New XL Center

[AZHuskiePop]

I'll tell you what, get your head out of the sand and look stuff up. The only year the whalers didn't average over 10000 was 1979.
How nice of you to find an excuse for pittsburghs hideous ticket sales which were far worse than hartford's. Another great smear job by a so-called whalers fan.

The Whalers didn't make the playoffs for 10 years and were still getting over 10,000.
That's an incredible fact.
LI after their great run was over was getting 5,ooo . New Haven still had the Nighthawks which took away from Whaler support.
A respectable team would have no trouble getting 15,000 a game
Filling the arena ,is not the problem for
An NHL team.
The problem is and was the TV market is so small especially when shared with so many teams.
The competition with ,Bruins , Rangers, Devils,and Islanders For TV eyeballs doomed the Whalers. The right TV deal is the key to sucess.

 

[Hoophound]

I think the sad thing about Hartford going to crap is that it was once the finest city in the country. It was beautiful and wealthy and had fantastic theater and culture. It was once the place to be.

The city was literally destroyed by the interstate running through it. By moving it out of the way, Hartford would organically return to some level of glory before too long. Unfortunately, very few people seem to care anymore. They don't know what they are missing by not having a lively city at their disposal. Hopefully, people will fill all the new apartments and breed a generation that cares about Hartford.

 

[Northbound]

First off, it's not a fact. Second, I've ignored it because it's a stupid misinformed statement.

Buffalo is a small market team. Worst record in the NHL so far this season. Feb 10, a Tuesday night, home against .500 Ottawa? The attendance was 19,070. Thursday, January 15, home against Minnesota? The attendance was 18,963. What's your excuse now?

Hartford doesn't get a pass for not showing up because the team sucked. It's a sports town with fans.

I've been scanning this thread and for the life of me i don't know what the hell "deserve a team" means. I respond to that like Bob Knight responded to the "game face" questions.

Anyone can go back through time and pull attendance figures that correlate to team performance (look at the Yankees, before this last run, the Royals, Rams, Jaguars, etc.) it's commonly accepted. Team performance impacts gate, and therefore concession/parking and on-field success also influences revenue from licensed product. I'd argue that the cost of tickets on the secondary market is the one of the very real barometers of the avidity of the fan base.

Of course you can pull exceptions to what is generally regarded as true....attendance at live sporting events are driven by on-field success. And all of the leagues know that attendance, regardless of on-field success. continues to be vulnerable to advances in technology that has a low cost of entry to the consumer and provides what could be argued is a better viewing experience than the live event for the fan.

 

[Chief00]

Blaming Hartford's mess on the interstates is ridiculous - every major city has an interstate or 2 running through it in some way. True, they were designed very poorly but the roots of Hartford's problem start with teen pregnancies, kids being born to single mothers who drop out of school, etc.

 

[8893]

Blaming Hartford's mess on the interstates is ridiculous - every major city has an interstate or 2 running through it in some way. True, they were designed very poorly but the roots of Hartford's problem start with teen pregnancies, kids being born to single mothers who drop out of school, etc.

Because they are not hockey fans?

 

[superjohn]

Blaming Hartford's mess on the interstates is ridiculous - every major city has an interstate or 2 running through it in some way. True, they were designed very poorly but the roots of Hartford's problem start with teen pregnancies, kids being born to single mothers who drop out of school, etc.

Facepalm

 

[Deadrody]

Some paraphrasing would be nice. Do us who do not subscribe to the failing newspaper.

Google the title of the article and you can follow the link from Google and read it without registering

 

[Deadrody]

I'm having a hard time seeing how a new area, or even a substantial renovation can have a decent ROI absent a pro sports franchise.

Yeah, therein lies the real problem.

 

[Deadrody]

Y
4. Food
5. Entertainment/culture
6. Shopping

Of those things, 4-6 are inextricably interconnected.

Here's the thing. All 3 of those need to be vastly improved. UConn basketball is literally the only thing drawing people into Hartford. My wife and I only get to a few games a year now and anytime we're there on Sunday its shocking that everything is closed. Nobody is in Hartford on a Sunday. Hard to argue that Hartford has anything in the way of consistent Food, Entertainment, or Shopping if everything is closed on one of the 2 prime days for those things.

 

[Deadrody]

I think the bigger problem is how people in CT literally go out of their way to complain and trash the very own state they live in. You will not find this anywhere else in the country.

Nonsense. I've lived in a lot of places and people complain about all of them.

Connecticut's real problem is being divided between Boston and NYC. Providence doesn't have near the inferiority complex because they know and understand that they're effectively Boston Jr. They accepted it and moved on. Hartford is still trying to get out of the shadow of it's two bigger brothers, but it never will.

 

[zls44]

Blaming Hartford's mess on the interstates is ridiculous - every major city has an interstate or 2 running through it in some way. True, they were designed very poorly but the roots of Hartford's problem start with teen pregnancies, kids being born to single mothers who drop out of school, etc.

Aside from the cesspool level idiocy on display here, no, most cities do NOT have highways running straight through the center of them like Hartford does.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Aside from the cesspool level idiocy on display here, no, most cities do NOT have highways running straight through the center of them like Hartford does.

Actually, not that the idea is good, in fact it is horrendous, many US cities do:

• I-93 in Boston before the Big Dig and I-90 was buried under the Prudential & Copley developments in the 80's
• I-95 in Providence separates downtown from Federal hill
• US 30 right through downtown Philly
• I-75/85 & I-20 quarters Atlanta
• I-95 in Miami separates the beach crowd from everyone else
• I-10 in New Orleans
• I-25 & US 59 cuts downtown Houston into several pieces
• I-75, I-94, I-96 & I-375 cut downtown Detroit into several pieces
• I-290 drives right into downtown Chicago while I-90 is the DMZ between downtown and the not so well off interior
• I-95 & I-35 E&W run into each of the Twin Cities' downtown neighborhoods
• I-25 cuts off downtown Denver from everything to the west
• Route 99 is being buried in Seattle
• I-5, I-10, US 101 & Route 110 isolated downtown LA so badly, people forgot LA had a downtown until about 10 years ago

 

[zls44]

Actually, not that the idea is good, in fact it is horrendous, many US cities do:

• I-93 in Boston before the Big Dig and I-90 was buried under the Prudential & Copley developments in the 80's
• I-95 in Providence separates downtown from Federal hill
• US 30 right through downtown Philly
• I-75/85 & I-20 quarters Atlanta
• I-95 in Miami separates the beach crowd from everyone else
• I-10 in New Orleans
• I-25 & US 59 cuts downtown Houston into several pieces
• I-75, I-94, I-96 & I-375 cut downtown Detroit into several pieces
• I-290 drives right into downtown Chicago while I-90 is the DMZ between downtown and the not so well off interior
• I-95 & I-35 E&W run into each of the Twin Cities' downtown neighborhoods
• I-25 cuts off downtown Denver from everything to the west
• Route 99 is being buried in Seattle
• I-5, I-10, US 101 & Route 110 isolated downtown LA so badly, people forgot LA had a downtown until about 10 years ago

Most of those cities also have ring roads. Hartford has 2 highways and they cut right through the middle, which is idiotic.

BTW there's already an organization for the work on eventually replacing the viaduct: http://i84hartford.com/

 

[CL82]

Most of those cities also have ring roads. Hartford has 2 highways and they cut right through the middle, which is idiotic.

BTW there's already an organization for the work on eventually replacing the viaduct: http://i84hartford.com/

That was interesting. Apparently, there are four options:

1) Elevated Highway:
In this alternative, a new elevated I-84 would replace the existing highway with a new, single viaduct between Sigourney and High Streets.

2) Lowered Highway:
In this alternative, I-84 would be lowered to, or below, ground level between Park and Trumbull Streets. Local roads crossing the interstate would all be bridges over the highway.

3)Tunnel:
In this alternative, a new I-84 would be built below grade and covered in a tunnel from Myrtle Street to Laurel Street.

4)No-Build (Renovate and Replace):
The No-Build Alternative does not mean do nothing. This option would rehabilitate or replace the highway bridges to keep them operating safely. The highway would stay in exactly the same place with its existing interchanges.

Option 1, 2 or 3, would reduce the number of interchanges which would decrease the highways impact potentially freeing up new land for development. Option 4 would leave things essentially the same and accordingly is the least expensive coming in at $2.3 billion. Option 3 is most expensive estimated at $104 billion.

As stated in the article, the I-84 Hartford Project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which arose due to the need to replace the aging current infrastructure. I hope they take full advantage of it.

 

[The Viking]

The only year they didn't average over 10,000? What does that prove? Why is a crowd of 10,000 - 11,000 "good"?

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/

Here's the site I have used. Other than a 2-3 year period, find me ANYTHING that would prove this city consistently supported that team. I don't want to hear about Ron Francis being traded or them stinking. Quite frankly, they're likely to stink again if we got another team. Then what? Good sports cities support teams. Hartford isn't a good sports city. It's not that tough.

Pardon me but are you really this dumb? Are you even aware of what you post?
You claimed Hartford couldn't bring in 10K fans. They brought in more than 10K every year but their first.

 

[zls44]

Option 3 is most expensive estimated at $104 billion.

Just...good Lord...

 

[DarthGrumpy]

That was interesting. Apparently, there are four options:

1) Elevated Highway:
In this alternative, a new elevated I-84 would replace the existing highway with a new, single viaduct between Sigourney and High Streets.

2) Lowered Highway:
In this alternative, I-84 would be lowered to, or below, ground level between Park and Trumbull Streets. Local roads crossing the interstate would all be bridges over the highway.

3)Tunnel:
In this alternative, a new I-84 would be built below grade and covered in a tunnel from Myrtle Street to Laurel Street.

4)No-Build (Renovate and Replace):
The No-Build Alternative does not mean do nothing. This option would rehabilitate or replace the highway bridges to keep them operating safely. The highway would stay in exactly the same place with its existing interchanges.

Option 1, 2 or 3, would reduce the number of interchanges which would decrease the highways impact potentially freeing up new land for development. Option 4 would leave things essentially the same and accordingly is the least expensive coming in at $2.3 billion. Option 3 is most expensive estimated at $104 billion.

As stated in the article, the I-84 Hartford Project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which arose due to the need to replace the aging current infrastructure. I hope they take full advantage of it.

Talk is that Option 3 is already off the table due to price, though its the one that Hartford wants to most; but, of course Hartford can't pay for it. There was also a 5th option at one point and that was to covert I-84 into a street level boulevard. That was shot down by the state as being impractical due to the travel volume using I-84.

 

[Adios]

Money is made out of paper. Just fix the damn highways. In New Haven, too!

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Most of those cities also have ring roads. Hartford has 2 highways and they cut right through the middle, which is idiotic.

BTW there's already an organization for the work on eventually replacing the viaduct: http://i84hartford.com/

Hartford was supposed to have a ring highway; but, only a two small portions were built - Route 9 from I-91 to I-84 in West Harford and I-291 from I-84 in Manchester across the river to Bloomfield. West Hartford had a lot to do with the 2 routes not being connected on the west wide of the river.

 

[businesslawyer]

Blaming Hartford's mess on the interstates is ridiculous - every major city has an interstate or 2 running through it in some way. True, they were designed very poorly but the roots of Hartford's problem start with teen pregnancies, kids being born to single mothers who drop out of school, etc.

Because that's a Hartford problem, and not a problem in cities all across the country?

 

[Deepster]

Pardon me but are you really this dumb? Are you even aware of what you post?
You claimed Hartford couldn't bring in 10K fans. They brought in more than 10K every year but their first.

I'm dumb? Find where I said Hartford couldn't average 10,000 fans? I said they were in the bottom of the NHL attendance charts. I said they couldn't get a decent draw on a Tuesday night against a mediocre opponent. Show me where I said they wouldn't average 10,000 fans though.

FYI - 10,000 to 11,000 fans is crappy attendance, for what it's worth.

 

[Adios]

I think the sad thing about Hartford going to crap is that it was once the finest city in the country. It was beautiful and wealthy and had fantastic theater and culture. It was once the place to be.

It can easily be revived over time. The depth of American/native culture here is ridiculously deep.

Connecticut was always a rival of Massachusetts, since the mid 1600s. Richer Englishmen tried to challenge Boston with New Haven. Maybe should have placed what would become New Haven further east, since whaling became a huge source of wealth. Rhode Island is a different culture.

 

[The Viking]

What you guys are overlooking is that cities like Pittsburgh, Boston, Chicago....support other major league franchises. The Penguins or Bruins in a down year aren't the only game in town. Hartford has NOTHING else and still couldn't get 10k at their games.

Ill tell you what. When I'm wrong, the NHL moves a team here and they draw well? I'll admit I am wrong. Until then, keep your excuses spinning and your head stuck in the sand.

This?

 

[The Viking]

The issue I have with you is that as someone who claims to be a Hartford Whaler fan, you refuse to cut the hockey market any slack for being victims of what was the one of the worst if not the worst run franchises in the NHL for most of 2 decades.

The Penguins averaged 6800 people in 1983. Pittburgh. A city that doubles or triples Hartford's size. Think about that. In our worst years we were still drawing 3000-4000 more than Pittsburgh's low numbers.

I have no problem with a Whalers fan thinking that the market may not be able to support an NHL team again, maybe they are right and maybe they aren't. But the fact that you are so hardened in your stance without any willingness to look at the bigger picture is just bizarre - again for someone who says he is a Whalers fan. Your views tend to align themselves more with that of a Rangers, Bruins or maybe even an Islanders fan I guess - or a non-hockey fan in general.

If you haven't gone to a UConn hockey game this year maybe you should give it a shot next year to see what a good hockey market can feel like again. UConn led the Hockey East in attendance if you factor in non-Bridgeport games. Not bad for a hockey market that you thinks sucks .

 

[Deepster]

The issue I have with you is that as someone who claims to be a Hartford Whaler fan, you refuse to cut the hockey market any slack for being victims of what was the one of the worst if not the worst run franchises in the NHL for most of 2 decades.

The Penguins averaged 6800 people in 1983. Pittburgh. A city that doubles or triples Hartford's size. Think about that. In our worst years we were still drawing 3000-4000 more than Pittsburgh's low numbers.

I have no problem with a Whalers fan thinking that the market may not be able to support an NHL team again, maybe they are right and maybe they aren't. But the fact that you are so hardened in your stance without any willingness to look at the bigger picture is just bizarre - again for someone who says he is a Whalers fan. Your views tend to align themselves more with that of a Rangers, Bruins or maybe even an Islanders fan I guess - or a non-hockey fan in general.

If you haven't gone to a UConn hockey game this year maybe you should give it a shot next year to see what a good hockey market can feel like again. UConn led the Hockey East in attendance if you factor in non-Bridgeport games. Not bad for a hockey market that you thinks sucks .

I dont know why you care so much that I was a Whaler fan. But I was. I don't follow the NHL any more. I would support the Whalers if a franchise came back. But I don't think this state can or will support a franchise. And I don't think that based on the last go round they deserve another crack at it. You can do with that whatever you'd like. You can like it or lump it or you can take it down the road and dump it.

 

[mauconnfan]

I guess we find out today how good the XL Center is huh? Big game, how man fannies in the seats at tip off and how much noise today when the kids really need them?

Should be interesting

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I guess we find out today how good the XL Center is huh? Big game, how man fannies in the seats at tip off and how much noise today when the kids really need them?

Should be interesting

Can of Gampel vs XL worms is now currently open ☺

 

[nyhusky89]

Sure. Just pretend that Fairfield county doesn't exist and write off all of the money that comes with it.

Really? how much money would uconn lose because they play 18 games on campus? It would cripple the program? first off, if they can't see how much better Gampel is than an arena in downtown hartford then how did they make their money? second-and not a snarky answer-from my experience, the money in fairfield doesn't send their kids to uconn and didnt go there themselves-it is a much more prep to private college area than a bastion of support for uconn. Third, if they are so committed to the program then why is another 30 minutes a problem? Its is unequivocally easier to move families to the campus than move 2-4k students to hartford.

If you want to be invited to the big ten you need to look like a big ten school-part of being a big ten school (outside the outstanding academics and research capacity) is the environment and experience they recall. I get that the liberal northeast is different than the midwest, but there is a distinct difference between pulling into campus, walking through the buildings and being surrounded by that spirit from the minute you hit north eagleville and driving into downtown hartford and walking to XL. I am absolutely flabbergasted that this is even a discussion-that there are people pining for a new arena in hartford and more games there.

 

[whaler11]

Really? how much money would uconn lose because they play 18 games on campus? It would cripple the program? first off, if they can't see how much better Gampel is than an arena in downtown hartford then how did they make their money? second-and not a snarky answer-from my experience, the money in fairfield doesn't send their kids to uconn and didnt go there themselves-it is a much more prep to private college area than a bastion of support for uconn. Third, if they are so committed to the program then why is another 30 minutes a problem? Its is unequivocally easier to move families to the campus than move 2-4k students to hartford.

If you want to be invited to the big ten you need to look like a big ten school-part of being a big ten school (outside the outstanding academics and research capacity) is the environment and experience they recall. I get that the liberal northeast is different than the midwest, but there is a distinct difference between pulling into campus, walking through the buildings and being surrounded by that spirit from the minute you hit north eagleville and driving into downtown hartford and walking to XL. I am absolutely flabbergasted that this is even a discussion-that there are people pining for a new arena in hartford and more games there.

It's too bad Fire Joe Morgan got shut down, this would have been a good candidate.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Really? how much money would uconn lose because they play 18 games on campus? It would cripple the program? first off, if they can't see how much better Gampel is than an arena in downtown hartford then how did they make their money? second-and not a snarky answer-from my experience, the money in fairfield doesn't send their kids to uconn and didnt go there themselves-it is a much more prep to private college area than a bastion of support for uconn. Third, if they are so committed to the program then why is another 30 minutes a problem? Its is unequivocally easier to move families to the campus than move 2-4k students to hartford.

If you want to be invited to the big ten you need to look like a big ten school-part of being a big ten school (outside the outstanding academics and research capacity) is the environment and experience they recall. I get that the liberal northeast is different than the midwest, but there is a distinct difference between pulling into campus, walking through the buildings and being surrounded by that spirit from the minute you hit north eagleville and driving into downtown hartford and walking to XL. I am absolutely flabbergasted that this is even a discussion-that there are people pining for a new arena in hartford and more games there.

Overall, for the CT market outside of Fairfield County, I do not believe that there is a major difference between having games in Hartford or Storrs. Thus, I would prefer that Hartford' needs with the XL be separated from what UConn needs, which is basically an expanded and renovated Gampel or a new dual purpose basketball (12K)/hockey (6K) arena. This is where 75% of all UConn home games should be. The environment for on-campus games is a major positive for the players, students, and most fans, especially as there are now more options on or near campus for fans to enjoy before and after games. While classes are in session, the only exception shoudl be for 1 to 2 'neutral' court games in NYC or even Boston. Why? Because if UConn wants to escape the American, the Huskies have to show that they bring eyeballs and excitement in major television markets outside of Hartford. During winter break, no problem with having 2 to 3 games in Hartford and even a game in Bridgeport. Why Bridgeport? if it makes the UConn alumni in fans who have migrated to where the jobs and money are happy and they help increase UConn's poor endowment, which is an important metric to the AAU and B1G folks, then it is worth that 1 game. So to summarize in a 30 game regular season schedule:

• Away games: 15
• Tournament games: 3
• NYC games: 1
  
• Bridgeport game: 1
• Hartford games: 2
• Storrs games: 9