Gampel Pavilion is receiving an upgrade as UConn plans to replace the building’s wood floor began this week.
With last weekend’s commencement serving as the final event of the academic year, workers have started to remove the 33-year-old court. The UConn Board of Trustees earmarked $688,480 late last year for a project that will end with a new court.
Bleachers were removed and the removal of the wood has started, according to the UConn athletic social media accounts.
Gampel opened in January 1990 and the court has never been replaced.
A floor that means much more…
As we look forward to updating the playing surface in Gampel Pavilion, we’ll forever cherish the countless memories made over the last 33 years.
Stay tuned for more info on how you can personally own a piece of history. pic.twitter.com/2XNiXRxXwy
— UConn Huskies (@UConnHuskies) May 10, 2023
And the project could not have come at a more introspective time for fans, as the UConn men’s basketball program is coming off its fifth NCAA title that culminated with a rally at Gampel. Meanwhile, Geno Auriemma’s program has won 11 titles while creating its share of memories at Gampel for generations of fans.
How much are those memories worth? From the Husky logo to the sideline where Auriemma, Jim Calhoun, and Dan Hurley have paced and stomped, each part of the wood flooring used for the court will be for sale in an upcoming auction.
However, a date for the auction has yet to be announced.
“You talk to fans about their emotional connection to UConn basketball, and it’s because of moments,” UConn athletic director David Benedict told CT Insider in January.
“When you find someone who has a lot of resources and has an emotional connection to something, that’s when you use the word priceless. We’re going to have people who look at this stuff saying, ‘That’s priceless to me.’ This can be what we refer to as a win-win situation. We’re going to try to generate as much money as we can to help pay for the new floor, and provide opportunities to our fans to have a piece of UConn basketball history. Which is great for both.”
It’s happening 👀
We’re working on some pretty cool items for UConn Nation to claim their own piece of Gampel history. We expect to have those ready next month. pic.twitter.com/K9MlYokzsj
— David Benedict (@UConnHuskyAD) May 10, 2023
UConn was expected to identify points of interest on the court — where, say, Sue Bird hit her pull-up jump to beat Notre Dame in 2001 — and provide a grid to the removal crew. So each section will be preserved and cut up for auction.
Pieces of the court may also be signed by players, enhancing the value.
“If you take a piece of wood that’s 2 feet by 2 feet and sell it, ok, it’s a piece of the floor,” Benedict said in January. “But if you have Maya Moore or Ray Allen sign it? And there’s a picture on that spot of court that you own? No one else will ever have that. It will be certified. And what is the value now of that piece of wood? It’s a lot more..”
The court replacement will be completed ahead of the next season and the new court is expected to last for 35 years.