TxRdKiller said:

Everything.

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Nope. Each doesn’t get their full share of money. That’s the only thing that’s important. Fans are not.

TxRdKiller said:

Are you saying that a #4 ranking and wins over Georgetown and other schools at the time wasn't Kansas-level success? It may have been short lived but let's give a little credit where it is due.

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Correct that’s what I am saying. Kansas made 4 Sweet 16s in the 80s. UTEP won 3 NCAA Tournament games in the 80s and 0 Sweet 16s.

KaneFan29 said:

The problem here is, the city and UTEP will likely argue about the control of revenue from events. The city doesn’t want to share revenue with UTEP and vice versa. So what’s in it for either to share cost of building and maintaining new arenas?

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Everything.

KaneFan29 said:

Come on now. There’s nothing to do in Lawrence and you’re talking about a blue blood program.

UTEP isn’t winning like that. Even in the 80’s, UTEP didn’t come close to the success that Kansas had.

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Are you saying that a #4 ranking and wins over Georgetown and other schools at the time wasn't Kansas-level success? It may have been short lived but let's give a little credit where it is due.

Big cities will cater to pro teams because they can hook the taxpayers for the majority of the cost, instead of the billionaire owners. They come up with these economic studies and talk about lost revenue, etc.

The problem here is, the city and UTEP will likely argue about the control of revenue from events. The city doesn’t want to share revenue with UTEP and vice versa. So what’s in it for either to share cost of building and maintaining new arenas?

UTEP wants to hold Monster Jam and keep the most revenue they can, they don’t want to half it with the city. That’s why nothing will get done.

We’re probably like 10-15 years away from the Chihuahuas asking for $20,000,000 in renovations to SUP.

TxRdKiller said:

I've been to several games at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS. for Jayhawks games. Allen Fieldhouse has a capacity of over 16,000. There are no luxury suites nor external food vendors. The university awards the concessions contract to whichever vendor will kick back the most money to the university.

And it's sold out every game. Win and people will come. I still think the DHC can probably benefit from some amount of modernization but the Miners just have to win first and foremost.

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Come on now. There’s nothing to do in Lawrence and you’re talking about a blue blood program.

UTEP isn’t winning like that. Even in the 80’s, UTEP didn’t come close to the success that Kansas had.

UTEPMiners8106 said:

But the DHC is archaic by today’s standards because it does not have an expandable footprint, and lacks modern rigging for concerts as well. So in order to modernize the DHC you’re looking at breaking the foundation to add moveable bleachers, reinforcing the roof to add the ability to hold modern stage rigging, and expanding the capacity, and can we add luxury suites? Problem with that is I don’t know if we have a fan base willing to pay increased prices to sit in a luxury suite to watch average UTEP basketball.

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I've been to several games at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS. for Jayhawks games. Allen Fieldhouse has a capacity of over 16,000. There are no luxury suites nor external food vendors. The university awards the concessions contract to whichever vendor will kick back the most money to the university.

And it's sold out every game. Win and people will come. I still think the DHC can probably benefit from some amount of modernization but the Miners just have to win first and foremost.

UTEPMiners8106 said:

The Sun Bowl and Don Haskins are both outdated and to modernize both facilities may be too costly. At the same time it’s WAY too costly to build new arenas.

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This is the thinking that needs to change. No city that has found success with arenas thought it was too costly to modernize or build new. I'm not saying "build it and they will come" but I think it could work in El Paso since there's really nothing else there. The Alamodome in San Antonio failed to bring in a NFL team. And it's garbage now. I was in it a few years ago and had forgotten how horrible the parking situation is around it and just how dated it is now. The Sun Bowl needs continuing modernization to stay relevant or at least competetive in the larger scheme of things.

UTEPfan1966 said:

Look, I had donor seats for many years. I paid $3200 for 4 seats. That price included the donation part which for a long time, was tax deductible. At that time, the face value of my seats was $18. Yes, it pissed me off to have some random clown buy tickets at the ticket center for $18 + fees and sit in row 2. $50 for those seats now is just stupid.

Several things that need to happen:
1. Season ticket prices need to be reduced. With the schedule Senter provides, $875 per seat in donor seats for 18 mainly crappy games, is ridiculous. (Basically $48 per ticket.) The business model is broken. What NEEDS to be done is price those season tickets so you can sell them to Joe Fan and not just corporations that leave the seats empty 90% of the time. Sell the hell out of the "good seats" and limit available seats for joe blow to buy on game day.
2. Reduce the donor seats by about 10-12 rows. Lower prices and fill that crap up.
3. Marketing, while improved, still sucks. You MUST use digital billboards you can change on the fly on the freeway and the loop, going BOTH ways. Give free tickets to youth teams, and I don't mean in the rafters. Decent seats like behind the basket. MUST be on local TV damn near every day. Casual fans aren't taking the time to look for the game. TELL THEM IT'S COMING UP!
4. Increase vendors. Have them walk up and down selling stuff. Sell T-shirts, Mining helmets, etc. Shit, give away cool shit....make people WANT to be fans...
5. Get out in public more. ALL the coaches should be visiting schools during their practices and connecting. Even grad assistants.
6. Get rid of the dumb DJ and horrible Monica. Get some entertainment.
7. Take ownership of the ticket center. You MUST be customer friendly.

I'm a firm believer in the Wal Mart business model. Sell low, sell a shitload, and make more money. (My sales are up 20% YOY WITHOUT increasing any prices)

I can/am a dumbass and do/say a lot of dumb shit. However, I've been doing ok as an owner for 12 years. Unlike Senter, I am NOT trying to be your friend. I want your money and for you to feel you got value. I'm known as an asshole. I fire people that don't do the job right. I change vendors to maximize profit/service.

Nothing will change until Senter is fired and we get a forward thinker.

I WANT to go Saturday, but I WON'T because $50 is stupid and I am spoiled and refuse to sit in the rafters.

Whew...rant over....LOL

Have a great Sunday, and as a Cowboys fan, GO REDSKINS!

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Amen

INCONFUSAUNOT said:

They win 20+ and the tourney win and NCAA appearance…he’s gone, and we all know it…let’s hope, not for his departure, but good for UTEP overall.

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I agree. I was all in on Golding. Last year, while I knew he’d be back, I was all for him getting the “pick” axe.

Without getting too far ahead of myself, aside from a couple games, I’ve enjoyed watching this team. They are more stable, solid than last year.

Here’s what we knew coming in. CJG “built” ACU into a solid team. It took time. Even though times are different now, if he’s still using the old model and has built this into a solid program with player retention, and he gets us into the tourney, I’m all for considering an extension…if that’s an option.

UTEPfan1966 said:

Honestly, I think putting in better seats (a lot are broken) and reducing the capacity, is the way to go.

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That’s what I think UTEP needs to do to the Sun Bowl as well. I’d rather have 44-45k individual seats, instead of 50k+ benches. We’re not selling out, so no big deal.

INCONFUSAUNOT said:

They win 20+ and the tourney win and NCAA appearance…he’s gone, and we all know it…let’s hope, not for his departure, but good for UTEP overall.

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I wouldn’t be so sure about that. No school who pays more than UTEP, will want a coach who took 4 years to be “successful”. A lot of you seem to have recency bias and forget that UTEP was 13-15 on Feb 24th last year.

Golding will need to do a lot more than just making the tournament for someone to pry him away.

Sports Opinion said:

If that is the case you’re absolutely right. As for basketball I once heard Jon Teicher say that the DHC was built with the option or capability of expanding its seating capacity to add around 2K more seats by removing the roof and obviously putting a new one, but I guess that wouldn’t be enough for todays standards.

Click to expand...

But the DHC is archaic by today’s standards because it does not have an expandable footprint, and lacks modern rigging for concerts as well. So in order to modernize the DHC you’re looking at breaking the foundation to add moveable bleachers, reinforcing the roof to add the ability to hold modern stage rigging, and expanding the capacity, and can we add luxury suites? Problem with that is I don’t know if we have a fan base willing to pay increased prices to sit in a luxury suite to watch average UTEP basketball.

Sports Opinion said:

If that is the case you’re absolutely right. As for basketball I once heard Jon Teicher say that the DHC was built with the option or capability of expanding its seating capacity to add around 2K more seats by removing the roof and obviously putting a new one, but I guess that wouldn’t be enough for todays standards.

Click to expand...

Honestly, I think putting in better seats (a lot are broken) and reducing the capacity, is the way to go.

Look, I had donor seats for many years. I paid $3200 for 4 seats. That price included the donation part which for a long time, was tax deductible. At that time, the face value of my seats was $18. Yes, it pissed me off to have some random clown buy tickets at the ticket center for $18 + fees and sit in row 2. $50 for those seats now is just stupid.

Several things that need to happen:
1. Season ticket prices need to be reduced. With the schedule Senter provides, $875 per seat in donor seats for 18 mainly crappy games, is ridiculous. (Basically $48 per ticket.) The business model is broken. What NEEDS to be done is price those season tickets so you can sell them to Joe Fan and not just corporations that leave the seats empty 90% of the time. Sell the hell out of the "good seats" and limit available seats for joe blow to buy on game day.
2. Reduce the donor seats by about 10-12 rows. Lower prices and fill that crap up.
3. Marketing, while improved, still sucks. You MUST use digital billboards you can change on the fly on the freeway and the loop, going BOTH ways. Give free tickets to youth teams, and I don't mean in the rafters. Decent seats like behind the basket. MUST be on local TV damn near every day. Casual fans aren't taking the time to look for the game. TELL THEM IT'S COMING UP!
4. Increase vendors. Have them walk up and down selling stuff. Sell T-shirts, Mining helmets, etc. Shit, give away cool shit....make people WANT to be fans...
5. Get out in public more. ALL the coaches should be visiting schools during their practices and connecting. Even grad assistants.
6. Get rid of the dumb DJ and horrible Monica. Get some entertainment.
7. Take ownership of the ticket center. You MUST be customer friendly.

I'm a firm believer in the Wal Mart business model. Sell low, sell a shitload, and make more money. (My sales are up 20% YOY WITHOUT increasing any prices)

I can/am a dumbass and do/say a lot of dumb shit. However, I've been doing ok as an owner for 12 years. Unlike Senter, I am NOT trying to be your friend. I want your money and for you to feel you got value. I'm known as an asshole. I fire people that don't do the job right. I change vendors to maximize profit/service.

Nothing will change until Senter is fired and we get a forward thinker.

I WANT to go Saturday, but I WON'T because $50 is stupid and I am spoiled and refuse to sit in the rafters.

Whew...rant over....LOL

Have a great Sunday, and as a Cowboys fan, GO REDSKINS!

kickballpro said:

Should UTEP start the conversation of a contract extension for Coach Golding? Or is it too soon?

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They win 20+ and the tourney win and NCAA appearance…he’s gone, and we all know it…let’s hope, not for his departure, but good for UTEP overall.

dementiajoe said:

Speaking of which, whatever happened to Burrito Man? 🌯

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Delicious is no longer the sponsor - but stopped when Barbie arrived- or it could’ve been that people started reporting food poisoning- I don’t know. I thought it was a good promotion myself and would rally the crowd…. Better than the canes and Peter Piper do now.- but I partly blame that on the yapping lady and her annoying voice throughout the game…#nomoreyap

UTEPMiners8106 said:

We may have had a shot in 1994 and 1998 when Albuquerque got some USMNT friendlies but when you look at the stadiums and cities we’d be competing against in 2026 we have no shot in hell.

Look at the smallest US stadium hosting games in 2026. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami has a capacity of 64,767, and no metal benches. I bet it has modern restrooms and not metal troughs, box seats and areas for hospitality which are major revenue generators for FIFA. Also a dome may be required to entice any major sporting even in the summer so that players and fans aren’t dying dealing with the dust and 100 degree heat. Not to mention the lousy parking in the area and it’s just not a realistic possibility.

And like I said: El Paso, is El Paso. If Chicago, Vegas, New Orleans and other NFL caliber cities can’t get games El Paso has no shot in hell. What’s El Paso’s pitch going to be, “Go to Juarez, play golf…… uh…. Western Playland…… Wet N Wild…….. sunsets……. Mexican food!”

Just food for thought:
Look at the cities hosting the 2025 Gold Cup. Can we confidently say that El Paso and the Sun Bowl could replace any of those host cities? PayPal Park in San Jose is super small but they have individual seats which is great. It has shade, and it looks like it has box seats close to the field so there are hospitality opportunities.

The Sun Bowl and Don Haskins are both outdated and to modernize both facilities may be too costly. At the same time it’s WAY too costly to build new arenas.

Click to expand...

If that is the case you’re absolutely right. As for basketball I once heard Jon Teicher say that the DHC was built with the option or capability of expanding its seating capacity to add around 2K more seats by removing the roof and obviously putting a new one, but I guess that wouldn’t be enough for todays standards.

MinerFan79 said:

Sad how the city doesn’t support this team.

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This comment is sad. UTEP leads the conference in attendance. NMSU had 4,004 fans at their game last night. They won a NCAA tournament game 3 years ago.

UTEP fans have suffered for too long and some expect 8k just because we’ve beaten a bunch of bad or mediocre teams.

BillyFlava08 said:

Was there with my family of 5 tonight. Spent $162 on tickets. Was not going to pay $50 each but damn I had to try to get decent seats. Kappy capitalized on sports talk on Friday that the prices for seats are ridiculous and I agree especially when you’re trying to get as many fans to the games.
High prices for good seats, hardly any promotions, and typical local halftime performances will not bring in the average fan.
And I’ve noticed the low amount of food options now at the games other than concession stands. Used to have a wide variety of other vendors at the games and now there are only three extra vendors. Not much of a variety.
Miners are quick and aggressive on defense and it’s showing how teams are not prepared for it. Shooting has improved significantly. We are 8-9 deep.
I’ll be getting back from Austin on Saturday but I’ll try everything I can to make it to the game. Hoping for at least 8K. It will help that NMSU will bring about 1.5-2K at least.
Our team already deserves better from the city and our own athletics department.

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The vendors have quit coming because the fans aren’t there. No point in spending money to get in there if the customers aren’t there. Sad how the city doesn’t support this team. In terms of the halftime performance, what were you expecting ?

STexMiner said:

Good week, but we did what we should do - hold serve at home. We gotta do it again next week.

Then the rubber hits the road, literally and figuratively. 5 of the next 7 on the road. Get through that relatively unscathed, then we can start thinking big.

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We can start thinking big now. This team has it

Sports Opinion said:

Here’s something I honestly don’t get that I know it’s not directly related, but for example Soccer World Cup Group Stage Games and even knock out stage games, the requirement set by FIFA is for stadiums is to have a minimum 40K seat capacity. Why the Sunbowl with its 45k seat capacity wouldn’t qualify for a playoff game ? Consider that the WC makes far far far far more money that even the Super Bowl and NFL combined. Just curiosity

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We may have had a shot in 1994 and 1998 when Albuquerque got some USMNT friendlies but when you look at the stadiums and cities we’d be competing against in 2026 we have no shot in hell.

Look at the smallest US stadium hosting games in 2026. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami has a capacity of 64,767, and no metal benches. I bet it has modern restrooms and not metal troughs, box seats and areas for hospitality which are major revenue generators for FIFA. Also a dome may be required to entice any major sporting even in the summer so that players and fans aren’t dying dealing with the dust and 100 degree heat. Not to mention the lousy parking in the area and it’s just not a realistic possibility.

And like I said: El Paso, is El Paso. If Chicago, Vegas, New Orleans and other NFL caliber cities can’t get games El Paso has no shot in hell. What’s El Paso’s pitch going to be, “Go to Juarez, play golf…… uh…. Western Playland…… Wet N Wild…….. sunsets……. Mexican food!”

Just food for thought:
Look at the cities hosting the 2025 Gold Cup. Can we confidently say that El Paso and the Sun Bowl could replace any of those host cities? PayPal Park in San Jose is super small but they have individual seats which is great. It has shade, and it looks like it has box seats close to the field so there are hospitality opportunities.

The Sun Bowl and Don Haskins are both outdated and to modernize both facilities may be too costly. At the same time it’s WAY too costly to build new arenas.

FeralFelidae said:

I think the lights were out there for a couple of seconds for Kalu.

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That foul was so cheap. Watching #0 (Burns) complain after it was called made him look ridiculous. The fans were livid.

utep2step said:

Burritos Crystal is Blue collar grub at great prices. I love the place.

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Tortillaria Crystal?