OVG is the best in the biz when it comes to arena development. They are single-handedly responsible for the Kraken in Seattle, and when the NBA returns as well. Same for NBA in Vegas, it will mostly be because of them. If anyone can make the XL Center what it needs to be, it is them. If the XL Center fails with them in-charge, then quite frankly no one can make it work.
In any evaluation of how successful the XL Center is, we would have to eliminate the by above market rent paid by the University of Connecticut for men’s basketball, women’s basketball and hockey. In essence, that is the state paying itself. If you eliminate the 40,000 per game +3 dollars per ticket the university pays, the XL Center isn’t even close to operating at the $2 million deficit that the CDRA financial show. Based upon that, I think it’s pretty clear that the arena has outlived its useful life.
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Nor mine. But would it help if the place wasn't a dump? Taking the UConn equation out of it, what other in-door option can host top concerts/events in the area? Mohegan? Springfield? At the end of the day, a nicer 15K XL trumps at least Mohegan (I don't really think MassMutual is a threat?) for a lot of events because of the capacity. Especially since it's easy for concert tours for example to schedule between Boston and NYC as they have to drive through town anyways. "If you build it, they will come"/"takes money to make money" are cliches but true.
I actually saw the Leiweke brothers (Tim and Tod) speak at a sports conference a few weeks back -- both very successful lifers in sports, definitely good at what they do. Take a look at their resumes. Tim founded OVG with Irving Azoff (arguably the #1 most powerful person in music industry and in live events). If you want concerts to come to your arena, Irving Azoff is the guy you want in your corner. This connection only helps Hartford/XL Center. And just proves my earlier comment -- if they can't make it work, no one can.
I’m not sure that it does. First, remember nicer is a relative term. A lot of things could be nicer than the current XL Center and still not be desirable. The second is I’m not sure the difference between Mohegan Sun Arena and the XL Center is material, or even desirable, for most events. A commonly heard reprise for UConn playing in the XL is that it’s necessary to keep the facility open. If that’s true, then it makes no sense to keep it open because essentially the state is merely paying the $2 million deficit and the UConn subsidy out of two separate pockets. It is a distinction without a material difference.
If both arenas are the same quality, would a musical act rather sell 15K tickets or 7K tickets for the same night? That is my point. I think there is a market for the XL Center, it just can't feel like a 50-year-old arena.
I understand the point, I’m just not sure how accurate it is.
You forgot about the biggest plus. The casino can afford to overpay the musical acts I enjoy the intimacy at Mohegan, but the arena itself is nothing special
Mohegan Sun can take a loss getting acts into that arena. They took a loss getting the CT Boat Show into their convention area.
True, it is a de facto loss leader.
It has the worst sound of any arena I've been to.
Horrible. I saw a concert there last month and we were on he floor about 40 feet from the stage and the sound was muffled and somewhat distorted. It wasn't due to loudness, just acoustics. We moved to the back of the floor section and it was better but not great.
Well, guess what? Even with a full house it was never a "goddam disaster." I never heard one person at any game grouse about the concourse, only here. And from people that don't go to games, no less. Anyway, I just saw the finished product at the hockey game. The concourse is now wider and the rebar has been replaced by 30 beer taps. A hand stamp allows you to go from the game to the Sportsbook and back. My hockey fan but not gambler buddy thought it looked cool. I can't wait to hear why it sucks.
Find me at the next XL Game to hear me complain about how it sucks
To be clear, you assert that UConn should move the 4000 acre campus to Hartford b/c the town of Mansfield has road widening or water/sewer problems and once UConn is in Harford the Civic Center ceases to suck?!
