansion.