New XL Center

[Palatine]

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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.

 

[CL82]

I read that report and seems like there is a whole lotta of bun without much beef. NHL is a fantasy. Agents don't the see the current of revised arena as a good venue for there product. So you are basically are relying on Disney on ice and the Wolfpack and UConn. As to UConn:
The Consulting Team interviewed University of Connecticut Athletic administrators and Board members. Athletic administrators indicated that there was a desire to have upgraded on-campus venues, but expressed a willingness to play in the Arena if an agreement was reached that provided the University with more revenue. University Board members indicated that the University needed to under take a more aggressive approach to the sale of tickets and the monetization of revenue streams at the Arena.

The report emphasizes the need for UConn to increase it's promotions utilizing the athletic department. I don't see a whole lot of fulfilling a need. I do see a whole lot of wishful thinking.

JMHO.

 

[SubbaBub]

Hartford would be much better off investing in the burying of 84 and 91 than in sponsoring an elaborate arena. At least with 84 they actually have a chance to do it and they'll blow it.

There is the little matter of two rivers that make that impossible.

 

[8893]

You cherry pick one restaurant while ignoring the others that have opened and been successful: front street theater, capital grille (which put morton's out), nix's, bears, salute, montana grille, infinity hall and sorella's.

How awesome is Bear's, right? I honestly haven't had a better BBQ in too many other places.

So I never heard of Bear's until reading about it in this thread last week. Did a little googling and saw that the NYT gave it an "excellent" rating, so I figured it was worth a shot. Grabbed lunch there today (3 meat combo with ribs, wings and burnt ends; mashed sweet potatoes and green beans for sides). I was surprised at how hard it was to find the place, even when it was right under my nose (and has been probably at least a half-dozen times since they opened). For those who don't know, it's the same building as Arch Street Tavern.

The place definitely was abuzz with the 30-something to 70-something, primarily male crowd, and it is the right concept (a concept I first saw in Texas around 20 years ago and thought about opening back here then). Kind of a strange space, but they seem to use it well. Very friendly and effective service. I thought the food was very good (high quality and well prepared), but I didn't love the BBQ taste. I tried it plain, with spicy BBQ sauce and with the Kansas City sauce and was underwhelmed with all. It is good for Northeast BBQ, but I think Tiano in Middletown tastes better--both the meats (smoked wings, brisket and pork) and sides. I know BBQ taste preferences can be very subjective, so it may just be my taste preference here.

Good place though. Definitely the kind of place of which Hartford can use more. I'll try Capital Grille next time.

Oh, and for those who don't know, the cafeteria in the library is also a very good place to grab lunch now (soups, salads, sandwiches, etc.). Nice, bright, roomy space.

 

[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.

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.

 

[Deepster]

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 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.

 

[superjohn]

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.

So in this post you are saying you don't want to hear any reasons for why attendance was low and Hartford is a bad sports city, just because. Ok gotcha, that was enlightening.

 

[Deepster]

So in this post you are saying you don't want to hear any reasons for why attendance was low and Hartford is a bad sports city, just because. Ok gotcha, that was enlightening.

Every team trades a popular player.
Every team has a bad stretch.

Tell me why the city deserves a professional franchise. There isn't even uniform agreement on getting a MINOR league baseball team in here.

 

[Waquoit]

F U to the students. Another in a long, long line.

You just stop that crybaby right now, Junior. Today's UConn students have it better now than in any other time it it's history.

 

[superjohn]

Every team trades a popular player.
Every team has a bad stretch.

Tell me why the city deserves a professional franchise. There isn't even uniform agreement on getting a MINOR league baseball team in here.

I won't prove or disprove why Hartford does or doesn't deserve a team. When they had a team they deserved better management, trading away every good player you ever had and never putting a winner on the ice is a horrible way to run a team and a horrible way of selling tickets whether you are in Hartford, Pittsburgh or any other city.

 

[Waquoit]

Good crowd that night, whatever the reason. .

It was Hartford Hockey Heritage night! Celebrating 40 years of pro hockey in Hartford. Good time. I'll PM you when they schedule Hartford Hockey Haters night.

 

[FartMan69]

Every team trades a popular player.
Every team has a bad stretch.

Tell me why the city deserves a professional franchise. There isn't even uniform agreement on getting a MINOR league baseball team in here.

Yes every team has a bad stretch and some have poor management but unlike most franchises that is all the Whalers knew. Bad teams and awful, awful management. The years they were good they drew well. See the pattern? You do but you wont admit it because it wouldn't cater to the classic negative CT attitude that clearly plagues you.

 

[FartMan69]

It was Hartford Hockey Heritage night! Celebrating 40 years of pro hockey in Hartford. Good time. I'll PM you when they schedule Hartford Hockey Haters night.

It must be a coincidence anytime they schedule a Whalers night the place is packed

 

[FartMan69]

It seems to me that many CT residents have an inferiority complex. They consider their state capital to be big time. Reality however clearly says it isn't. There is nothing wrong with that. Hartford is a 2nd tier city that adequately serves the region well. It has some issues but it has some pluses. We don't need a first tier big city and many of the issues that come with it (traffic, extremely high RE, affordability, crime, etc...). If you want a big city vibe, NYC and Boston are just short drives away.

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. It's quite unique that we have the inability to grow past the whiny teenage angst stage of life.

 

[Deepster]

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. It's quite unique that we have the inability to grow past the whiny teenage angst stage of life.

And you know this how?

 

[Palatine]

And you know this how?

Read the comment section in the Courant. It's shocking how much people rip on the state and the city.

It's almost like they don't realize they have voted themselves into the situation they seem to despise.