UConn Brings Dairy Bar to The Rent (and other game day changes)

UConn AD David Benedict announced changes to the football game day experience. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

While the disgusting, soup-like weather conditions may belie this, football season is only a few short weeks away. And when UConn opens its season at The Rent on September 1, you’ll see some welcome changes to your game day experience.

Obviously the best and most important change involves the greatest thing UConn has in its arsenal: The Dairy Bar.

Behold:

Hang on, gotta squee like a fan girl for a quick second.

yayOk, I’m back. While the ability to procure delicious Dairy Bar ice cream at football games is life-altering, there are several other excellent changes UConn AD David Benedict announced this morning on WTIC 1080.

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  • Tailgating extended from four to five hours before a game. I think we can all appreciate having more time to eat and drink alcohol outside before sporting events. Bring extra beer.
  • Open parking during the first hour. It’s always a huge production for our group to meet up and then get into the lot together. Now you can all just meet at the Rent in your respective cars and set up camp in the same place. Clutch, UConn. Clutch.
  • FREE STUDENT SHUTTLE. I all caps-ed that because that should already have been a thing. If students have to haul their cookies 30+ minutes off campus to get to a football game, the least the school can do is provide the transportation. Bonus: student parking and the shuttle drop off will be in the same place, so everyone can find their friends for good times without having to trek across all of creation. Student parking is also going to be cheaper.
  • Free tickets for freshmen. Get ‘em while they’re young! This is also really smart. I’m a fan generally of giving free/cheap tickets to students because they go there and we all remember being broke-ass college kids. Apparently Golden God Bob Diaco will be personally inviting the wee baby freshmen, and I’m also a fan of all things Bob Diaco.
  • Water is now $3 instead of the utterly ludicrous $5 it used to be. Hot dogs are dropping from $5 to $3 as well. If we’re all going to tailgate for five hours, we’ll need a steady supply of water during the game so the day drinking doesn’t turn into a day hangover.

These are all positive changes, clearly designed to improve the fan experience at games. We’ve talked a lot here at ADB about how the university can get more butts in the seats, and this is an excellent first step. Well done, AD Benedict.

Reminder! You should also be going to the games because you’ll have a chance to have me at your tailgate, where I will eat your food while insulting you personally for our new ADB video feature. Keep in mind, the dumber your attire and behavior the more likely you are to get internet famous. As always, holler at my Twitter or email meghan@adimeback.com if you enjoy that sort of thing.

Oh, and make sure you’re in your seats for kick-off, you monsters.