Going to see Billy for the first time in February. Can't wait.
...and soon to be Newark...
Yeah, I've actually visited at least three battle sites here in the state that say "You're wrong".
There were significant (as in more than minor skirmishes) in Ridgefield and Groton, and raids on houses and shipping ports in Westport, Norwalk, Fairfield, and New Haven.
It wasn't Lexington, Yorktown or Saratoga, but it wasn't *nothing*.
Webster Bank Arena is a different class. It holds between 8K and 10K and is also next to a train station. Bridgeport, too, is not the safest area around; but, I cannot comment how the area around the arena is as I have never been in that area except to catch the ferry.
UConn fans love to bitch about parking. Webster will give them all they can handle. Good thing the game is on a weekend afternoon, if it was on a weekday night it would be the last one in Bpt.
there's plenty of parking in the lot across from the arena.
Newark? The Prudential Center, aka the Rock, has been opened since 2007 and is the home arena for the NJ Devils and Seton Hall basketball (went to 2 UConn games there myself). It holds 17K to 20K depending on the event and if I remember the article in the local paper as 1 of the top 10 grossing arenas in the country (MSG and Barclay’s are ahead). It’s easy to get to by the highway and is on the subway (PATH) line from NYC. Newark is not the safest city around; but, even at night, if you stay in the corridor between the Rock and the train station, it’s safe.
Webster Bank Arena is a different class. It holds between 8K and 10K and is also next to a train station. Bridgeport, too, is not the safest area around; but, I cannot comment how the area around the arena is as I have never been in that area except to catch the ferry.
You're right, I knew the Devils played there but was thinking they were moving for some reason. That's the Islanders moving to Brooklyn. My point is that Hartford should not compete with Bridgeport, Springfield, Mohegan, and Providence as an arena venue. It should compete with Newark, Louisville, Kansas City, etc.
No problem. The Nets (basketball) moved last year from the Rock to Barclay's in Brooklyn (they previously moved from the IZOD in the Meadowlands to the Rock in 2010/11). The Islanders scheduled to move from Nassua out on Long Island to Barclay's in 2015. I actually like the Rock and would love if UConn played some games there; but, it does nothing for UConn's brand as the press treats Newark like it's in upstate NY or somewhere and not 15 miles from Times Square.
The Byrne/Meadowlands arena was a lot nicer than the HCC/XL center ever was, it just didn't have the "necessities" of a modern arena, like club seats nor a lot of luxury boxes. It was one of the first arenas to have them mid-level. Also, the upper levels weren't the ridiculous nose-bleeds like at the HCC. They did play the last non-dome final four in '96 there (damn you Erick Dampier). If anything, it was a little sterile at times.
I never went to it, but was the Bredan-Bryne Arena decent? Seems like it would have been XL-ish due to the era it was built.
Thats why I would like for UConn to get an invite to play in the Hall of Fame Tipoff. Id doesnt look like thats going to happen for at least the next 3 years. It would still be nice to have one regular season game at Mohegan.I would really enjoy some games at Mohegan - it is ranked 5th best venue in the world for concerts. So by default far superior to XL.