XL Center renovation

[uconnbill]

You think the seats at XL are comfortable????

XL seats suck let's not kid ourselves. Those who live the XL center is because of its closeness to the center of the state. Most games should be on campus, period. Anything else is being selfish on the fans part.

 

[CL82]

What is this new Gample concourse some folks are referring to? Is there a definite plan for that or is it someone's pipe dream?

It is probably 3-4 years away, at best though. Need to finish the baseball/softball/soccer field project and the hockey arena first.

 

[Waquoit]

XL seats suck let's not kid ourselves.

Explain

 

[XLCenterFan]

The only hope for the XL and the state which they ate too small minded and political to seriously entertain would be to sell the XL to the tribes under the condition they renovate or rebuild. In return give them a casino in Hartford.

A great idea - I've been wishing this would happen for years now. Sell the XL to the tribes and let 'em put up a hotel/casino. I would LOVE me a poker room right down the street.

 

[Watchdog]

Completely disagree. A top ten Uconn team in Hartford is absolutely the best.

Anyone who was there in January 1990 for the Syracuse and Georgetown games would agree. I've been to lots of big games in both arenas, but nothing ever compared to the thunderous, raucous, crowds for those games. There was something about the lighting in the Civic Center (name at the time) that seemed magical at the start of the games.

 

[Watchdog]

Are people seriously arguing that the feeling of excitement is better at the XL Center? That seems insane to me. Those people must have a vivid memory of some big time match up against Syracuse from 15 years ago that they are comparing with St. Joseph's this year. No one who has been to both venues in the same year against comparable opponents would ever say the atmosphere is better in Hartford.

Your quote:
No one who has been to both venues in the same year against comparable opponents would ever say the atmosphere is better in Hartford.
Have you been going to both venues since January, 1990? If not, you lack perspective. In fact, XL was booming for all games a few years after Calhoun took over and it sure seemed the most important games from the late 80's to at least the mid-90's, against the most difficult and storied programs, were more often played in Hartford than on campus.

 

[kemba]

Your quote:
No one who has been to both venues in the same year against comparable opponents would ever say the atmosphere is better in Hartford.
Have you been going to both venues since January, 1990? If not, you lack perspective. In fact, XL was booming for all games a few years after Calhoun took over and it sure seemed the most important games from the late 80's to at least the mid-90's, against the most difficult and storied programs, were more often played in Hartford than on campus.

If the question is where would you prefer big games to be played going forward, games from 30 years ago aren't really relevant.

 

[Waquoit]

If the question is where would you prefer big games to be played going forward, games from 30 years ago aren't really relevant.

And I say the preferences of people that don't go to games isn't relevant.

 

[Guapo]

Your quote:
No one who has been to both venues in the same year against comparable opponents would ever say the atmosphere is better in Hartford.
Have you been going to both venues since January, 1990? If not, you lack perspective. In fact, XL was booming for all games a few years after Calhoun took over and it sure seemed the most important games from the late 80's to at least the mid-90's, against the most difficult and storied programs, were more often played in Hartford than on campus.

the opening game against St John’s at Gampel in 1990 was better than either the Georgetown or Syracuse games at the Civic Center

the Syracuse game at Gampel in 1995 was better than the Syracuse game in Hartford in 1990 too

 

[kemba]

And I say the preferences of people that don't go to games isn't relevant.

Ok? Seems like most people commenting go to games

 

[uconnell]

You think the seats at XL are comfortable????

Yes I do. Compared to Gampel where sitting on a narrow bench seat with someone’s knees are in your back and your knees are in someone’s back. When I get up to leave XL I don’t feel like a cripple where I can barely straighten out. I can’t think of ant place that is as uncomfortable as Gampels seats. Oops I forgot about Michigan’s astadium which are way worse.

 

[gampelcrazies]

Yes I do. Compared to Gampel where sitting on a narrow bench seat with someone’s knees are in your back and your knees are in someone’s back. When I get up to leave XL I don’t feel like a cripple where I can barely straighten out. I can’t think of ant place that is as uncomfortable as Gampels seats. Oops I forgot about Michigan’s astadium which are way worse.

Then don't sit on the bleachers. They have do have chairback seats at Gampel that have more leg room and wider than Hartford.

 

[uconnell]

Then don't sit on the bleachers. They have do have chairback seats at Gampel that have more leg room and wider than Hartford.

True but can’t afford. Gee I wonder why I haven’t thought of that! Better yet I just go to XL Center. I don’t know why people complain about XL. I really don’t understand.

 

[Waquoit]

the opening game against St John’s at Gampel in 1990 was better than either the Georgetown or Syracuse games at the Civic Center

Said no one ever before you. That attended all 3.

 

[kemba]

Then don't sit on the bleachers. They have do have chairback seats at Gampel that have more leg room and wider than Hartford.

I love Gampel but the bleachers are a little rough. Yes they have chairback seats but its not like its only a small section of bleachers. XL has some advantages. All chairbacks, beer, more pre and post game options in Hartford, more availability/affordable tickets for games that sell out, and an easier to get to location for most of the state. It's fine to prefer that stuff. Just don't get why a tiny part of our fanbase likes to pretend that atmosphere is also an advantage for XL

 

[gampelcrazies]

True but can’t afford. Gee I wonder why I haven’t thought of that! Better yet I just go to XL Center. I don’t know why people complain about XL. I really don’t understand.

Because it’s legit one of the worst arenas in the country. Why don’t you understand that?

 

[Get a Job]

Your quote:
No one who has been to both venues in the same year against comparable opponents would ever say the atmosphere is better in Hartford.
Have you been going to both venues since January, 1990? If not, you lack perspective. In fact, XL was booming for all games a few years after Calhoun took over and it sure seemed the most important games from the late 80's to at least the mid-90's, against the most difficult and storied programs, were more often played in Hartford than on campus.

I stand corrected and amend my statement. Anyone who has attended games in the same season against comparable opponents since 2003 would say Gampel has a better game day atmosphere.

Don't get me wrong, the Civic Center had some amazing crowds, and at the absolute peak it might have beaten Gampel in a few isolated instances. I theorize, though, that this was the case simply because we had more rowdy fans than Gampel could hold. Therefore, of course Hartford was more raucous given the larger capacity. Sadly, it has been a long time since we had enough passionate fans to fill Gampel, let alone Hartford.

 

[TRest]

Said no one ever before you. That attended all 3.

I was at all 3 but just barely remember the HCC games.

 

[uconnbill]

Explain

Please you know the seats are not great if you fit up high as the view sucks plain and simple

 

[ScottVib]

Maybe merge Hartford with East Hartford, too. If Indianapolis can annex land why not Hartford? People will not want to lose their local powers but we're takling about survival in a small State.

A couple of factors county government vs town government and generally the land being annexed is not officially incorporated as part of another local government... as a result there’s no one to say no if the city makes the move.

In CT it’s obviously different. I’m certain Bronin would love to annex all of the surrounding towns (and probably then some) creating a city more on par with the land area of most non-New England cities (really the last bastion of the old town based vs county based governments). However each town governance would have a say... they’d vote no. When Lamont talked about regionalization of services he was forced to walk it back based on the backlash.

NIMBY (and steady habits) is undefeated in CT. We all love the good ideas.... as long as it doesn’t change anything for how we live currently.

 

[uconnell]

Then don't sit on the bleachers. They have do have chairback seats at Gampel that have more leg room and wider than Hartford.

I can remember having this discussion last year with someone, don’t remember who, and was told that I could get a chair back at Gampel for $15.00. I checked on this and couldn’t find any. So that theory was blown to heck.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

the opening game against St John’s at Gampel in 1990 was better than either the Georgetown or Syracuse games at the Civic Center

the Syracuse game at Gampel in 1995 was better than the Syracuse game in Hartford in 1990 too

Aren’t you early 30s? Really good memories of that 1990 season?

 

[uconnell]

Because it’s legit one of the worst arenas in the country. Why don’t you understand that?

Have you been to all the other arenas in the country to qualify the XLCenter as such?

 

[JohnFSilver]

XL Center as a fan experience is a train wreck. Went there again for Raw. Bathrooms smelled. The seats are old, Not enough room.

everything from parking, to entrance, to food is awful. It hasn’t changed since 1989. Still the same stale experience.

That said. Covering the team, when the xl center is sold out, it is an absolute electric atmosphere. It is a big building though and has to be sold out.

As far as gampel? Bleachers are terrible.

 

[superjohn]

Have you been to all the other arenas in the country to qualify the XLCenter as such?

I've been to a lot of arenas and XL Center is a huge dump. The average useful life of these type of arenas is 25 years or so, The XL is 45 years old. It's lacking in everything. I live out of state and don't go anymore but wouldn't care as long as the team on the court is good but it's weird how some try and deny it isn't an old mess of an arena.