UConn planning upgrades at Gampel Pavilion, but likely passing on $300 million overhaul (Mike Anthony)

[navery12]

 

[CL82]

All I want is to be able to take a piss and then grab a beer during halftime and not have to worry about whether I’ll miss the start of the 2nd half.

"Depends"

#planahead

 

[superjohn]

If it was $150M, they should start it tomorrow

They built Wintrust for DePaul like 6 years ago for $160 or so which I thought was a pretty good deal. I would imagine CT construction costs are insane.

 

[jdb50]

The upper level behind the team benches are an insult to fans with the leg room issues. Great seat locations are lost with the sidewalk design. Blow the place up and build a proper arena that seats 12,500. Put the concessions in a nice wide area outside the arena. All chairbacks throughout the arena is a must.

 

[noeynox]

300 million? What did Gampel cost again sheesh.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Gampel is like twice the size, so double that $60 million. Plus 20% inflation, you are looking at close to $150 million.

If this were the case then $150 million for a fully rebuilt arena makes a lot more sense than a $50 million bandaid.

Don't know about Fertitta but I'm pretty sure Gampel is entirely poured concrete. You can't tear something down to the studs if there are no studs.

 

[Fishy]

300 million? What did Gampel cost again sheesh.

AD Dave confirmed on Twitter today that an entirely new building is cheaper than $300, so makes no sense to undertake whatever that $300M covered.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Rebuild a new one with new naming rights to help offset some of the expense

 

[noeynox]

AD Dave confirmed on Twitter today that an entirely new building is cheaper than $300, so makes no sense to undertake whatever that $300M covered.

Thank goodness. Only in CT are things so difficult and expensive.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Thank goodness. Only in CT are things so difficult and expensive.

The whole northeast is that way, but yes, it would be less elsewhere.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

It’s funny that we now have nicer softball, baseball, soccer, and hockey venues on campus than the venue for our #1 and #2 sports.

 

[XLCenterFan]

Is it really that expensive to rip Gampel down to the studs and just rebuild it? Feel like they could just do that for $100M at most.

Houston ripped the Feritta Center down to the studs and replaced everything in 2017 for $60M

It would be around $100m now most likely after inflation in the building industry. My town held a school referendum to rebuild 2 elementary schools from the ground up and significantly modernize 2 other elementary schools. Cost was like $260M, with the state kicking in like $140M. Let’s get the state to pay half for this.

In all seriousness, I can see then ruining Gampel. I love it the way it is except for lines. Just alleviate some concession and bathroom lines and we’re good. Do not mess with the thunderdome.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

For $10,000 they could just fence off a large designated outside area out back and have 10 Food Trucks and a couple of larger bathroom areas and everyone would be happy.

 

[Vuce]

It’s funny that we now have nicer softball, baseball, soccer, and hockey venues on campus than the venue for our #1 and #2 sports.

And will soon have a nicer volleyball venue too

 

[Umami Zen]

Have not seen this mentioned in discussions re: Big-12 speculation(s).. If it was to happen.. How does the Rent stack up as a FB venue?? Is it scalable/expandable or do you start from scratch?? Smallish by Big-12 standards..

All part of the equation re: the expense/math of upgrading venues in UConn's portfolio and how it might work/or not..Benedict has to factor that in to his calculus.. As an aside.. Ned L is trying to get a meeting with Bettman re: exploring the Arizona Coyotes coming to Hartford.. Long shot but still interesting re: XL availability/expansion..

 

[Waquoit]

You mean Gampel is actually the dump I've been saying it was for years? The vindication is nice.

 

[CL82]

And will soon have a nicer volleyball venue too

I know! We should totally make Freitas into the new basketball arena and give old concourse deprived Gampel to the volleyball team.

 

[DOZE860]

But hey, with the increase in revenue we will get from this renegotiated Big East media deal we should be able to cover it, and Hurley new contract and pay increases for assistant..

 

[zls44]

You mean Gampel is actually the dump I've been saying it was for years? The vindication is nice.

Hartford is factually 50x worse.

 

[Waquoit]

Hartford is factually 50x worse.

Factually untrue and irrelevent to the discussion. And just wait until the Sportsbook opens up!

 

[CL82]

Factually untrue and irrelevent to the discussion. And just wait until the Sportsbook opens up!

No, no, it's true, Gampel for all its shortcomings is still a better location to play games than the XL, and we're not paying above market lease rates to play there.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I'm curious as to how Gampel, in its current state measures up to Cameron in its current state (never been to Cameron).

Yes, there are inconveniences associated with Gampel but in other venues, inconveniences can be spun as part of its charm. I fully believe in standard maintenance on all facilities (something that has been seriously lacking on many things throughout the state) but I would like to know a few details about exactly what the $50 million will cover as that is quite a bit of money (not far from what it cost to build recently completed Toscano). Obviously, it was a different world when Gampel was built but even if we were to translate the then cost (IIRC it was publicized as $21 million to the school/state) to today's dollars, that facility has paid for itself ten to fifteen times over. If we were to retire it today it wouldn't owe anyone a penny. I cannot think of a better investment that the school and/or state has made, not only in my lifetime but in the existence of Connecticut as a state.

If we were to find the $300 million (high end of the recommendations) to spend, I am very confident (assuming correct project management) that we could have used that money to build both a new Basketball facility (I would love if it seated ~12k) and the hockey facility that was just completed, at a more reasonable capacity (say ~5k). The largest issue would be finding a suitable piece of land (that would not need any extraordinary site work) but beyond that it would have been feasible. Ice rinks normally have additional costs as there is the need for a very expensive refrigeration unit and delivery infrastructure to keep the ice frozen. My guess is if Toscano was built exactly as it was, without this feature, it would have cost $8-$10 million less. Estimating $80-$85 million for a larger capacity Toscano, $150-$170 million for the new basketball facility (considerably larger structure than the ice rink, therefore considerably more concrete) taking into account the economies of scale of two concurrent projects (Q did benefit from their facilities being built as they were) and anywhere between $10-$15 million for sitework, we could have come in under the $300 million with considerable overruns before the sale of naming rights (assuming we could use university owned land). I'm not sure we need a new basketball facility (there is quite a bit of history and (previously mentioned) charm to Gampel and, if Duke and Kansas can play in facilities that are four and three decades older than Gampel, I don't see it's age as an issue. If the school wants to make improvements as a means to squeeze more revenue from the facility, looking into building something new should be a better return on investment than a band aid that will need to be repeated every so often.

This is where I really miss having Pudge with us (may he rest in peace), as his would assuredly add in the missed opportunity of bonding a project like this when interest rates were considerably lower.

For the purpose of full disclosure have have a pretty good background in this. I've spent the past quarter century of a four decade career as an accounting/finance professional working for major commercial construction companies (first, just shy of a full decade for the largest firm in the field in Westchester county followed by the past near decade and a half for the largest in lower Fairfield county).

 

[Skies2018]

It’s just absurd that building a basketball arena in a rural town costs $300M. Like I’m not saying it’s not true but can we all agree a quarter billion dollars + is ridiculous?

Regardless, we do need a new on-campus home. Even the Ryan Center at URI has more amenities than Gampel. It’s a fun place to watch a game but it’s not suitable for a 16 time championship school with Power 5 athletic aspirations.

 

[gampelcrazies]

You mean Gampel is actually the dump I've been saying it was for years? The vindication is nice.

It’s not a dump. It just can’t handle the capacity anymore with beer sales

 

[husky429]

It’s not a dump. It just can’t handle the capacity anymore with beer sales

Gampel is definitely a dump. I love games there and prefer it to XL, but we're lying to ourselves if we say it's not a pit. One decent sized dump in those horribly designed bathrooms and that entire place is collapsing.