Governor Malloy Won't Push For Costly XL Center Upgrades

[Drew]

 

[FDNY99]

This makes it even more imperative that UConn get the ball rolling on finalizing plans for their on-campus facility. If the Wolfpack pull the plug I can't see a AHL team coming in to replace them in Hartford. That leaves UConn as the main ice surface tenant with 15-17 dates tops.

 

[ct06111]

Ice making machine?: YES, it's needed
Metal detectors?: OK, safety is good, less employees to pay to pat you down
security measures would incorporate facial recognition technology and the ability to track license plates? : NO

 

[FartMan69]

I'd bet that with the amount of money they've thrown away to keep that dump open they could have built a brand new one by now. The state is just waiting for the roof to fall off again as an excuse to pull the plug.

 

[Chief00]

If it someday gets re-modeled the thing they seem to be missing in their proposals is improving fan seating for the masses - not the few ultra premium seating but seating that will entice sell outs vs stay at home on HD TV.

There are ways with overhanging second decks etc to vastly improve the seating. Without that another CT busway white elephant.

 

[FartMan69]

If it someday gets re-modeled the thing they seem to be missing in their proposals is improving fan seating for the masses - not the few ultra premium seating but seating that will entice sell outs vs stay at home on HD TV.

There are ways with overhanging second decks etc to vastly improve the seating. Without that another CT busway white elephant.

What stadium in the last 30 years has an overhang?

 

[Chief00]

What stadium in the last 30 years has an overhang?

Almost all.

 

[FartMan69]

Almost all.

There's a difference between a second level and "overhang"
Old Yankee stadium had an overhang, the new one does not.

 

[ct06111]

Another XL article. This one is by a Hartford Wolfpack blogger:

http://www.howlings.net/#category/11/article/46295

 

[CardiffGiant]

I think this is the post you intended. Interesting but bleak.http://www.howlings.net/2016/06/02/...cantlons-corner-xl-center-in-holding-pattern/

 

[FartMan69]

This ain't happening, sucks but honestly its 20 years too late.

 

[Redding Husky]

The state is in an economic funk and it remain that way as long as long as the state government maintains a high tax policy. Does Connecticut want to grow like it did from 1945 to 1980? Go back to the low taxes we had then. This is not rocket science. High taxes and strict regulations strangle business.

Government should try to attract business, not run it off.

 

[huskymedic]

AP source: NHL settles on Las Vegas for expansion

 

[Padutch5]

The state is in an economic funk and it remain that way as long as long as the state government maintains a high tax policy. Does Connecticut want to grow like it did from 1945 to 1980? Go back to the low taxes we had then. This is not rocket science. High taxes and strict regulations strangle business.

Government should try to attract business, not run it off.

To me it's the age old question, which comes first the chicken or the egg? Connecticut has always struggled with that. How do you get a state out of an economic funk? Does anyone remember the intense discussion over building the Rent? Major factions then and now believed the money would have been better spent on putting more money into the city of Hartford [imagine how they could have pi--ed it away] or more welfare etc,
Would we have been better to have Hartford put $75 mil into a baseball park or into a new stadium for Basketball and Hockey? How about $600 million into a new XL center rather into Malloys pet busway which is mainly used to allow Central students party in downtown Hartford. We in Ct. Are our own worse enemy . Sorry, as in business, you can't lay off to get to sustained profitability . It's takes investment.

 

[ct06111]

State Approves $3.5 Million For Ice-Making System, Repairs At XL Center

 

[Waquoit]

@Padutch5 If there were "intense discussions" over building The Rent, they didn't last long. I can't remember a major state project being approved and executed in such a short time.

 

[Exit 4]

To me it's the age old question, which comes first the chicken or the egg? Connecticut has always struggled with that. How do you get a state out of an economic funk? Does anyone remember the intense discussion over building the Rent? Major factions then and now believed the money would have been better spent on putting more money into the city of Hartford [imagine how they could have pi--ed it away] or more welfare etc,
Would we have been better to have Hartford put $75 mil into a baseball park or into a new stadium for Basketball and Hockey? How about $600 million into a new XL center rather into Malloys pet busway which is mainly used to allow Central students party in downtown Hartford. We in Ct. Are our own worse enemy . Sorry, as in business, you can't lay off to get to sustained profitability . It's takes investment.

As one of the most indebted states per capita, with one of the highest tax burdens per capita, the question of chicken and egg on state subsidized economic development is as cloudy as ever given we are also last in job recovery since 2008. Regardless of your political POV, its pretty clear in the decade to come, CT will have fewer arrows in its quiver to develop new civic projects given it largely has spent its wad so to speak. There isn't really any rope left to borrow or tax more to juice the local economy.

 

[CL82]

As one of the most indebted states per capita, with one of the highest tax burdens per capita, the question of chicken and egg on state subsidized economic development is as cloudy as ever given we are also last in job recovery since 2008. Regardless of your political POV, its pretty clear in the decade to come, CT will have fewer arrows in its quiver to develop new civic projects given it largely has spent its wad so to speak. There isn't really any rope left to borrow or tax more to juice the local economy.

Perhaps that is a good thing as far as the XL center goes, since there is no realistic projections for any reasonable ROI from dumping $600 M into that building.

 

[Padutch5]

As one of the most indebted states per capita, with one of the highest tax burdens per capita, the question of chicken and egg on state subsidized economic development is as cloudy as ever given we are also last in job recovery since 2008. Regardless of your political POV, its pretty clear in the decade to come, CT will have fewer arrows in its quiver to develop new civic projects given it largely has spent its wad so to speak. There isn't really any rope left to borrow or tax more to juice the local economy.

I agree with the observation that Ct has fewer arrows in its quiver. This didn't stop the Ct bond commission from approving several hundreds of millions in new bonding for a variety of projects this week. Our dear Gov. Descried them as investments. Based on this definition, a few hundred million to replace the civic center should be a priority investment.

 

[zls44]

An arena is not a priority investment. It doesn't generate revenue. It doesn't foster economic development.

 

[Ha Who]

Professor Zimbalist is visiting the boneyard

 

[ct06111]

An arena is not a priority investment. It doesn't generate revenue. It doesn't foster economic development.

Page 2
http://crdact.net/data/Unsorted/5-19-2016-BoardMeetingMinutes-73532-1.pdf

$250,000 unfavorable isn't that bad for a 40 yr old arena. 130 events and over a 1/2 million people to downtown Hartford. Hockey events were even with budget.

Buy more $9 beers and park @ Church St Garage since its owned by CRDA. Don't park @ LAZ spots. Parking @ Garage and buying concessions makes the arena $$$. Hockey events made more $ in terms of beer and concession sales for arena compared to b-ball.

Bonding interest rates are at an all time low with Brexit. Now is the time for investment. Rates are lower now when they first built it and lower when they re-built it.

 

[TheDoggPound]

It will eventually happen. UConn's future hinges on the XLC remodel.

 

[whaler11]

Page 2
http://crdact.net/data/Unsorted/5-19-2016-BoardMeetingMinutes-73532-1.pdf

$250,000 unfavorable isn't that bad for a 40 yr old arena. 130 events and over a 1/2 million people to downtown Hartford. Hockey events were even with budget.

Buy more $9 beers and park @ Church St Garage since its owned by CRDA. Don't park @ LAZ spots. Parking @ Garage and buying concessions makes the arena $$$. Hockey events made more $ in terms of beer and concession sales for arena compared to b-ball.

Bonding interest rates are at an all time low with Brexit. Now is the time for investment. Rates are lower now when they first built it and lower when they re-built it.

If you take anything on the Boneyard.... take Newington's advice to go out of your way to not pay Laz.

 

[ct06111]

http://crdact.net/data/Unsorted/10-20-2016-DraftBoardMtg-Minutes-73635-1.pdf

XL Center

Capital Improvements – Capital projects at XL and in the Church Street garage are progressing, with bids for the security and elevator work expected to be released in about 2-3 weeks. Installation of the new ice floor with begin in the late spring 2017.

Event Update – The loss of the Maroon 5 concert and an underperforming Blake Shelton concert dealt serious blows to the XL operating budget. Maroon 5 was expected to net approximately $200k, while Blake Shelton netted only about half of its projected $150k in revenue. UConn has begun its hockey season and attendance numbers have been low, but that is to be expected given the teams played and the fact that it is so early in the season.

Status of XL Redevelopment plan - Michael Freimuth reported the following:

Several members have inquired as to the status of the overall redevelopment plan for the XL Center and the Board’s acceptance of the reconstruction alternative as a way forward (rather than the alternative replacement option). The selected alternative has been presented to a variety of public officials and to the general public both at various meetings and via the media. It was suggested as part of the Authority’s capital improvements request during the last legislative cycle, but was not included due to the size of the request at a time of tight state budgets.

Nonetheless, CRDA has pursued building improvements that are either: 1/necessary for current operations; 2/dictated by changes in management practices (e.g. security changes); or 3/have reached a point in a system’s life cycle that demands its complete update/reconstruction (ice slab). Funds allocated to CRDA in FY 15-16 for various projects consistent with CRDA’s overall statutory authority to undertake Capital City Projects have been utilized to meet these needs (as well as those at the Church Street Garage).

CRDA has begun to explore the feasibility to acquire the atrium area presently serving the arena and subject to a common area maintenance and management contract and have ordered appraisals and further engineering assessments in order to further understand this option. Preliminary review of this material has raised the possibility to acquire the entire “Trumbull Block” that adjoins the atrium. This includes the areas currently leased by St. Josephs School of Pharmacy, the area left vacant by the YMCA and the storefronts along Trumbull. This block also connects the arena to the garage via the Church Street overpass and literally sits on top of the exhibition hall that makes up part of the XL Center. The acquisition of this portion of the complex would allow for the ultimate build out of the transformed arena when pursued. Such acquisition would also bring substantial advantages to the utility and infrastructure changes necessary as part of the proposed re-subdivision of the real estate.

For any property acquisition to advance, it is suggested that the Board formally assess this acquisition in a public hearing and authorize such action as it might be guided by the due diligence currently underway.


“The CRDA Board of Directors hereby orders a public hearing to be conducted by the Venue Committee to consider the redevelopment plan for the XL Center Capital City Project, to be held at least one week prior to the next CRDA Board meeting.”

Next CRDA meeting is Dec 8th.