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First, I am a big lover of dynamic mixed use cities. In the Northeast, there are far more misses than hits on this. Leaving out the BIG major league cities, only Providence (IMO) has a solid 24/7 experience of all the mid sized populations. New Haven, I believe, has the chance to significantly rise in the next half decade as they already have the wonderful combination of University/Medical students and jobs plus something special that pushed the restaurant/retail to a higher level. There was an interesting thread on the Boneyard recently contrasting South Norwalk to Stamford; that's another element of this: smaller Northeast locations have organically risen to being really cool. I love Saratoga; but, I'd list Burlington, Portsmouth, Portland and a few others. Even Schenectady is seemingly reaching a good mix.
Hartford, unfortunately, is not making much progress. Like Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Worcester, Springfield, Manchester, Binghamton, Buffalo ... Hartford seemingly cannot get the mix of good solid urban residential matched with a fun downtown atmosphere. And that's where Sports come in. I would argue that the real driver is building around Campus (University or Medical) and that Sports are illusory. Particularly one Minor League park not adjacent to the downtown CBD.
If you see a young professional in scrubs walking to work a few blocks away, I think you are looking at a community that has some good elements to being a dynamic mixed use fun place. It calls for smart placemaking though.
I do not LOVE the idea of new Minor League ballparks all over the Northeast. I do not think they actually boost the ambiance and vitality of a City as you might have intimated. They generally are NOT right at the CBD and do NOT lead to after-hours dining and schmoozing. As an example, there are other obvious things, like the NanoScience Chip Fab world that NYS state is pushing, these things are massively more expensive in 10 years time. Chip Fabs (which New York State has now committed) used to have a total cost of $3B. Now that they are $15B, Intel and Global Foundries (etc) are not going to lead that investment. Too much risk. So, Government, (New York State) is now committing to $45B (3 Chip Fabs in upstate). Minor League ballparks have gone from $10m (Hartford Courant article) to $60m. Of course, no Private owner will take the risk; it's all Government money now. The obvious thought is that Government is going to lose big on this somewhere. These Minor League teams seem to jump every 8-15 years. I don't think this is a good direction when the dollars get that high for construction (Baseball parks aren't easily converted).
There are many in our FanBase that whine about being in this American Athletic Conference; and (anecdotally) I find they also cannot grasp the importance of expansion of Rentschler. In late 2006, when both Louisville (went from 42,000 to 55,000 at a cost of $73m) and Rutgers (went from 41,000 to 52,500 at a cost of $102m), I think WE should all recognize that their Athletic Departments KNEW that one of the admission tickets to the next level of P5 was a Stadium of a certain size. Apparently Jeff Hathaway never got that call. Many CT stakeholders (alums, taxpayers, fans) still don't make the connection. In late 2006, UConn was in solid shape to advance this. The Program (under a strong base created by Randy Edsall) was building nicely and that STADIUM (which includes the structure of its financing) was well-positioned to grow and get us to the next level. I know something about Finance and Public Authorities. It was far easier for our Public Authority to find the money and expand than EITHER Rutgers or Louisville. Read about their path to raising the money. Rutgers did it with paper clips and rubber bands; but, they knew that the B1G was nudging them to this.
You called Rutgers the Sargeant Schulz of College Sports. I think they are actually the Larry Fortensky of Universities. Jim Delany had a Grand Plan. Unfortunately (like John Swofford - that buffoon), he mistakes these Cable TV sets in NJ for what is really significant quality and a wonderful balance of college sports that is UConn. I agree that Warde Manuel has been impressive. He has hired and cultivated and nurtured a number of Programs forward; Rutgers has NONE of this. They are a walking talking PR disaster and a joke in both the Philadelphia and New York papers. Rutgers was there when Liz Taylor was at her rehab lowest. In UConn, the B1G will get an enduring Brand; something of real value. I want our BC friends to recognize that as well when they go back to their Spaziano natural ground.
Storrs? In my real estate and construction background, I do not think Storrs/Mansfield could support a 60,000 seat Stadium. Those roads would be pathetic for that kind of traffic; even if it is only 6/7 games a year. And Gampel (speaking of the New Britain park being obsolete) is reaching a critical decision point. And what about Hockey East?
I have sat with (and I will try to keep this anonymous) a developer who has proposed a massive Sports complex near UConn's Depot campus. New Baseball and Soccer stadiums; and then the capacity for more and better facilities for many men's and women's sports - inclusive of Hockey. What's happening? In finance, there is a wave of Public-Private Partnerships around campuses. The driver (the revenue growth) would be the capacity for the facilities - with expansive more fields and lodging - to attract regional and national sports tournaments in multiple sports. I don't think this calls for an incredible expensive infrastructure re-development. But, it does need the Storrs/Mansfield community and the University to alter its view of what it is and what it is going to be. As the Storrs Center is proving, and my point earlier, the University is a driver for good things in living. Residential and desirability is driven by how effective you mix the components of a community. UConn/Storrs has the basic community anchors to make an exciting residential environment; and that makes the 2020-2040 master-planning exciting. But, there needs to be an attitude buy-in by that town.
Hartford, unfortunately, is not making much progress. Like Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Worcester, Springfield, Manchester, Binghamton, Buffalo ... Hartford seemingly cannot get the mix of good solid urban residential matched with a fun downtown atmosphere. And that's where Sports come in. I would argue that the real driver is building around Campus (University or Medical) and that Sports are illusory. Particularly one Minor League park not adjacent to the downtown CBD.
If you see a young professional in scrubs walking to work a few blocks away, I think you are looking at a community that has some good elements to being a dynamic mixed use fun place. It calls for smart placemaking though.
I do not LOVE the idea of new Minor League ballparks all over the Northeast. I do not think they actually boost the ambiance and vitality of a City as you might have intimated. They generally are NOT right at the CBD and do NOT lead to after-hours dining and schmoozing. As an example, there are other obvious things, like the NanoScience Chip Fab world that NYS state is pushing, these things are massively more expensive in 10 years time. Chip Fabs (which New York State has now committed) used to have a total cost of $3B. Now that they are $15B, Intel and Global Foundries (etc) are not going to lead that investment. Too much risk. So, Government, (New York State) is now committing to $45B (3 Chip Fabs in upstate). Minor League ballparks have gone from $10m (Hartford Courant article) to $60m. Of course, no Private owner will take the risk; it's all Government money now. The obvious thought is that Government is going to lose big on this somewhere. These Minor League teams seem to jump every 8-15 years. I don't think this is a good direction when the dollars get that high for construction (Baseball parks aren't easily converted).
There are many in our FanBase that whine about being in this American Athletic Conference; and (anecdotally) I find they also cannot grasp the importance of expansion of Rentschler. In late 2006, when both Louisville (went from 42,000 to 55,000 at a cost of $73m) and Rutgers (went from 41,000 to 52,500 at a cost of $102m), I think WE should all recognize that their Athletic Departments KNEW that one of the admission tickets to the next level of P5 was a Stadium of a certain size. Apparently Jeff Hathaway never got that call. Many CT stakeholders (alums, taxpayers, fans) still don't make the connection. In late 2006, UConn was in solid shape to advance this. The Program (under a strong base created by Randy Edsall) was building nicely and that STADIUM (which includes the structure of its financing) was well-positioned to grow and get us to the next level. I know something about Finance and Public Authorities. It was far easier for our Public Authority to find the money and expand than EITHER Rutgers or Louisville. Read about their path to raising the money. Rutgers did it with paper clips and rubber bands; but, they knew that the B1G was nudging them to this.
You called Rutgers the Sargeant Schulz of College Sports. I think they are actually the Larry Fortensky of Universities. Jim Delany had a Grand Plan. Unfortunately (like John Swofford - that buffoon), he mistakes these Cable TV sets in NJ for what is really significant quality and a wonderful balance of college sports that is UConn. I agree that Warde Manuel has been impressive. He has hired and cultivated and nurtured a number of Programs forward; Rutgers has NONE of this. They are a walking talking PR disaster and a joke in both the Philadelphia and New York papers. Rutgers was there when Liz Taylor was at her rehab lowest. In UConn, the B1G will get an enduring Brand; something of real value. I want our BC friends to recognize that as well when they go back to their Spaziano natural ground.
Storrs? In my real estate and construction background, I do not think Storrs/Mansfield could support a 60,000 seat Stadium. Those roads would be pathetic for that kind of traffic; even if it is only 6/7 games a year. And Gampel (speaking of the New Britain park being obsolete) is reaching a critical decision point. And what about Hockey East?
I have sat with (and I will try to keep this anonymous) a developer who has proposed a massive Sports complex near UConn's Depot campus. New Baseball and Soccer stadiums; and then the capacity for more and better facilities for many men's and women's sports - inclusive of Hockey. What's happening? In finance, there is a wave of Public-Private Partnerships around campuses. The driver (the revenue growth) would be the capacity for the facilities - with expansive more fields and lodging - to attract regional and national sports tournaments in multiple sports. I don't think this calls for an incredible expensive infrastructure re-development. But, it does need the Storrs/Mansfield community and the University to alter its view of what it is and what it is going to be. As the Storrs Center is proving, and my point earlier, the University is a driver for good things in living. Residential and desirability is driven by how effective you mix the components of a community. UConn/Storrs has the basic community anchors to make an exciting residential environment; and that makes the 2020-2040 master-planning exciting. But, there needs to be an attitude buy-in by that town.
