NASL in Hartford

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I have a strong hunch they will be called the Hartford Bicentennials since that was what the NASL team that played there in the '70s was called. Personally, I hate that name. Plus I would hope they would want to make a break from a team that only lasted a year.
Edit: They lasted longer than a year but moved to the west coast and then Canada later on.

If anyone's smart in Hartford - dubious at times, a potential team will appeal to a wider area and possibly be named the Connecticut ... (TBD, but something much better than yard goats). Speaking of the Bicentennials, a bad name even around 1976, I saw them play a 1977 home game against the Cosmos in their coked-out prime and even got within a few feet of Pele post-game on the Yale Bowl field.

 

[Waquoit]

Do you remember if Ray Hudson was the coach?

We went to the game mostly because I knew of Valderrama and had to see for myself that he would actually be there. I didn't follow the sport that closely back then. But that rings a bell, especially since I know of Hudson as a broadcaster these days. I'm going to check the timeline and report back.

 

[Waquoit]

It looks like the coach was Tim Hankinson. Hudson never coached the Mutiny.

 

[ZooCougar]

It looks like the coach was Tim Hankinson. Hudson never coached the Mutiny.

Yeah, that's right. He coached Miami and DC. I get those defunct Florida teams confused. Hudson was as colorful of a manager as he is an announcer. Before DC let him go he said that if they didn't make the playoffs then he should be executed by firing squad, and when he missed the playoffs in the press conference after the game he asked the media for a cigarette.

 

[ZooCougar]

If anyone's smart in Hartford - dubious at times, a potential team will appeal to a wider area and possibly be named the Connecticut ... (TBD, but something much better than yard goats). Speaking of the Bicentennials, a bad name even around 1976, I saw them play a 1977 home game against the Cosmos in their coked-out prime and even got within a few feet of Pele post-game on the Yale Bowl field.

LOL. According to some that was the "Golden Era" of soccer in this country. And if Cable TV had been more mature in the early 80's the NASL might have hung in around if their final TV negotiations hadn't collapsed. I do like some of the classic names that have hung around like "Strikers", "Cosmos","Rowdies" and I think Indy Eleven is a cool name.

I have a soft spot for underdogs so I am pulling for the NASL to make it stick as strong second league. But they will have a tough road with the partnership MLS has made with USL.

 

[Waquoit]

Yeah, that's right. He coached Miami and DC. I get those defunct Florida teams confused. Hudson was as colorful of a manager as he is an announcer. Before DC let him go he said that if they didn't make the playoffs then he should be executed by firing squad, and when he missed the playoffs in the press conference after the game he asked the media for a cigarette.

I'm glad it wasn't Hudson as I enjoy listening to him very much. If he was the guy that humiliated Carlos it would change my POV. IIRC, even after he was put in late under horrid conditions, he still made a few nice passes right on a platter.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Update in the Courant on Hartford hosting a NASL team, looks like to ball maybe in the city's hand with respect to renovating Dillon Stadium.

http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-hartford-nasl-soccer-0428-20150427-story.html

 

[ZooCougar]

Update in the Courant on Hartford hosting a NASL team, looks like to ball maybe in the city's hand with respect to renovating Dillon Stadium.

http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-hartford-nasl-soccer-0428-20150427-story.html

Beat me to it.

Based on the articles I have read in the past three months, it sounds like this happening. Hartford has 12 million set aside to upgrade the stadium and that's the most important piece. Based on the article in the Hartford Business Journal, it sounds to me like the ownership group is out of Farmington and they are called Premier Sports Management Group.

This just popped up on BigSoccer.com. Demolition should be completed by 7 July.



In the vein of Skiblets's "I had an interesting conversation at the....". I also have good reason to believe that a front office has already been named.

 

[ZooCougar]

www.psmgroupllc.com

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Beat me to it.

Based on the articles I have read in the past three months, it sounds like this happening. Hartford has 12 million set aside to upgrade the stadium and that's the most important piece. Based on the article in the Hartford Business Journal, it sounds to me like the ownership group is out of Farmington and they are called Premier Sports Management Group.

This just popped up on BigSoccer.com. Demolition should be completed by 7 July.

In the vein of Skiblets's "I had an interesting conversation at the....". I also have good reason to believe that a front office has already been named.

Question, if Dillon becomes a NASL venue, what happens to the high schools who play football at Dillon?

 

[ZooCougar]

Question, if Dillon becomes a NASL venue, what happens to the high schools who play football at Dillon?

Probably still play there. It's still the city's stadium. I know Houston and Chicago have high schools playing football on their fields in the fall.

 

[ZooCougar]

Question, if Dillon becomes a NASL venue, what happens to the high schools who play football at Dillon?

Correction on my last post. Houston shares their field with Texas Southern U's football team.

 

[UCFBfan]

Correction on my last post. Houston shares their field with Texas Southern U's football team.

Hasn't the D-1AA National Championship been played there the last few years as well? I know it's been in one of the Texas teams fields.

 

[ZooCougar]

Hasn't the D-1AA National Championship been played there the last few years as well? I know it's been in one of the Texas teams fields.

Not sure, but the D-II champ game was at Sporting Park in Dec, and you can still see the outline of the endzones. Of course they just played the K-State Spring Game there so it's probably worse now.

 

[ZooCougar]

Per @richcoppola pf FOX 10 the NASL is coming to Hartford. Should be on the 5 o'clock news.

 

[Adios]

Fort Hope FC?

 

[ZooCougar]

Fort Hope FC?

Is that the name?

 

[SAMCRO]

Hartford City FC, and will play at Dillon Stadium.

 

[ZooCougar]

Hartford City FC, and will play at Dillon Stadium.

Kind of bland. But it's better than nothing. Press conference on 20 May supposedly.

 

[WestHartHusk]

I am really excited about this. I will definitely be a season ticket holder.

 

[ZooCougar]

I am really excited about this. I will definitely be a season ticket holder.

I would too if I lived there. I'll spring for a jersey or two to help out.

NASL isn't bad soccer. The top two or three teams would be competitive in MLS. And it's easily the third best league in CONCACAF.

 

[whaler11]

I'm a bit curious about the strategy here.

Having officiated a ton of games at Dillon, it's just hard to picture a crowd there.

An upgraded Willowbrook would seem to be a better home in a perfect world.

 

[ZooCougar]

I'm a bit curious about the strategy here.

Having officiated a ton of games at Dillon, it's just hard to picture a crowd there.

An upgraded Willowbrook would seem to be a better home in a perfect world.

I guess it boils down to the city wanting to spend 12 million on renovations there. Which doesn't mean that it's the smartest play.

Never been to Dillon, is it a dump?

 

[whaler11]

I guess it boils down to the city wanting to spend 12 million on renovations there. Which doesn't mean that it's the smartest play.

Never been to Dillon, is it a dump?

Haven't been there in a few years but dump would have been a compliment the last time I was there.

 

[TheDoggPound]

What's Dillon Stadium's current condition matter if it's going to be demo'd and rebuilt?

Anyways I think the NASL will thrive here.