Limit XL Center games | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Limit XL Center games

From what I have gathered I might be the only person in the world with this opinion, but Hartford is a nice city and the XL center is a good enough building. I enjoy making the trip - which for me is close to two each way - a few times per year, particularly if it's a Saturday afternoon game. Seriously. It's not that bad. Nobody is going there on their honeymoon and maybe I'm just easily impressed, but it has the feel of a city without the obnoxious numbers of people. The same people who bash Hartford now are the ones 20 years from that will be upset that there are larger crowds. You can't have it all.

I used to be adamant that Gampel was a far better atmosphere, but the last couple years there have been underwhelming and I actually think the XL has been better. Unfortunately there is no easy fix, but then again the type of logistical concerns that are being expressed here are ones that better fan bases don't even think about. Weekdays can be tricky, but there is no reason Saturday games against good opponents shouldn't be sold out regardless of where it is played.
 
champs99and04 said:
From what I have gathered I might be the only person in the world with this opinion, but Hartford is a nice city and the XL center is a good enough building. I enjoy making the trip - which for me is close to two each way - a few times per year, particularly if it's a Saturday afternoon game. Seriously. It's not that bad. Nobody is going there on their honeymoon and maybe I'm just easily impressed, but it has the feel of a city without the obnoxious numbers of people. The same people who bash Hartford now are the ones 20 years from that will be upset that there are larger crowds. You can't have it all.

I used to be adamant that Gampel was a far better atmosphere, but the last couple years there have been underwhelming and I actually think the XL has been better. Unfortunately there is no easy fix, but then again the type of logistical concerns that are being expressed here are ones that better fan bases don't even think about. Weekdays can be tricky, but there is no reason Saturday games against good opponents shouldn't be sold out regardless of where it is played.
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What's your optimistic take on the artillery barrages around the Yard Goats ballpark?
 
champs99and04 said:
Ha...I'm completely ignorant of that situation. You'll have to ask Deepster.
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I’m curious what you do when you drive in, stay for a couple hours and drive home that’s so nice? I’m guessing you park in the same spot, then go to the same bar (Vaughn’s or City Steam). What else?
 
Deepster said:
I’m curious what you do when you drive in, stay for a couple hours and drive home that’s so nice? I’m guessing you park in the same spot, then go to the same bar (Vaughn’s or City Steam). What else?
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We do both of these. Planned to meet at Black Bear just cause it's big and we could get in. Alas it's closed. Ended up at the Tavern pregame. Definitely need some new pre/post game spots. Ant suggestions?
 
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UConnDad said:
We do both of these. Planned to meet at Black Bear just cause it's big and we could get in. Alas it's closed. Ended up at the Tavern pregame. Definitely need some new pre/post game spots. Ant suggestions?
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Nope. I just find it interesting that you basically drive in, park, hit an irish pub and think Hartford is a nice city.
 
UConnDad said:
We do both of these. Planned to meet at Black Bear just cause it's big and we could get in. Alas it's closed. Ended up at the Tavern pregame. Definitely need some new pre/post game spots. Ant suggestions?
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We go to Bear's for pre-game vittles these days.
 
Hartford is held back by the negativity of old white people complaining and comparing everything to the good old days or the imaginary threat of being mugged when they go downtown. Newsflash. Every stadium has expensive concessions and/or parking. There is crime in every city and most of the victims are engaging in crime themselves or live in those crime affected areas..Not visitors from the suburbs. If you are reasonably smart, aware, and not scared of people that don't look like you, then you will be fine and you will enjoy your night out. There are all types of nice bars and restaurants in Hartford by the way....but not of all of them are in the Central Business District so unfortunately one may have to go out of their comfort zone to have a good time and maybe try something new for once.

This rant isn't directed at anyone in this thread. But if the shoe fits...
 
Kenny11 said:
Hartford is held back by the negativity of old white people complaining and comparing everything to the good old days or the imaginary threat of being mugged when they go downtown. Newsflash. Every stadium has expensive concessions and/or parking. There is crime in every city and most of the victims are engaging in crime themselves or live in those crime affected areas..Not visitors from the suburbs. If you are reasonably smart, aware, and not scared of people that don't look like you, then you will be fine and you will enjoy your night out. There are all types of nice bars and restaurants in Hartford by the way....but not of all of them are in the Central Business District so unfortunately one may have to go out of their comfort zone to have a good time and maybe try something new for once.

This rant isn't directed at anyone in this thread. But if the shoe fits...
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Hartford is a shell of its former self, I think that's another thing people are complaining about here, not just safety. There's tumbleweeds blowing down the streets most nights.
 
Kenny11 said:
Hartford is held back by the negativity of old white people complaining and comparing everything to the good old days or the imaginary threat of being mugged when they go downtown. Newsflash. Every stadium has expensive concessions and/or parking. There is crime in every city and most of the victims are engaging in crime themselves or live in those crime affected areas..Not visitors from the suburbs. If you are reasonably smart, aware, and not scared of people that don't look like you, then you will be fine and you will enjoy your night out. There are all types of nice bars and restaurants in Hartford by the way....but not of all of them are in the Central Business District so unfortunately one may have to go out of their comfort zone to have a good time and maybe try something new for once.

This rant isn't directed at anyone in this thread. But if the shoe fits...
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I guess I'd counter with this.

1) It's a commuter city. Unless there's an event of some importance, it's dead after 5p and more than dead on a Saturday day/night.
2) It's disjointed. If you're on one side of the XL center and want to go to Front St, it's not an easy walk. If you're at Front St and want to go to the Yard Goats. Getting around from spots to spots isn't clean in Hartford. And parking blows so getting in your car, driving to a new bar and re-parking is a pain in the neck.
3) Why wouldn't you just go to West Hartford center, have better eating and drinking options, park once and have it all in a tighter geographic range?
 
John said:
Hartford is a shell of its former self, I think that's another thing people are complaining about here, not just safety. There's tumbleweeds blowing down the streets most nights.
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Yeah, I'm not really responding to anyone in this thread. It is more about the constant negativity, annoying complaints, and racism I see in courant.com article replies.
 
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Deepster said:
3) Why wouldn't you just go to West Hartford center, have better eating and drinking options, park once and have it all in a tighter geographic range?
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Hartford has so much more to do besides eat and drink. It's the difference between Hartford Stage and Playhouse on Park.
 
Kenny11 said:
Hartford is held back by the negativity of old white people complaining and comparing everything to the good old days
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There were "good old days" in Hartford? When?
 
Kenny11 said:
Yeah, I'm not really responding to anyone in this thread. It is more about the constant negativity, annoying complaints, and racism I see in courant.com article replies.
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Racism? Where have you seen any hint of that in this thread? Gimme a break.
 
As soon as the CTrail train line goes active next year, I'm going to make a LOT more basketball games in Hartford. The ability to get on a train in New Haven, have a couple of beers on the way up, go to the game, and not have to worry about driving home, is huge for me. Plus not having to deal with parking, etc.

Heck, even if I have to wait 45 min for the train cause of timing, that's fine, I'll go grab a beer at Vaughn's or something.

I was bummed it was delayed until May but I am absolutely going to use the heck out of that train as soon as I can.
 
8893 said:
There were "good old days" in Hartford? When?
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Hartford had way more going for it from the mid 80's through late 90's even into early 2000's . It was never to be confused with a real city, but there were things to do down at Union Station and then places like the Muni, Scarlet Oharas, Dagnys, the Webster, I can go on. There was a music scene. There was a club scene. Not huge but vibrant enough to be fun. There is ZERO of either now.

West Hartford and Glastonbury ruined Hartford.
 
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Deepster said:
Racism? Where have you seen any hint of that in this thread? Gimme a break.
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What part of "in courant.com article replies" didn't click?
 
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zls44 said:
What part of "in courant.com article replies" didn't click?
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The OP implied that was 1 of the reasons he was bowing out of the thread. If racism isn't present here now, then why automatically assume that a discussion about how good/bad the nightlight in Hartford is will end there?
 
August_West said:
Hartford had way more going for it from the mid 80's through late 90's even into early 2000's . It was never to be confused with a real city, but there were things to do down at Union Station and then places like the Muni, Scarlet Oharas, Dagnys, the Webster, I can go on. There was a music scene. There was a club scene. Not huge but vibrant enough to be fun. There is ZERO of either now.

West Hartford and Glastonbury ruined Hartford.
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This just shows how long its been dead. I'm in my 30's and I've never heard of any of those places other than the Webster. I feel like Hartford has been spinning its wheels my entire life while West Hartford, Glastonbury, ect took away its retail and, restaurant and party scene.
 
Robertelamin said:
This just shows how long its been dead. I'm in my 30's and I've never heard of any of those places other than the Webster. I feel like Hartford has been spinning its wheels my entire life while West Hartford, Glastonbury, ect took away its retail and, restaurant and party scene.
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I grew up in Glastonbury.

I do not recall a party or retail scene.

Or any scene, really.

Maybe I just wasn't cool.
 
Guapo said:
I grew up in Glastonbury.

I do not recall a party or retail scene.

Or any scene, really.

Maybe I just wasn't cool.
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Neither do I to be honest with you but people always bring up Glastonbury with West Hartford so I just assumed there was a scene. I'm probably wrong.
 
August_West said:
there were things to do down at Union Station
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Sad to see the state of the Union Station area now as I had a hand in creating it. I designed Pastis, The Standing Stone, The Brickyard, Black-eyed Sally's, Coach's and Hot Tomato's. Glory days. Hell, my (cheating) ex-wife met her boyfriend at The Brickyard but that's a story for another day.
 
Robertelamin said:
Neither do I to be honest with you but people always bring up Glastonbury with West Hartford so I just assumed there was a scene. I'm probably wrong.
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I heard they installed a Rotery at the corner of New London and Hebron Ave.

That's cool.

That's what the kids like, right?
 
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Bezzz said:
Sad to see the state of the Union Station area now as I had a hand in creating it. I designed Pastis, The Standing Stone, The Brickyard, Black-eyed Sally's, Coach's and Hot Tomato's. Glory days. Hell, my (cheating) ex-wife met her boyfriend at The Brickyard but that's a story for another day.
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Standing Stone and Black-eyed Sally's are still around.
 
Guapo said:
I grew up in Glastonbury.

I do not recall a party or retail scene.

Or any scene, really.

Maybe I just wasn't cool.
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Glastonbury gets lumped In strictly for restaurant scene it took people out of hartford
 
Bezzz said:
Sad to see the state of the Union Station area now as I had a hand in creating it. I designed Pastis, The Standing Stone, The Brickyard, Black-eyed Sally's, Coach's and Hot Tomato's. Glory days. Hell, my (cheating) ex-wife met her boyfriend at The Brickyard but that's a story for another day.
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I hope it wasn't one of the owners of The Brickyard. Friends of mine. Both UConn grads.
 
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