XL Center- Plan C, D or ???

[Exit 4]

So much bad faith here it's not worth dissecting.

Real estate development and CT is a very challenging endeavor. Our operational costs are high (taxes, utilities, labor, snow removal - seriously the cost burden is substantial) which eat into the leverage that multi family developers need to build in the first place. I know we are proudly steeped in the notion that CT rents are high, but they actually aren't they aren't that high outside of New Haven and lower FF County. "Moderate rents" + high operational costs + high constr costs = stalled projects. The other challenge, equity players in this space have 50 other better (ie safer) markets to consider when placing multi family equity investments. So sink $5 to $15 million leveraged equity in a development in Hartford or the same set up in X market? Most choose X market. Most X markets have a better rent growth story. Rent growth (just like revenue growth in stocks) is how equity investors unlock returns. National players in multi family development would tell you that Hartford and central CT is a tougher market than others to get new constr rental housing built for these reasons.

 

[Waquoit]

This isn't a "faith" issue. It's a business venture. And again, 2 years out of 5 (40%) of that parks revenue is virtually 0.00 and there still is not a single new business in the surrounding area. At what point does your faith change that? 2025?

Faith doesn't mean bad faith. Bad Faith is using the year before the stadium was completed and a year where no baseball stadium had any attendance in your calculations. Only matched by the bad faith of the original developers.

 

[Guapo]

It’s just so frustrating reading interviews with officials like this - about any similar subject. There’s never any real vision, much less passion, or even an understanding of the fan/consumer base regarding the specific subject.

The XL Center is crappy, yes. But, it’s also the site of some big moments for the region and holds many important memories for thousands and thousands of people. Try to figure out a way to tap into that - or at least understand it. Any sort of vision or imagination is better than just being like “‍welp a lot of other arenas have these bunker suites, might as well throw a hundred mil at it and see if it works”

 

[Waquoit]

Any sort of vision or imagination is better than just being like “‍welp a lot of other arenas have these bunker suites, might as well throw a hundred mil at it and see if it works”

Concourse improvements doesn't sound sexy but if they can come up with something viable it would go a long way.

 

[mdkhusky]

This isn't a "faith" issue. It's a business venture. And again, 2 years out of 5 (40%) of that parks revenue is virtually 0.00 and there still is not a single new business in the surrounding area. At what point does your faith change that? 2025?

Yeah it’s Hartford’s fault that covid hit

 

[Guapo]

Concourse improvements doesn't sound sexy but if they can come up with something viable it would go a long way.

agreed. It was more just the tone of the guy.

16k = Elton John.

No duh UConn has been pulling 8k the past few years. That’s what happens when you suck and play ECU on a Sunday.

(dependent on how fan behavior is impacted by Covid) I expect, with the program on the upswing and being in the Big East, games to routinely draw well over 12k

 

[Deepster]

Faith doesn't mean bad faith. Bad Faith is using the year before the stadium was completed and a year where no baseball stadium had any attendance in your calculations. Only matched by the bad faith of the original developers.

So walk me through how the XL reno would be better run....and even close to as good a result.

 

[freescooter]

Freimuth specializes in losing money and being in over his head. So many bad ideas, where to start?
He’s living back in the 1980’s Hartford. Nothing he says rings true.

I haven’t eaten more than a couple pretzels at XL in 30 years. But the best way to increase concessions revenues is to get people out of the restroom lines and into the concession areas before the game and at halftime by building much greater restroom capacity. This shouldn’t be a huge ticket item just get it done.

Another thought, staff the entrance gates better, so people get inside sooner to spend money. Freimuth just doesn’t get business other than have your lobbyist friends bail you out with bad bills and pay off your political cronies with no bid contracts. So what when you lose even more money again, repeat the process.

What Freimuth and believe it or not Benedict seem to not acknowledge is that UConn has promised season ticket holders they can keep their SAME seats for the UConn seat donation. Now Freimuth is blowing all that up with apparently UConn’s ok. Very strange especially since these are the same loyal customers who are paying seat donations at 50% to 100% of what they would be paying if they actually had games to attend this year - so they can keep them in the future.

I think it’s a bad business practice not to treat customers in the upper bowl with minimum respect. They are your future lower bowl people in some instances but that doesn’t matter. Give them restrooms, nice seats etc.

Hartford is NOT the home to corporate HQ’s any more. UTC and Aetna are the two latest casualties. With good and exciting games we can make money through volume not this mindless luxary mythology.

Chief you really can’t have it both ways. You want an updated facility maybe you have to chang seats. It’s that simple. And the attendance Thing is just not sustainable in any case. As I pointed out in detail in another thread UConn had been seeing attendance decline since 2006 or there about. Despite 2 national championships In the period. The days of people shelling out money to watch the Huskies obliterate Texas Southern or Central Connecticut are gone and not coming back. They will likely have a short term blip with the new Big East, but it isn’t lasting 5 years. Live attendance at sporting events is just not what it was in 1996. Not in Fenway Park, not in Yankee Stadium, not at the Dean Dome and not at the XL center. Building/renovating more seats to attract fewer fans is just not reasonable. Within a couple of years UConn in the Big East won’t be that big a deal. Schedule a non-conference game wit UNC or Michigan State or Duke and you can sell out anywhere. But games with midlevel Big East teams will draw 7500.

 

[freescooter]

When you have a facility that could.draw 16000 maybe 5 times a year But actually seats less than 50% of that for 95% of its operations, you need to make it work well for the smaller events not the big ones. A lot of schools did this with their football stadiums in the early 2000s. Rutgers, UNC are two. Neither one sells out now. BC did it too. First couple of ACC seasons they sold out. Last time UConn played there their two biggest crowds were Clemson and UConn At like 38000 and 35000.

 

[Waquoit]

So walk me through how the XL reno would be better run....and even close to as good a result.

What does this question have to do with your bad faith? Anyway, my good faith answer is that I think they are trying to create more space and options than just sitting in your seat. That's what today's marketplace is looking for and that's what has helped the Yard Goats become such a success. So much criticism from UConn fans is comical. UConn FB fans have been whining for years that The Rent has too many options besides just your seat. Turns out the place was ahead of it's time.

 

[Deepster]

What does this question have to do with your bad faith? Anyway, my good faith answer is that I think they are trying to create more space and options than just sitting in your seat. That's what today's marketplace is looking for and that's what has helped the Yard Goats become such a success. So much criticism from UConn fans is comical. UConn FB fans have been whining for years that The Rent has too many options besides just your seat. Turns out the place was ahead of it's time.

LOL. The Rent has too many options besides your seat because what you see IN your seat is unwatchable.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Actually, the last season UConn played was entertaining.

 

[Waquoit]

LOL. The Rent has too many options besides your seat because what you see IN your seat is unwatchable.

Groan

 

[UConnDad]

Put the bunkers in the Atrium along with some bars with food and restrooms.

 

[John]

considering the other arenas in the State, does Hartford even need an arena?

 

[Ha Who]

considering the other arenas in the State, does Hartford even need an arena?

 

[John]

bang your head all you want, UConn should be pulling up roots from Hartford anyway.

 

[Waquoit]

UConn should be pulling up roots from Hartford anyway.

Because why?

 

[John]

Because why?

there's an entire thread on this, do you need a link?

edit: here ya go Dave Benedict on future of XL Center

 

[Waquoit]

there's an entire thread on this, do you need a link?
edit: here ya go Dave Benedict on future of XL Center

Feeling strong enough to make a declaration yet when asked for a reason you give out homework. You don't have a few reasons off the top of your head?

 

[John]

Feeling strong enough to make a declaration yet when asked for a reason you give out homework. You don't have a few reasons off the top of your head?

Lots of empty seats for a building UConn has to rent. UConn should only be playing 3-5 games max per season in Hartford and consolidate in Storrs.

 

[Guapo]

Time is a flat circle.

 

[freescooter]

The problem with playing 3-4 games in Hartford isn’t the concept. It is what 3-4? Do you want to move the 3-4 big games, let’s say Villanova, PC, and 2 big time NC games ( I can’t honestly name another “big” Big East team besides Villanova but PC is nearby) so they are away from Gampel and maybe you have a shot at a few extra bucks but less homecourt advantage or do you put the typical crud that occurs during semester break, the Texas Southerns and New Hampshires of the world that might draw a little better in Hartford than in Storrs without students But won’t fill the place by any means?

 

[John]

The problem with playing 3-4 games in Hartford isn’t the concept. It is what 3-4? Do you want to move the 3-4 big games, let’s say Villanova, PC, and 2 big time NC games ( I can’t honestly name another “big” Big East team besides Villanova but PC is nearby) so they are away from Gampel and maybe you have a shot at a few extra bucks but less homecourt advantage or do you put the typical crud that occurs during semester break, the Texas Southerns and New Hampshires of the world that might draw a little better in Hartford than in Storrs without students But won’t fill the place by any means?

Good question - I'd say get the 3-5 that give them the best chance for filling up the place. They need to cut the cord on losing money there with the UNH/UMBC/NJIT etc games.

 

[UConnDad]

Good question - I'd say get the 3-5 that give them the best chance for filling up the place. They need to cut the cord on losing money there with the UNH/UMBC/NJIT etc games.

Now this I like. Put the 3-5 best games at the XL. My man!

 

[superjohn]

The problem with playing 3-4 games in Hartford isn’t the concept. It is what 3-4? Do you want to move the 3-4 big games, let’s say Villanova, PC, and 2 big time NC games ( I can’t honestly name another “big” Big East team besides Villanova but PC is nearby) so they are away from Gampel and maybe you have a shot at a few extra bucks but less homecourt advantage or do you put the typical crud that occurs during semester break, the Texas Southerns and New Hampshires of the world that might draw a little better in Hartford than in Storrs without students But won’t fill the place by any means?

The Big East is one of the best conferences in basketball and yet you do this is in every single thread you post in...what's the point?

 

[mussels]

Luxury bunkers, lol.

My initial reaction also. Bunker - heavily reinforced military installation constructed mostly underground. Can't afford that ? We have something almost as nice, and a little less expensive in our Mausoleum seating. Can't justify the expense when you won't be going to all the games. We offer flexible multi-game packages in our still-private industrial storage tank section.

So I googled bunker seating, and it turns out to be a thing. All the rage accross many sports. Who knew ?

 

[Ts5034]

Good question - I'd say get the 3-5 that give them the best chance for filling up the place. They need to cut the cord on losing money there with the UNH/UMBC/NJIT etc games.

I like the idea of giving the XL less games. I understand that its going to be difficult to choose which ones they would get. I think you have to give Hartford most of the games during winter break like they do now, plus maybe 2 Big East games? But 2 or 3 Big East games probably fall during the winter break anyway so that would take care of itself. Im sure XL management would want a solid slate of games every year like a Villanova, Xavier, Creighton, and a marquee non conference game at least

 

[Guapo]

The Big East is one of the best conferences in basketball and yet you do this is in every single thread you post in...what's the point?

Stop. @freescooter is one of the dumbest and most transparent trolls here. Don’t feed him.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Now this I like. Put the 3-5 best games at the XL. My man!

Ah yes, great idea! Move the season's best games away from the place we have the highest home court advantage! Makes sense, the team will do much better! They'll love it!