Governor Malloy Won't Push For Costly XL Center Upgrades | Page 9 | The Boneyard

Governor Malloy Won't Push For Costly XL Center Upgrades

shizzle787 said:
Male participants U.S. high school sports 2009-2016 | Statistic
Participants U.S. high school ice hockey 2009-2016 | Statistic
Wake up. Football and hockey are in decline.
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Membership Statistics

Yeah except USA Hockey's membership numbers have gone up every year and have more than doubled since 1990. In order to set foot on the ice in the United States and play a sanctioned game... (even in high school)... you need to have a USA Hockey membership. Only a small fraction of hockey players in the USA play high school hockey. They play travel hockey. High school hockey (outside of Minnesota) is a second class game. Just about every single thing you post is absurdly wrong.
 
shizzle787 said:
I didn't make a false claim; I forgot about them, but my point stands. Hispanics are not where the NHL should be looking because they don't care. As it is the Southern US doesn't care about hockey (Phoenix may lose their team).
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Actually you're wrong there too:
http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0100/7886/15-16_Final_Reports.pdf

The Southeastern United States has more kids playing youth hockey than anywhere but Minnesota and the Central District of the United States.
 
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Unless someone can show me reasonable ROI, it makes no sense. Having a NHL team would make it work, but as of today we don't.
 
CL82 said:
Unless someone can show me reasonable ROI, it makes no sense. Having a NHL team would make it work, but as of today we don't.
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In the article it said it was conservative to say UConn's potential revenue would double compared to current revenue streams in current building.
 
ct06111 said:
In the article it said it was conservative to say UConn's potential revenue would double compared to current revenue streams in current building.
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Yeah, I'd have to understand that number better. Is it because it would get more people to the game, because the existing deal is very bad for UConn, or because the anticipate higher revenue by putting in more upscale seating. Although it doesn't necesarily maximize revenue, I'd like to see some seats along the sidelines allocated to students like they do at Cameron.
 
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shizzle787 said:
We are focusing on the wrong sport (NHL) and stadium (XL). Rentschler is perfect for an MLS team. We need to get an investor to fund a team. The stadium is already built and the USMNT has already played there, soccer is popular in CT, and Hartford had the second best TV ratings for the World Cup.
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HFD used to be big on the idea of getting MLS to take over Rentschler so UConn could build on-campus. Aside from the shortsightedness of the state U abandoning a state funded stadium, and the complete absence of any interest from the business community, just take a look at all of the recent MLS stadia being built. They're all more like 20k. MLS is not interested in NFL or college sized stadiums that would be half empty. DC United is building a smallish stadium to move out of RFK, and the Revs want to eventually have a soccer specific stadium and move out of Gillette. Even if there were an investment group willing to bring in a lower level club with aspirations of eventually targeting MLS, they'd be at the back of the line behind all of these cities:

 
The Phil Union have a great little soccer stadium right on the Delaware south of Philly. It's only 18,500. Rentschler Field is way to big.
 
Shizzle, Robert Kraft doesn't want an MLS team in Hartford and we fall within their territorial rights. Despite all the rampant misconceptions Hartford is a sovereign NHL market and doesn't have indemnification issues to contend with.
 
IMind said:
We already tax the heck out of the casinos.. maybe how about we go after the other money game at the other end of the state. God forbid we tax a few hedge funds:p.
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If the tribes really want a new casino, then the state should play hardball and make them pay a higher tax and help build the arena.
Let em get a lounge/club area in the XL named after em for cheap.

I asked at the public hearing about building a casino in the basement of XL and they help fund the arena. I think they said the casinos need 200,000+ sq feet to themselves and need 2 floors or something like that. They told me either the XL can turn into a casino and no arena or no dice on the casino idea at XL site.
 
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ct06111 said:
If the tribes really want a new casino, then the state should play hardball and make them pay a higher tax and help build the arena.
Let em get a lounge/club area in the XL named after em for cheap.

I asked at the public hearing about building a casino in the basement of XL and they help fund the arena. I think they said the casinos need 200,000+ sq feet to themselves and need 2 floors or something like that. They told me either the XL can turn into a casino and no arena or no dice on the casino idea at XL site.
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Ok we tax um both :D;)
 
ct06111 said:
If the tribes really want a new casino, then the state should play hardball and make them pay a higher tax and help build the arena.
Let em get a lounge/club area in the XL named after em for cheap.

I asked at the public hearing about building a casino in the basement of XL and they help fund the arena. I think they said the casinos need 200,000+ sq feet to themselves and need 2 floors or something like that. They told me either the XL can turn into a casino and no arena or no dice on the casino idea at XL site.
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Actually, a casino probably wouldn't be a bad use of that extremely quirky building. That said, I would not want one in Hartford.

Everyday it seems more likely that the XL Center is on a New Haven Coliseum type path. (It is worthwhile to note that the state is chipping-in over $21-million worth of infrastructure improvements to redevelop the site along with a $12-million bond from the city of New Haven.)
 
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CL82 said:
Actually, a casino probably wouldn't be a bad use of that extremely quirky building. That said, I would not want one in Hartford.

Everyday it seems more likely that the XL Center is on a New Haven Coliseum type path. (It is worthwhile to note that the state is chipping-in over $21-million worth of infrastructure improvements to redevelop the site along with a $12-million bond from the city of New Haven.)
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Disagree - at least publicly I have only seen a few politicians come against the XL upgrade. Have you seen others coming out against it?

I think that the XL can actually turn a profit because with its size, it can bring in concerts, NCAA tournament games (both BB and hockey, neither of which it cannot now even make bids to host), in-season NCAA tournaments, and other special events. New Haven Coliseum didn't have a large capacity and wasn't situated in a place that UConn would play home games. So, it really is a different situation altogether. The point is, a renovated XL Center can be viable even without the NHL - the point that Malloy is now starting to make sure everyone understands.
 
CTFAN4LIFE said:
Disagree - at least publicly I have only seen a few politicians come against the XL upgrade. Have you seen others coming out against it?

I think that the XL can actually turn a profit because with its size, it can bring in concerts, NCAA tournament games (both BB and hockey, neither of which it cannot now even make bids to host), in-season NCAA tournaments, and other special events. New Haven Coliseum didn't have a large capacity and wasn't situated in a place that UConn would play home games. So, it really is a different situation altogether. The point is, a renovated XL Center can be viable even without the NHL - the point that Malloy is now starting to make sure everyone understands.
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I hope that you are right. It seems to me that CDRA was depending on UConn games heavily. I'm not sure that that is enough.
 
CL82 said:
I hope that you are right. It seems to me that CDRA was depending on UConn games heavily. I'm not sure that that is enough.
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agree with this 100%

a new arena for UConn cannot and should not be the motivation for renovating or completely rebuilding the XL Center. That motivation should be to provide an appropriate sized arena for the citizens of Hartford and the surrounding cities with modern day amenities that can attract outside events that the city is currently missing out on by having an arena in the decrepit state that the XL Center currently is in. UConn getting to play in this arena is a major SIDE benefit to building it but using UConn M/W basketball and hockey as the main reason to spend $250m-$500m on an arena that is located 30-35 minutes from the campus and knowing each basketball team only plays half their regular season games there is simply not appropriate.

The ultimate goal of spending that kind of money on a project is that it will attract year round tenants and entertainment that has been alluded to in prior posts such as tournaments, major concerts, and more. If you read through some of these articles that have been posted in this thread the XL Center is losing a majority of their potential business in these industries to the casinos with modern day facilities- that should be the main reason for building this new arena. The fact that it will be a major benefit to UConn athletics moving forward just happens to be a side benefit of the project.
 
I heard a state legislator on WTIC yesterday(maybe Suzio?) talking about the budget and specifically the revenue side of things (tolls, mileage tax, etc) to address the budget. In light of the deficit, it sure sounds like adding 250 mill is a tall order at this point. SO if the renovations don't get approved, what does UCONN do regarding playing future games at the XL in Bball and Hockey? Anyone know when their agreement is up?
 
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CardiffGiant said:
I heard a state legislator on WTIC yesterday(maybe Suzio?) talking about the budget and specifically the revenue side of things (tolls, mileage tax, etc) to address the budget. In light of the deficit, it sure sounds like adding 250 mill is a tall order at this point. SO if the renovations don't get approved, what does UCONN do regarding playing future games at the XL in Bball and Hockey? Anyone know when their agreement is up?
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following up on this, if we don't spend the $250+ million (I say + because none of these projects ever come in under budget) and the facility gets knocked down, does the state then try to add these amenities to Gampel? I know they are adding in the additional concourse for concessions and more space but some of the same issues that exist at XL exist at Gampel as well. Would it be more or less expensive to do this at Gampel?
 
Drew said:
following up on this, if we don't spend the $250+ million (I say + because none of these projects ever come in under budget) and the facility gets knocked down, does the state then try to add these amenities to Gampel? I know they are adding in the additional concourse for concessions and more space but some of the same issues that exist at XL exist at Gampel as well. Would it be more or less expensive to do this at Gampel?
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Unless big time concert acts and a hockey team want to call Storrs, CT home then it would be 100 x more stupid to spend anything close to that on Gampel.
 
FartMan69 said:
Unless big time concert acts and a hockey team want to call Storrs, CT home then it would be 100 x more stupid to spend anything close to that on Gampel.
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right, but that doesn't mean the University should ignore the need/want for potential suites and luxury seating at Gampel. As much flack as the XL Center gets for having no luxury amenities its not like Gampel has any of that either.
 
XL Center Attracts Just One Suitor In Bid For Private Investment

The agency that oversees the operation of the city's XL Center drew just one response after seeking out private investors willing to take on a portion of the $250 million makeover of the aging arena, easing the burden on state taxpayers.

The Capital Region Development Authority said it garnered three inquiries from investor groups and one "expression of interest" from XLR Partners, led by Washington, D.C.-based Savage Funding, a firm that specializes in assembling groups to pursue public-private partnerships.

Michael W. Freimuth, CRDA's executive director, said drawing one response was not unexpected.

"Is it disappointing? No. Would I have liked more? Yes," Freimuth said.

CRDA sought the proposals after some legislators said the state could not afford to foot the entire bill for the makeover when the state was in the midst of a budget crisis.

The response from XLR does not include a specific proposal, just a willingness to explore options. CRDA will interview XLR in the next few weeks and determine if it is feasible to move forward, Freimuth said.

In reaching out to the private sector, CRDA must balance the desire to cut public funding with how much control over the project it is willing to give up to investors.

Freimuth attributed the single response to the uncertainty that swirls around the project.

It isn't yet known how much, if any, state funds will be set aside for the project in the next two years. The legislature's finance, revenue and bonding committee backed $75 million over the next two fiscal years, half of the $125 million recommended by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

But whether those funds will be included in the state's capital plan for the next two years won't be known until legislators adopt a budget. It is expected a budget won't be adopted until after the start of the next fiscal year, beginning July 1.

In addition, the legislature might be required to pass a special statute because the XL Center project isn't likely to fit into the existing 2011 state law setting out the requirements for public-private partnerships.
 
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I think Hartford should just knock the XL center down it they aren't going to do the complete 250 million dollar upgrade. UConn can just play all it's games (except football) on campus. Fix Gampel and upgrade the hockey rink on campus to Hockey East standards and call it a day. The capacity of Gampel (10K plus) is perfectly fine for basketball. We rarely sell the place out now, so it doesn't need to get bigger. Also,we won't need a bigger arena once the P5 breakaway from the NCAA and do their own thing. Maybe add some type of concessions/food court area to Gampel because the ones they have know aren't functional.
 
The tribes should foot the bill or at least significantly fund the renovations. Mohegan built their arena which directly competes with the XL Center for concerts/events and now they're building a convention center that will directly compete against the CT Convention Center. Those are/were some serious body blows 'dealt' by the tribes.

Also agree with IMind, post #251. Between those 2 avenues you can bridge the funding quick.
 
TheDoggPound said:
The tribes should foot the bill or at least significantly fund the renovations. Mohegan built their arena which directly competes with the XL Center for concerts/events and now they're building a convention center that will directly compete against the CT Convention Center. Those are/were some serious body blows 'dealt' by the tribes.
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Then why not make BC pay for it?
 
TheDoggPound said:
The tribes should foot the bill or at least significantly fund the renovations. Mohegan built their arena which directly competes with the XL Center for concerts/events and now they're building a convention center that will directly compete against the CT Convention Center. Those are/were some serious body blows 'dealt' by the tribes.

Also agree with IMind, post #251. Between those 2 avenues you can bridge the funding quick.
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Why is it their issue? Because they compete against it? I'm having trouble seeing that logic.
 
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