Chris Elsberry in the CT POST on UCONN Men's and Women's Basketball finally playing regular season games in Bridgeport (but not against the Stags):
Well, those last 30 months of working the room paid off as the Huskies and Webster Bank Arena formally announced Monday (it was the worst-kept secret in the world, but who cares?) that the UConn men's team will face Eastern Washington on Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. and the UConn women will play Temple on Jan. 11 at noon.
It's been a long time coming......
"It's an exciting day," AD Manuel said. "I've said since I've gotten here that we (UConn) represent the state and we want to be throughout the state. It's important for us to come down here and connect with our fans and our alumni and our donors. Get closer to our fan base. This is a win-win for us. I've been questioned since I get here, `Why don't you bring a game to the Webster Bank Arena? Well, we're here now."
For now, just one game each will be played in Bridgeport, but, hopefully, down the road, there could be as many as two or three games each at the WBA, maybe even an open practice with both the men's and women's teams, kind of like what UConn is planning to do with its "First Night" event at Gampel Pavilion on Oc. 18.
"We look forward of hosting an annual tradition of UConn basketball in Fairfield County," Saffan said. "This is an historic moment for Huskies basketball and the Webster Bank Arena. We look forward to a long, and successful, partnership."
they mention a open practice. why are there not more of those for the stags ? ( in addition to the Red white 1 hour event ) even in alumni hall. " connect with the fans "
An interesting side bar article by Kevin Duffy in the CT POST - "UConn in Bridgeport should be more than just a basketball game":
It's not to say that Bridgeport has zero success stories, either. The city produces college scholarship recipients -- athletic or otherwise. The kids at the Shehan Center have been exposed to the Fairfield University basketball players, role models in their own right.
No disrespect to Fairfield, but UConn is on a whole different level. Kevin Ollie and his players are statewide celebrities and nationally recognized figures. If a kid hears Ollie's advice or Shabazz Napier's story, I'd imagine he'd be more inclined to listen. That's why this is important....
Yep, that Tate George is a real role model and if he screamed and shouted loud enough, the highest paid bully, I mean employee, in the state always got his way.
How quickly and easily people forget about the misdeeds of the Yukon program around here!?!? And they wonder why the ACC and Big Ten were not interested. Yukon is getting everything it deserves right now.
On the rare day that there is no article on the UConn Men in the CT Post Sports Section, the UConn fan can always check the Crime Blotter. Their players are often mentioned there.
Who do you believe make better role modeels, the Fairfield players or the UConn players? I dont suppose that the Post will be discussing such things in their UConn coverage.
UConn program has taken a step backwards with the conference change. Those Big East ga-ga glory days are over. It will never be the same for UConn, but the media and fans can pretend. Ollie will never be the media magnet that Calhoun was.
True, FF not on same level, but I feel the gap is narrowing. Now it's slowly coming together for FF but it has to be proven on the court.
Someone could make a mint in a book exposing the underbelly of the Calhoun years. I'm sure it will happen some day.
Added Ollie: “Some people can’t drive up to Storrs, they can’t drive up to Hartford. Having it right around the corner from them, they can come in and see the fans, see the spirit and integrate themselves into Husky Pride. That’s what it’s all about."
Webster Bank Arena holds about 8,500 for basketball games, and those involved with the game — including Harbord Yard Sports and Entertainment president Howard Saffan and Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, are expecting a sellout.
“I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by us,” Finch said to Manuel.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that the Huskies continue to play games in Bridgeport in future years. UConn has 17 games contracted to play at the XL Center this year between the men and the women. There is no such contract for next year as of yet, largely a result of the recent shifting of management at the XL Center. Reports have indicated that Mohegan Sun Casino hopes to attract men’s and women’s regular-season games in the future.
“We’re looking to see how this goes,” Manuel said. “There’s no long-term plan at this point. But I think we’re pleased with the relationship we have developed with them, we’re pleased with the way the arena is and what they’ve done and the efforts they’ve made to make the fan experience great here. We’ll see how it goes in the future.”...
There are about 30,000 UConn alumni living in Fairfield County, according to the university. An appreciable number of them have significant disposal income. Many have influence. That would include Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who was a UConn freshman in 1974 and later worked in the university's sports information office.....
This will be the first time in Geno Auriemma's tenure that UConn will host a regular season home game in any place other than Storrs or Hartford. It will be the first time since 1987, when the UConn men played at the New Haven Coliseum, that the men's program has traveled south in Connecticut.
The agreement is for one season, but there is every reason to believe that more games could follow. "There are no long-term plans at this point, but we are pleased with the relationship we've developed with the people here," said UConn athletic director Warde Manuel. "We'll see where it all goes in the future, in terms of how many games we might play here. But this is something I personally wanted to do."
"I like to say that we represent the entire state. It's important for us to connect [with the alumni]. It's important for us to come down [to Fairfield County] and connect with our fans, our alumni and our donors. And that includes those who live near New York City, which is barely over an hour away from here now that the train [Metro-North] is running again....
You know, good for the WBA and good for the City of Bridgeport, but, I was afraid of this. I just didn't expect someone from the local media to shove it in our face like this. So much for being good tenants and Bridgeport community participants. I hope Mayor Finch issues a positive statement about the contributions of Fairfield students athletes in his City.
I still can't believe they published such a dismissive passage. Who is this Kevin Duffy? What is his background?
The UCONN basketball program represents GOOD and BAD of College athletics and as Role models. Unfortunately, many kids cannot distinquish between good and bad. However, their media coverage automatically put them on stage as a Role Model...... and that's mostly from a basketball perspective. The work that Fairfield and SHU do in the community was downplayed in these stories, and that's unfortunate.
The perfect scenario.... I hope these UCONN games are a Big Success, the Men eventually play them at WBA, and we bet them. That will be a great story, and have a tremendous impact of our players impact as Role Models in the community.
Tickets for the anticipated UCONN Basketball sellouts in Bridgeport go on sale on October 18 with no prices posted yet. Stag Basketball tickets at the WBA are $9, 15 and $100. The AHL Bridgeport Sound Tiger tickets range from $25 to $52. It should be interesting to see what the WBA ticket prices will be for both UCONN Basketball games. The UCONN Men's game on December 28 is also being televised on SNY.
You know, good for the WBA and good for the City of Bridgeport, but, I was afraid of this. I just didn't expect someone from the local media to shove it in our face like this. So much for being good tenants.
Who is this Kevin Duffy? What is his background?
Kevin Duffy is the sports columnist for Hearst Connecticut Media Group (Connecticut Post, Danbury News-Times, Greenwich Time, Stamford Advocate). He spent the past two years as the UConn men’s basketball beat writer. Prior to that, his primary assignment was high school sports at the Danbury News-Times. A 2009 graduate of the University of Connecticut, Kevin was the sports editor at his college paper.
Thanks Kevin for demeaning and dismissing all the contributions of Fairfield students athletes in the Bridgeport community. Next time, think before you write!
This is very good news for Bridgeport, the WBA, UConn alumni and the local college basketball fans. It will undoubtedly be a great success and a sellout. UConn Basketball, open practices, increased local media coverage with Ollie and Geno and a "UConn Fest" are all great for UConn to connect with their 30,000+ alumni in the area (and their donations). However, I don't see this as any benefit to Fairfield University and the Stag basketball programs unless UConn actually does play the Stags in Bridgeport.
For the last 12 years it has been extremely difficult to attract the local college basketball fans to the WBA for Stag MAAC Basketball and if more UConn games are played in Bridgeport who do you think the local college basketball fans and walk ups will want and wait to pay to see - UConn playing anyone or the Stags playing Canisius, Niagara and Monmouth?