New XL Center

[ConnHuskBask]

Hartford is on the rise fellas.

People from all over central CT will be coming in droves via the bus way to watch minor league baseball in downtown Hartford.

 

[The Viking]

Speaking of Buffalo's attendance despite having a bad year - I just went on StubHub to look at a Sunday night game and there are some VERY good seats for dirt cheap.

For example lower bowl seats as low as $28, upper bowl seats as cheap as 11. And judging by the view on StubHub those upper level seats have really nice views.

 

[CL82]

Who are we to say it won't work when Friemuth has the figures in front of him and believes it can? Keep in mind this guy was not gung-ho from the beginning but has come around. Also the investors mulling around seem to think the numbers work as well. The obstacle is the facility. These people have more insight than us and they think it can work.

People who don't have a direct stake in increasing the size CRDA? Tell you what if it can built with private money, I'll be the biggest cheerleader for the project.

 

[CL82]

Hartford is on the rise fellas.

People from all over central CT will be coming in droves via the bus way to watch minor league baseball in downtown Hartford.

I don't live in CT anymore and I plan on catching a game there.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I don't live in CT anymore and I plan on catching a game there.

I'm sure the minor league experience will be fine.

But that's just what it is - minor league. Just like Hartford always will be.

Busways, millions on minor league stadiums, the half XL Renovations.

They all scream, small time. I don't even hate Hartford, just calling a spade a spade.

 

[superjohn]

84 going through Hartford isn't great but it wasn't a major problem. 91 basically eliminating Hartford's entire riverfront was stupidity at a monumental level.

Dumbest move ever, Hartford sits on the beautiful Connecticut river and they decide to build a freakin interstate blocking the city from the water, mindnumbingly dumb.

 

[The Viking]

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

Pittsburgh was a worse hockey market than Hartford until Mario appeared. Yearly attendance ranges from 6K-11K. If a Karmanos took the Penguins away pre-Lemieux, you would be sitting here dumping on them as an awful hockey market as well. No one calls them an awful hockey market today.

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=7475

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

I'm sure the minor league experience will be fine.

But that's just what it is - minor league. Just like Hartford always will be.

Busways, millions on minor league stadiums, the half XL Renovations.

They all scream, small time. I don't even hate Hartford, just calling a spade a spade.

Bullseye. And the more UConn associates with this minor league city, the more minor league UConn will be. We're not Louisville, who plays in a downtown arena in a minor league city, they're already located there. We're willfully exporting our athletics 25 miles away to play in a rundown dump of an arena in a city who's grand plans include AA baseball, a giant grocery store, and a bus lane. That doesn't scream B1G, that screams AAC.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Pittsburgh was a worse hockey market than Hartford until Mario appeared. Yearly attendance ranges from 6K-11K. If a Karmanos took the Penguins away pre-Lemieux, you would be sitting here dumping on them as an awful hockey market as well. No one calls them an awful hockey market today.

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=7475

Only two of the seasons the Whalers existed would their average attendance be in last place this season. And this is with the present day attendance numbers that are massively fudged.
http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=6045
http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

 

[Deepster]

Pittsburgh was a worse hockey market than Hartford until Mario appeared. Yearly attendance ranges from 6K-11K. If a Karmanos took the Penguins away pre-Lemieux, you would be sitting here dumping on them as an awful hockey market as well. No one calls them an awful hockey market today.

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=7475

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.

 

[Palatine]

https://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/2...llow_share=true&escape=false&view_mode=scroll

This is the entire 90+ page document.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

84 going through Hartford isn't great but it wasn't a major problem. 91 basically eliminating Hartford's entire riverfront was stupidity at a monumental level.

When I-91 was pushed through Hartford in the '50's and '60's, the Connecticut River, like many others, was a cesspool of industrial waste, sewage, and run-off. Thus, land was cheap along the Connecticut River, which is why I-91 is there (ditto for highways in many other cities).

That said, nothing is going to happen to I-91 right now as it was rebuilt 10/20 years ago. As soon as CT is done with the Q Bridge project in New Haven, looks like the next big effort will be replacing I-84 in Hartford with something. CT DOT already has a website for it.

http://i84hartford.com/

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Why would UConn want to play in Barklays, Prudential, MSG?

Until UConn gets out of the American, UConn needs to maximize its viability and no place does that better than playing marquee games in the largest city and the media capital of the country - NYC. It also makes the UConn alumni with big wallets in Fairfield County and NYC itself happy. Just 1 or 2 games a year.

 

[Deepster]

Just to see how they currently stack up, I took a look. The Fri/Sat of 1/30 and 1/31, the Wolfpack had back to back home games. Here's how the entire AHL attendance stacked up over those two days:

30-Jan HER @ Lehigh Valley 8743
30-Jan HAM @ Iowa 8702
30-Jan WOR @ Providence 7924
30-Jan CHA @ San Antonio 7605
30-Jan BRI @ Hartford 6671
30-Jan CHI @ Rockford 6339
30-Jan GR @ Milwaukee 6179
30-Jan RCH @ Syracuse 5766
30-Jan POR @ Manchester 4996
30-Jan LE @ Oklahoma City 4051
30-Jan TOR @ Utica 3835
30-Jan NOR @ Binghamton 3167
30-Jan WBS @ Springfield 2931
30-Jan STL @ Albany 2626

31-Jan RFD @ Chicago 16280
31-Jan Spr @ Hartford 10769
31-Jan SYR @ Hershey 10243
31-Jan MIL @ Grand Rapids 8767
31-Jan LV @ Wilkes-Barres 8217
31-Jan PRO @ Worcester 7760
31-Jan UTI @ Toronto 6339
31-Jan HAM @ Iowa 5952
31-Jan POR @ Bridgeport 5582
31-Jan CHA @ Texas 5268
31-Jan NOR @ Binghamton 4474
31-Jan RCH @ Adirondack 4317
31-Jan STJ @ Albany 4010
31-Jan LE @ Oklahoma City 3236

Not sure how much of the 1/31 total was Springfield visitors. Maybe 500-1,000? Good crowd that night, whatever the reason. Drawing on par with Rockford, Illinois and worse than Providence on a Friday night though.

 

[Drew]

When I-91 was pushed through Hartford in the '50's and '60's, the Connecticut River, like many others, was a cesspool of industrial waste, sewage, and run-off. Thus, land was cheap along the Connecticut River, which is why I-91 is there (ditto for highways in many other cities).

That said, nothing is going to happen to I-91 right now as it was rebuilt 10/20 years ago. As soon as CT is done with the Q Bridge project in New Haven, looks like the next big effort will be replacing I-84 in Hartford with something. CT DOT already has a website for it.

http://i84hartford.com/

Need a "UConn Expressway" from 84 to campus so bad. Exit 68B and have it lead to campus through Horsebarn Hill/Ag Buildings/East Dorms. Would become the main entrance to campus and help diverge traffic left or right upon arriving. Imagine the first thing you see on campus is Wilbur Cross/The hill and flags? Beautiful.


Can't wait to get ripped on for this.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Need a "UConn Expressway" from 84 to campus so bad. Exit 68B and have it lead to campus through Horsebarn Hill/Ag Buildings/East Dorms. Would become the main entrance to campus and help diverge traffic left or right upon arriving. Imagine the first thing you see on campus is Wilbur Cross/The hill and flags? Beautiful.


Can't wait to get ripped on for this.

Extending 384 would be a far better solution, more direct and shorter route from all points south, west, and north of the current 84/384 split.

 

[TheDoggPound]

Just to see how they currently stack up, I took a look. The Fri/Sat of 1/30 and 1/31, the Wolfpack had back to back home games. Here's how the entire AHL attendance stacked up over those two days:

30-Jan HER @ Lehigh Valley 8743
30-Jan HAM @ Iowa 8702
30-Jan WOR @ Providence 7924
30-Jan CHA @ San Antonio 7605
30-Jan BRI @ Hartford 6671
30-Jan CHI @ Rockford 6339
30-Jan GR @ Milwaukee 6179
30-Jan RCH @ Syracuse 5766
30-Jan POR @ Manchester 4996
30-Jan LE @ Oklahoma City 4051
30-Jan TOR @ Utica 3835
30-Jan NOR @ Binghamton 3167
30-Jan WBS @ Springfield 2931
30-Jan STL @ Albany 2626

31-Jan RFD @ Chicago 16280
31-Jan Spr @ Hartford 10769
31-Jan SYR @ Hershey 10243
31-Jan MIL @ Grand Rapids 8767
31-Jan LV @ Wilkes-Barres 8217
31-Jan PRO @ Worcester 7760
31-Jan UTI @ Toronto 6339
31-Jan HAM @ Iowa 5952
31-Jan POR @ Bridgeport 5582
31-Jan CHA @ Texas 5268
31-Jan NOR @ Binghamton 4474
31-Jan RCH @ Adirondack 4317
31-Jan STJ @ Albany 4010
31-Jan LE @ Oklahoma City 3236

Not sure how much of the 1/31 total was Springfield visitors. Maybe 500-1,000? Good crowd that night, whatever the reason. Drawing on par with Rockford, Illinois and worse than Providence on a Friday night though.

Oh boy trying to extrapolate AHL attendance for an NHL team? Yea that works. They're not Worlds apart or anything in terms of interest, fan demographic, etc.

 

[MattMang23]

You know what would fix this whole problem? Pick up the Storrs campus and drive every building on it 25 miles down I84. Drop them all off somewhere on Albany Avenue. Unless UHart has geographical rights to that area that they for some reason would care to exercise.

Problem solved.

 

[August_West]

I hate to disappoint you but I was a Whalers fan. A big one. Went to 25+ games a year, travelled to MSG, Montreal and Boston for road games. My Dad golfed with Blaine Stoughton s.

Well then this one should be a slam dunk trivia question for you.

Who comprised the "Bash, Dash, and Stash" line?

 

[8893]

Well then this one should be a slam dunk trivia question for you.

Who comprised the "Bash, Dash, and Stash" line?

Pat Boutette, Mike Rogers, Blaine Stoughton

Answer above in invisible ink...

 

[Palatine]

Just to see how they currently stack up, I took a look. The Fri/Sat of 1/30 and 1/31, the Wolfpack had back to back home games. Here's how the entire AHL attendance stacked up over those two days:

30-Jan HER @ Lehigh Valley 8743
30-Jan HAM @ Iowa 8702
30-Jan WOR @ Providence 7924
30-Jan CHA @ San Antonio 7605
30-Jan BRI @ Hartford 6671
30-Jan CHI @ Rockford 6339
30-Jan GR @ Milwaukee 6179
30-Jan RCH @ Syracuse 5766
30-Jan POR @ Manchester 4996
30-Jan LE @ Oklahoma City 4051
30-Jan TOR @ Utica 3835
30-Jan NOR @ Binghamton 3167
30-Jan WBS @ Springfield 2931
30-Jan STL @ Albany 2626

31-Jan RFD @ Chicago 16280
31-Jan Spr @ Hartford 10769
31-Jan SYR @ Hershey 10243
31-Jan MIL @ Grand Rapids 8767
31-Jan LV @ Wilkes-Barres 8217
31-Jan PRO @ Worcester 7760
31-Jan UTI @ Toronto 6339
31-Jan HAM @ Iowa 5952
31-Jan POR @ Bridgeport 5582
31-Jan CHA @ Texas 5268
31-Jan NOR @ Binghamton 4474
31-Jan RCH @ Adirondack 4317
31-Jan STJ @ Albany 4010
31-Jan LE @ Oklahoma City 3236

Not sure how much of the 1/31 total was Springfield visitors. Maybe 500-1,000? Good crowd that night, whatever the reason. Drawing on par with Rockford, Illinois and worse than Providence on a Friday night though.

Taat reminds me of the folks who projected 1A football attendance at the Rent using Memorial Stadium numbers.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

You know what would fix this whole problem? Pick up the Storrs campus and drive every building on it 25 miles down I84. Drop them all off somewhere on Albany Avenue. Unless UHart has geographical rights to that area that they for some reason would care to exercise.

Problem solved.

Well, if we are going that far, raze everything north of Allen St, West of Route 9, East of Stanley St, and south of Route 71 in New Britain (sorry Central). Turn that box into a new UConn campus with the Stanley Golf Course as the new agriculture part. It's right in the middle of the state with easy highway access, east access to Hartford via the new busway and can even built a new Amtrak station just on the other side of Route 9 along its existing course with a 60K football stadium in between. Its also almost exactly halfway between NYC (115 miles) and Boston (105).

 

[Stainmaster]

Well, if we are going that far, raze everything north of Allen St, West of Route 9, East of Stanley St, and south of Route 71 in New Britain (sorry Central). Turn that box into a new UConn campus with the Stanley Golf Course as the new agriculture part. It's right in the middle of the state with easy highway access, east access to Hartford via the new busway and can even built a new Amtrak station just on the other side of Route 9 along its existing course with a 60K football stadium in between. Its also almost exactly halfway between NYC (115 miles) and Boston (105).

Why don't we just plop everything down in NYC? No better way to prove that we're the B1G's true gateway into the media market there.

 

[CL82]

I'm sure the minor league experience will be fine.

But that's just what it is - minor league. Just like Hartford always will be.

Busways, millions on minor league stadiums, the half XL Renovations.

They all scream, small time. I don't even hate Hartford, just calling a spade a spade.

Yeah, I get that but it's minor league ball in center of Harford, right next to decent brewery. I think it will be a pretty good minor league experience. I'm actually looking forward to it. Now the revamp of the XL, meh, not so much.

 

[John]

Just to see how they currently stack up, I took a look. The Fri/Sat of 1/30 and 1/31, the Wolfpack had back to back home games. Here's how the entire AHL attendance stacked up over those two days:

30-Jan HER @ Lehigh Valley 8743
30-Jan HAM @ Iowa 8702
30-Jan WOR @ Providence 7924
30-Jan CHA @ San Antonio 7605
30-Jan BRI @ Hartford 6671
30-Jan CHI @ Rockford 6339
30-Jan GR @ Milwaukee 6179
30-Jan RCH @ Syracuse 5766
30-Jan POR @ Manchester 4996
30-Jan LE @ Oklahoma City 4051
30-Jan TOR @ Utica 3835
30-Jan NOR @ Binghamton 3167
30-Jan WBS @ Springfield 2931
30-Jan STL @ Albany 2626

31-Jan RFD @ Chicago 16280
31-Jan Spr @ Hartford 10769
31-Jan SYR @ Hershey 10243
31-Jan MIL @ Grand Rapids 8767
31-Jan LV @ Wilkes-Barres 8217
31-Jan PRO @ Worcester 7760
31-Jan UTI @ Toronto 6339
31-Jan HAM @ Iowa 5952
31-Jan POR @ Bridgeport 5582
31-Jan CHA @ Texas 5268
31-Jan NOR @ Binghamton 4474
31-Jan RCH @ Adirondack 4317
31-Jan STJ @ Albany 4010
31-Jan LE @ Oklahoma City 3236

Not sure how much of the 1/31 total was Springfield visitors. Maybe 500-1,000? Good crowd that night, whatever the reason. Drawing on par with Rockford, Illinois and worse than Providence on a Friday night though.

1/31 was a Scout Night promotion, and that def helps to increase attendance.