New Britain Rock Cats moving to Hartford?

[Deepster]

The negatives for New Britain are obvious but the positives for Hartford are part of a cumulative effort that's been in the making for 20 years.

With minor league baseball, UConn's downtown campus, Front Street, lots of new apartments, the convention center, science museum, Wadsworth, the Bushnell, XL etc. Hartford is finally getting to the point where it may hit critical mass and take off. The idea of a ballpark downtown, minor league or not, is great. I would hope it would be built with historic character and be a beautiful addition to downtown that appears as if it has been there for years.

All of these projects, when put together, will provide the downtown foot traffic needed to really grow the city's core and create a consistent level of activity that creates an exciting environment. In short, if Hartford can build any large venue and have a tenant ready to occupy it, it is probably going to be good for the city. It is much better business than building a new XL Center and then hoping an NHL franchise will move in----though I realize that seems to be how you lure pro teams these days.

I was in Hartford overnight on a Saturday and Sunday two weeks ago. Stayed right next to City Steam. 3 different Dunkin Donuts within a 2 block radius were closed at 9 am on a Saturday morning. We couldn't find a single spot to get a drink at 11 pm on Sunday night after the wedding. It's much farther away from taking off than you give it credit for...

 

[Dooley]

A couple of Dooley thoughts about all of this:

1. it now makes sense why in the world the state would allocate $500+M towards a busway project connecting Hartford with the bustling, vibrant community of...hard hitting' NB. Maybe this busway project is just step 1 in a 4 step process to connect N, E, S, W with downtown, but it always struck me as an odd choice for a "Point B" to Hartford's "Point A". With the busway project nearing its completion, the timing of all this is just too convenient to not think some kind of plan to lure baseball downtown wasn't in consideration all along.

2. this would be great for summertime Hartford. The ability to lure 10K people to downtown is a major boost for the Capital city's economy. The stadium being in Hartford will have very little impact on whether families will go to games. In fact, I think that MORE families would go to games in Hartford vs. New Britain. A downtown stadium offers families far more entertainment choices before and after games. First, you obviously have more dining options. Second, you have the Science Center and Convention Centers (for other possible events) close by if parents wanted to make it a full day with their kids. If you couple baseball with hockey and UCONN athletics, that's year-round entertainment to bring people back into downtown Hartford.

3. I hope that the team would still be affiliated on an AA level. AAA baseball is a smoke and mirrors show. Players on the AAA level are mostly made up of Quad-A players who struggle at the MLB level and older "prospects" who stall in the minors (think Crash Davis from Bull Durham). Sure, you get the occasional rehabbing MLB player coming back from a lengthy stint on the DL, but the level to see the game's top prospects in extended action is AA. The AA level is where organizations park their top prospects (after they prove their worth in High-A) to build up innings as a pitcher or get at-bats as a position player. In some cases, it is not uncommon for an organization to promote a prospect directly from AA to the majors and skip AAA altogether. From a purely baseball perspective, I hope the affiliation would remain AA.

4. Circling back to what I started in #1, the state really needs to increase its public transportation options to get in and out of the Capital city. If Hartford is going to offer year-round entertainment, it's time for the city (and state) to look into making more connection points to get into downtown without having to drive your car in and battle for parking garage spots. Give people more options to get into downtown (and out).

5. New Britain is a wonderful place to see a game and can likely lure another team. The community support is very strong and should be enough to get a new team, should the Rockcats move to Hartford.

 

[Hoophound]

I was in Hartford overnight on a Saturday and Sunday two weeks ago. Stayed right next to City Steam. 3 different Dunkin Donuts within a 2 block radius were closed at 9 am on a Saturday morning. We couldn't find a single spot to get a drink at 11 pm on Sunday night after the wedding. It's much farther away from taking off than you give it credit for...

Well, given that DD used to open at 6am on Sunday in 2000, that is discouraging. However, the UConn Campus isn't there yet, which is the the biggest piece of the puzzle. My feeling is that if you can add 4000+ people per day to the downtown street scene, the city will look dramatically different. The more attractions you have, the better.

I've always felt strongly that the city needs to make it very easy for street vendors to set up shop as well. They add a fun vibe to a city and give younger kids an affordable way to buy a t shirt, sunglasses or a snack.

 

[DSquiz]

I have never been to a game so I can't tell you about the atmosphere or how this would affect New Britain. What I can say is I like the idea from an outsiders prospective.

A stadium in downtown Hartford would be pretty cool and I would definitely go to some games then do a little bar hoping before/after. With the UConn downtown campus, Xfinity Center, improved XL, new riverfront park/Bushnell project, and now a baseball stadium Hartford is on the upswing.

Say what you will about Hartford but they are trying and its showing.

 

[Padutch5]

A couple of Dooley thoughts about all of this:

1. it now makes sense why in the world the state would allocate $500+M towards a busway project connecting Hartford with the bustling, vibrant community of...hard hitting' NB. Maybe this busway project is just step 1 in a 4 step process to connect N, E, S, W with downtown, but it always struck me as an odd choice for a "Point B" to Hartford's "Point A". With the busway project nearing its completion, the timing of all this is just too convenient to not think some kind of plan to lure baseball downtown wasn't in consideration all along.

2. this would be great for summertime Hartford. The ability to lure 10K people to downtown is a major boost for the Capital city's economy. The stadium being in Hartford will have very little impact on whether families will go to games. In fact, I think that MORE families would go to games in Hartford vs. New Britain. A downtown stadium offers families far more entertainment choices before and after games. First, you obviously have more dining options. Second, you have the Science Center and Convention Centers (for other possible events) close by if parents wanted to make it a full day with their kids. If you couple baseball with hockey and UCONN athletics, that's year-round entertainment to bring people back into downtown Hartford.

3. I hope that the team would still be affiliated on an AA level. AAA baseball is a smoke and mirrors show. Players on the AAA level are mostly made up of Quad-A players who struggle at the MLB level and older "prospects" who stall in the minors (think Crash Davis from Bull Durham). Sure, you get the occasional rehabbing MLB player coming back from a lengthy stint on the DL, but the level to see the game's top prospects in extended action is AA. The AA level is where organizations park their top prospects (after they prove their worth in High-A) to build up innings as a pitcher or get at-bats as a position player. In some cases, it is not uncommon for an organization to promote a prospect directly from AA to the majors and skip AAA altogether. From a purely baseball perspective, I hope the affiliation would remain AA.

4. Circling back to what I started in #1, the state really needs to increase its public transportation options to get in and out of the Capital city. If Hartford is going to offer year-round entertainment, it's time for the city (and state) to look into making more connection points to get into downtown without having to drive your car in and battle for parking garage spots. Give people more options to get into downtown (and out).

5. New Britain is a wonderful place to see a game and can likely lure another team. The community support is very strong and should be enough to get a new team, should the Rockcats move to Hartford.

You might be right about a hidden agenda with the busway. However, Hartford is always the city that can't get out of its own way. I bet Malloy does not want his name attached to a deal moving the team from NB to Hartford.
Second, families will desert the team in droves. As evidenced by declining attendance forBB and Hockey, many fans frankly are afraid of Hartford. Sad but true.
Third, one of the reasons the women's BB tournament moved from Hartford to the casino was -did you ever try to get breakfast , lunch of coffee in Hartford on a Saturday or a Sunday.
Fourth- wait until Hartford loads on the taxes to the food and admission. This is the city that raised donations for a great bandshell in Bushnell park and then put such a high fee on its use that many groups no longer put on shows there.
NB thrives on family attendance. I don't see that happening in Hartford. I could go on, but someone mentioned the traffic in NB. That traffic is a walk in the park compared to getting into Hartford at 6:00 or 6;30 any weekday .
I'm going to go out on a limb. My guess is that the contract renewal in NB. Was not going quick enough so the Twins leaked something. To put the pressure on. I wonder if Robert Kraft is back?

 

[Dove]

You might be right about a hidden agenda with the busway. However, Hartford is always the city that can't get out of its own way. I bet Malloy does not want his name attached to a deal moving the team from NB to Hartford.
Second, families will desert the team in droves. As evidenced by declining attendance forBB and Hockey, many fans frankly are afraid of Hartford. Sad but true.
Third, one of the reasons the women's BB tournament moved from Hartford to the casino was -did you ever try to get breakfast , lunch of coffee in Hartford on a Saturday or a Sunday.
Fourth- wait until Hartford loads on the taxes to the food and admission. This is the city that raised donations for a great bandshell in Bushnell park and then put such a high fee on its use that many groups no longer put on shows there.
NB thrives on family attendance. I don't see that happening in Hartford. I could go on, but someone mentioned the traffic in NB. That traffic is a walk in the park compared to getting into Hartford at 6:00 or 6;30 any weekday .
I'm going to go out on a limb. My guess is that the contract renewal in NB. Was not going quick enough so the Twins leaked something. To put the pressure on. I wonder if Robert Kraft is back?

That fine mayor in New Britain sounds like the Cats aren't going anywhere.

 

[alexd]

When you bring the family to the game the dining options are AT the game. Not sure how many families are going to bopping around Main, Asylum and Trumbull St. with their 8 and 10 year olds.

 

[Richmondhsky]

When you bring the family to the game the dining options are AT the game. Not sure how many families are going to bopping around Main, Asylum and Trumbull St. with their 8 and 10 year olds.

We have the same thing going on here in Richmond...AA team in an aging stadium 6 miles outside of the city. Mayor wants to build a grandiose development downtown. The Squirrels (came from Norwich) average 6700 per game which is second in the league....ownership and the League are pressuring them to get something done.
When surveyed, majority of people favor a re-do on the same site so they don't have to go downtown citing safety, convenience etc.

 

[Dove]

The New Britain stadium is a sweet park.Not aged at all. Just horrible access to it.

 

[alexd]

The New Britain stadium is a sweet park.Not aged at all. Just horrible access to it.

Yep....New Britain Stadium was voted one of the best minor league ballparks in the country just a few years ago. Sad to say, but the concessions area beats out the XL.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Yep....New Britain Stadium was voted one of the best minor league ballparks in the country just a few years ago. Sad to say, but the concessions area beats out the XL.

Kind of surprised to see that. Fun to see a game but you can't see in any evening game (not sure how this is for day games) anywhere on the first base side for the first few innings until the sun drops below the treeline beyond the OF wall.

 

[Excalibur]

Well, given that DD used to open at 6am on Sunday in 2000, that is discouraging. However, the UConn Campus isn't there yet, which is the the biggest piece of the puzzle. My feeling is that if you can add 4000+ people per day to the downtown street scene, the city will look dramatically different. The more attractions you have, the better.

That's still mainly a weekday crowd.

 

[John]

Hot Mayor to Rock Cats: Pay your taxes or get out.

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-new-britain-rock-cats-0802-20140801,0,7667531.story

 

[Excalibur]

Scorned, average looking mayor makes petty comments regarding contract dispute . . .

 

[CL82]

Scorned, average looking mayor makes petty comments regarding contract dispute . . .

Mmm, not sure what her looks have to do with it, but calling out a company that treated NB pretty shabbily and isn't meeting its contract obligations seems like fair game to me.

 

[Excalibur]

Mmm, not sure what her looks have to do with it, but calling out a company that treated NB pretty shabbily and isn't meeting its contract obligations seems like fair game to me.

Her looks were brought up by the hero-worshipping previous poster.

As to the obligations, it is not my nature given my profession to believe one party's version of a contractual obligation absent additional evidence. She may be right. However, she also has egg on her face because she was asleep at the switch.

 

[DSquiz]

The private funding proposals were received on Friday. I am so excited for Hooker brewery in downtown Hartford!

 

[CTBasketball]

I enjoy beer. I enjoy sports. They go good together.

 

[CL82]

Is that apartments by the brewery? I wonder how many Boneyarders will be moving there?

 

[intlzncster]

Is that apartments by the brewery? I wonder how many Boneyarders will be moving there?

If they built them next to Gampel? At least half. Not sure about Hartford minor league baseball digs though.

 

[DSquiz]

If they built them next to Gampel? At least half. Not sure about Hartford minor league baseball digs though.

They already have, it's called Storrs Center. And I would love to live there, Storrs is so much fun.

 

[Dove]

What a week of developments!!

The City of Hartford has decided on a developer and have revealed details.

The Minnesota Twins today announce they are severing ties with the New Britain team and will look elsewhere. Apparently they will be in Chattanooga.

The Colorado Rockies suddenly announce they have signed on for 2 years with the New Britain team ownership. Wow!! The Rockies AA teams were once in Connecticut before when players like Todd Helton and my man Quinton McCracken were New Haven Ravens.

Hartford Besbol

 

[Dooley]

Goodbye Byron Buxton, hello David Dahl and Jonathan Gray.