AAC schools continuing to invest in order to keep up with the Entitled 5.

http://www.ctnow.com/sports/hc-uconn-gam...0325.story

(04-23-2015 10:38 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  AAC schools continuing to invest in order to keep up with the Entitled 5.

http://www.ctnow.com/sports/hc-uconn-gam...0325.story

Those repairs are overdue. It was a little embarrassing to clearly see the peeling tiles on the ceiling. Beats the ol' Field House though!

We should have repaired that roof 5 to 10 years ago when it would have cost way less. I am not sure how I feel about it now. Gampel is 25 years old and it is showing. Seeing as we need to also spend money to build a new separate hockey barn on campus as well, I think it would have been smarter to kill two birds with one stone and build a brand new multi-purpose arena. It would accommodate basketball and hockey and have luxury suites for donors. Gampel is sorely lacking in any kind of amenities (or even acceptable concessions).

My worry is that UConn will spend this $10 million on Gampel, build a new hockey barn for however many million it will cost, and then in 15 years build the arena that I described above (which means that we will have wasted that $10 million as well as what the hockey barn will cost in addition to inflation making the construction of the new arena more expensive). So, while I can see why this fits into our budget more in the short term, it is worse for our budget in the long term.

For now, just send some dude up to the ceiling tiles with some duct tape and call it a day while we plan our new arena and work to get shovels in the ground.

XL looked really nice on TV post renovation...what did you guys think?

(04-24-2015 09:45 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  We should have repaired that roof 5 to 10 years ago when it would have cost way less. I am not sure how I feel about it now. Gampel is 25 years old and it is showing. Seeing as we need to also spend money to build a new separate hockey barn on campus as well, I think it would have been smarter to kill two birds with one stone and build a brand new multi-purpose arena. It would accommodate basketball and hockey and have luxury suites for donors. Gampel is sorely lacking in any kind of amenities (or even acceptable concessions).

My worry is that UConn will spend this $10 million on Gampel, build a new hockey barn for however many million it will cost, and then in 15 years build the arena that I described above (which means that we will have wasted that $10 million as well as what the hockey barn will cost in addition to inflation making the construction of the new arena more expensive). So, while I can see why this fits into our budget more in the short term, it is worse for our budget in the long term.

For now, just send some dude up to the ceiling tiles with some duct tape and call it a day while we plan our new arena and work to get shovels in the ground.

I agree that a new arena which could house both hockey and basketball would be ideal, but unfortunately it is not going to happen. The arena is aging but not to the point of razing it and starting over. As long as they continue to play big games at the XL Center (the condition of the XL Center is another subject), they won't worry much about the lack of amenities at Gampel. The new basketball practice facility will keep BBall programs happy; so putting a band-aid on Gampel will have to do for now. They have to get the new hockey arena built to satisfy membership in Hockey East, so that is the immediate priority. I remember freezing my butt off watching hockey at the old open-sided rink. B-r-r-r !

(04-24-2015 09:59 AM)jwawker Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:45 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  We should have repaired that roof 5 to 10 years ago when it would have cost way less. I am not sure how I feel about it now. Gampel is 25 years old and it is showing. Seeing as we need to also spend money to build a new separate hockey barn on campus as well, I think it would have been smarter to kill two birds with one stone and build a brand new multi-purpose arena. It would accommodate basketball and hockey and have luxury suites for donors. Gampel is sorely lacking in any kind of amenities (or even acceptable concessions).

My worry is that UConn will spend this $10 million on Gampel, build a new hockey barn for however many million it will cost, and then in 15 years build the arena that I described above (which means that we will have wasted that $10 million as well as what the hockey barn will cost in addition to inflation making the construction of the new arena more expensive). So, while I can see why this fits into our budget more in the short term, it is worse for our budget in the long term.

For now, just send some dude up to the ceiling tiles with some duct tape and call it a day while we plan our new arena and work to get shovels in the ground.

I agree that a new arena which could house both hockey and basketball would be ideal, but unfortunately it is not going to happen. The arena is aging but not to the point of razing it and starting over. As long as they continue to play big games at the XL Center (the condition of the XL Center is another subject), they won't worry much about the lack of amenities at Gampel. The new basketball practice facility will keep BBall programs happy; so putting a band-aid on Gampel will have to do for now. They have to get the new hockey arena built to satisfy membership in Hockey East, so that is the immediate priority. I remember freezing my butt off watching hockey at the old open-sided rink. B-r-r-r !

I remember the open-sided rink as well. Those games were a blast (then again, we always smuggled in nipper bottles of booze).

I agree that Gampel isn't at the point of razing yet. However, even with updates at the XL Center (which look pretty nice), we still need a new arena with luxury amenities soon whether that arena is in Hartford or Storrs. We are actively trying to grow the endowment as quickly as possible and inviting wealthy alum to games with plush box seats is a way to make them feel more invested in the school. Lube them up with free drinks, get the some awesome hors d'oeuvres, and the next thing you know their checkbook is out.
$$$

(04-24-2015 10:12 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:59 AM)jwawker Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:45 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  We should have repaired that roof 5 to 10 years ago when it would have cost way less. I am not sure how I feel about it now. Gampel is 25 years old and it is showing. Seeing as we need to also spend money to build a new separate hockey barn on campus as well, I think it would have been smarter to kill two birds with one stone and build a brand new multi-purpose arena. It would accommodate basketball and hockey and have luxury suites for donors. Gampel is sorely lacking in any kind of amenities (or even acceptable concessions).

My worry is that UConn will spend this $10 million on Gampel, build a new hockey barn for however many million it will cost, and then in 15 years build the arena that I described above (which means that we will have wasted that $10 million as well as what the hockey barn will cost in addition to inflation making the construction of the new arena more expensive). So, while I can see why this fits into our budget more in the short term, it is worse for our budget in the long term.

For now, just send some dude up to the ceiling tiles with some duct tape and call it a day while we plan our new arena and work to get shovels in the ground.

I agree that a new arena which could house both hockey and basketball would be ideal, but unfortunately it is not going to happen. The arena is aging but not to the point of razing it and starting over. As long as they continue to play big games at the XL Center (the condition of the XL Center is another subject), they won't worry much about the lack of amenities at Gampel. The new basketball practice facility will keep BBall programs happy; so putting a band-aid on Gampel will have to do for now. They have to get the new hockey arena built to satisfy membership in Hockey East, so that is the immediate priority. I remember freezing my butt off watching hockey at the old open-sided rink. B-r-r-r !

I remember the open-sided rink as well. Those games were a blast (then again, we always smuggled in nipper bottles of booze).

I agree that Gampel isn't at the point of razing yet. However, even with updates at the XL Center (which look pretty nice), we still need a new arena with luxury amenities soon whether that arena is in Hartford or Storrs. We are actively trying to grow the endowment as quickly as possible and inviting wealthy alum to games with plush box seats is a way to make them feel more invested in the school. Lube them up with free drinks, get the some awesome hors d'oeuvres, and the next thing you know their checkbook is out.
$$$

A new (completely rebuilt XL Center) is coming in Hartford at some point, sooner rather than later. It's practically a foregone conclusion. It will be the $250 million rebuild option that I believe will push capacity to around 18k and be practically NHL ready.