OT: Rockcats to Hartford?

[Adios]

The league is in Portland. Portland matches Hartford very well as a city. But the Seadogs' stadium is boring.

 

[BlueDogs]

As good as the Rockcats' are managed and promoted by its ownership, I really don't think we need another second tier sports activity in Hartford. I'd rather see a full court effort to get an NHL franchise back. Again, Ct needs to think big and Hartford needs to stop thinking it can only be a also ran. The legislature should have let the Casinos open an extension near the Convention Center, which would bring more events. The River is way under utilized and the list goes on. In the early 1900s before the abomination of urban revitalization in the 60s and 70s wiped out many historical buildings and facades, Hartford was know as one of the most beautiful cities in the world (true). What's needed is vision and leadership.

 

[Vowelguy]

No way on nhl. Fewer downtown workers and a smaller corporate community than in whalers era.

Too bad about new Britain since they supported the team really well. If money was an issue, why not just raise ticket prices and endure slightly lower attendance?

 

[CTMike]

To steal a line from Breaking Bad... No more half measures, Hartford.

 

[Waquoit]

I heard on the radio that it would be a 25-year lease. A baseball team would help the synergy of downtown, giving the folks visiting the convention center another entertainment option.

 

[uconnric]

The new owners were going to take the team out of New Britain anyway (and I don't think it had anything to do with the grounds crew), possibly to Springfield. At least this way they will stay in the area. Interesting to see how they'll handle game time traffic, however.

 

[Waquoit]

Interesting to see how they'll handle game time traffic, however.

Will it be that big a deal? A full house at the proposed stadium is considered a poor crowd for a hoop game at the XL Center.

 

[RedSoloCup]

Will it be that big a deal? A full house at the proposed stadium is considered a poor crowd for a hoop game at the XL Center.

It will be on the other side of I84, opposite the existing parking. Will help the Radisson hotel right there though.

Wonder if they would do concerts there too... As opposed to the meadows facility.

 

[Adios]

Name them the Hartford Dark Blues.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford_Dark_Blues

They probably should have no problem selling out with that name. Great location for the stadium. I expect skyline views. I think we have one of the best minor league ballparks in the works. 9K seats might be a push but the stadium just might be too well set-up to not get large crowds.

 

[Waquoit]

Wonder if they would do concerts there too... As opposed to the meadows facility.

Why?

 

[DoctorWho85]

If this is indeed true, any change this means UConn Baseball will be playing games in Hartford as well?

 

[WestHartHusk]

If this is indeed true, any change this means UConn Baseball will be playing games in Hartford as well?

I think we would see one or two in Hartford, which would be great for the program. I can see the city making a bid at some point for the AAC Tourney as well.

 

[Husky25]

It will be on the other side of I84, opposite the existing parking. Will help the Radisson hotel right there though.

Wonder if they would do concerts there too... As opposed to the meadows facility.

Typically, baseball-only venue's are terrible for concerts. The only reason to do it is for novelty (i.e. any concert at Fenway). Before you evoke the Beatles at Shea, remember that Shea Stadium was originally a multi-purpose stadium where the lower bowl deck swung open at home plate to make way for the football end zone. Rentschler is a better concert venue than a baseball stadium, but The Meadows is a bona fide amphitheater with pretty decent acoustics.

 

[DSquiz]

It’s official $60 Million 10,000 person stadium opening April 2016. I've can see this being a blast in the summer. I will definitely be hitting up some games and yet another step in revitalizing Hartford.

 

[Adios]

It should be facing southeast. WT*.

 

[Waquoit]

That was fast. I'm going to tip one to Mayor Mike.

 

[CTGoonie]

This is great for Hartford but will attendance improve? Even if seat prices stay the same you still will have to fork over $10-$15 for parking each game that you didn't have to in New Britain.

 

[uconnbill]

I can't tell if the Mayor is a brilliant young brilliant person who is going to run the world or if she is a total idiot who is in way over her head and the city is going to collapse on top of her.

She is a pretty smart lady who inherited a serious mess in New Britain.

New Britain is a city just a small city of about 75,000 people

 

[Adios]

People who are scared of going to cities are overrating the rate of crime that goes on in the areas the games are played in. Has there been any crime associated with the Bluefish or the Arena at Harbor Yard? No. And that neighborhood is not rich either. They are smart enough to know jobs and visibility are better than criminal activity. There is a concert festival in downtown Baltimore and some musician told me he heard it is in a complete ghetto when it just has some homeless people around at night. Harmless people.

 

[DSquiz]

This is great for Hartford but will attendance improve? Even if seat prices stay the same you still will have to fork over $10-$15 for parking each game that you didn't have to in New Britain.

Event parking in Hartford is often $5 not that an extra 5 or 10 is going to break the bank. A single movie ticket is $10 to 15 now a days.

 

[Husky25]

People who are scared of going to cities are overrating the rate of crime that goes on in the areas the games are played in.

Except Oakland.

 

[Palatine]

The idea that Hartford is too dangerous to visit is just veiled racism.

The park will be in the safest part of the city according to statistics.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ct/hartford/crime/

 

[jdrinboston]

FWIW..the city of New Britain charges between $5 and $7 to park at Rock Cats games now. They seem to raise the price by a buck each year, so you were probably looking at $7 and$9 by 2016.

 

[Excalibur]

The opposition to this on political grounds is silly. Republicans really like Ms. Stewart and it's bad for her and them if NB loses the franchise. That's really transparent in the chatter here and on the WTIC talk shows.

Still, I can't help but think that this is going to be an enormous flop, and the owners are going to lose their shirts on this despite all of the free stuff they're getting from Hartford. CT residents do not like to be inconvenienced. They are not going to sit in rush hour traffic with their kids to get to a 6:05 game. I predict an attendance falloff of about 25% by the end of the second year.

 

[Waquoit]

They are not going to sit in rush hour traffic with their kids to get to a 6:05 game.

It appears that most night games start at 6:35 or 7:05 now. Again, why would traffic be any worse than for a UConn hoop game? In fact, rush hour is less onerous during the summer months.

Having said that, the track record for Hartford and minor league sports is abysmal.