Rock Cats

[Waquoit]

Two questions:

1. Who is getting out of work at their insurance job in Hartford, driving home to Southington or Cromwell or Simsbury, then getting their kids back in the car and driving back into Hartford through traffic on a weeknight or a Friday night?
   
2. With the ballpark having self-contained food and beverage options, how would this stimulate any additional revenue at bars/restaurants? Families aren't driving in, grabbing dinner at a restaurant then going to the game. Nor are they leaving the game and taking the kids to a bar. That's why a location like New Britain works and Hartford doesn't.

I know you are disappointed they couldn't put it in West Hartford Center but the land was too expensive.

 

[Husky25]

No, he's absolutely correct. There will still be people, but there will be less of them willing to sit in rush hour traffic twice. It's amazing that people who live in Connecticut don't understand people who live in Connecticut.

I disagree. Deep cites Southington, Simsbury, and Cromwell. These three cities (well, not Simsbury) are already on the NB side of Hartford, where it's probably pretty smooth sailing getting to NB (but parking is still largely a b1tch). What about those residents in Manchester (pop. 56,000), Vernon (pop. 29,000), South Windsor (pop. 26,000)? They don't count?

There are just under 400k residents in the greater Hartford area (HTFD and 8 immediate surrounding towns) compared to 340K in the Greater New Britain (6 surrounding towns plus Bristol and Cromwell). West Hartford and Newington are common to both populations. Then when you consider that Greater Hartford hosts 9 of the largest 25 employers in the state accounting for 72,000 people (no other region in central Connecticut even approaches it), the move makes sense, especially given the fact that the team was moving out of New Britain anyway, and the only other alternative was out of state.

It is certainly a less than ideal situation economically. The State and city have to now spend $60 Mil. to build a stadium, when the flagship university wants into a Have-Conference (and many think the size of their own 40k seat stadium is an obstacle to that goal), but Hartford is in dire need of attractions and this doesn't hurt one bit.

 

[elduderino]

Side note...why wasn't the rent built in downtown Hartford?

U Tech. donated the property to the State. B/c it was an airport, it didn't require clearing, leveling or much demo. for stadium construction, saving big bucks, on top of being free. Plus U Tech. lost a property tax bill, and certainly picked up nice tax deduction along the way. The project probably cost between a quarter and a third of what it would have to have been put downtown, but if you've been to the 'Rent for games, you know the downsides.

 

[Deepster]

The cities I cited are interchangeable. I tried to pick a 20-25 minute trek into the city from a variety of directions. The point, that someone else picked up on, is the double commute in and out of Hartford. New Britain is simply less imposing for a family just looking for a cheap night of minor league baseball and I don't see a very large number of those families heading into the "city" in the same manner.

And your car doesn't get broken into the New Britain lot....and you don't get panhandled by bums in the New Britain lot. And you don't get mugged in the New Britain lot. All things that "could" change in Hartford which would be in an area with potential for greater crime on top of the other cons.

 

[Husky25]

My appologies. I didn't realize they were building the ball park in Hartford's version of Hamsterdam.

 

[TRest]

U Tech. donated the property to the State. B/c it was an airport, it didn't require clearing, leveling or much demo. for stadium construction, saving big bucks, on top of being free. Plus U Tech. lost a property tax bill, and certainly picked up nice tax deduction along the way. The project probably cost between a quarter and a third of what it would have to have been put downtown, but if you've been to the 'Rent for games, you know the downsides.

There has been absolutely no evidence that the team was going out of state. The Rock Cats new CEO tried to change

Yes, the Bristol Red Sox moved to NB in the early 80's after 45 year old Muzzy Field was deemed too old/small.

Hartford officials are now saying that the Rock Cats were going to move to Springfield, MA if Hartford didn't step in.

There has been absolutely no evidence that the team was going out of state. The Rock Cats new CEO tried to change the subject when asked about if Springfield was really in play.

 

[Ha Who]

My advice is to ignore the Smith College prof. While I am not comparing the aa baseball team with an NHL team, he does not believe in fun and entertainment. Yes bars and restaurants are not career jobs, they are jobs. When I used to go to Whaler games, they were packed. When they left, Hartford became a ghost town (except for some UCONN games).

 

[Deepster]

My appologies. I didn't realize they were building the ball park in Hartford's version of Hamsterdam.

You can make smarmy comments, but minor league baseball is a family based form of entertainment and Hartford isn't a safe city in many spots.

 

[elduderino]

There has been absolutely no evidence that the team was going out of state. The Rock Cats new CEO tried to change

There has been absolutely no evidence that the team was going out of state. The Rock Cats new CEO tried to change the subject when asked about if Springfield was really in play.

Why am I quoted here?

 

[TRest]

Why am I quoted here?

I don't know, I clicked on the wrong post when trying to replay to another, deleted, then replied. What you see there is the result.

 

[Husky25]

I make smarmy comments (in this instance) because your stereotype doesn't hold water for downtown. New Britain is not safe in many spots either.

 

[Ha Who]

I make smarmy comments (in this instance) because your stereotype doesn't hold water for downtown. New Britain is not safe in many spots either.

And did you ever try to leave New Britain?

 

[Husky25]

And did you ever try to leave New Britain?

What do you mean? I can only understand smarm at day's end. It's too early right now.

 

[dtrumpet]

the safety issue for both New Britain and Hartford is a moot point. Yes, If you walk from NB stadium a half mile down the road, or out of the proposed Hartford site toward the north end, its dicey. But you don't have to do that. You park your car and go to the game. The safety concerns are silly, and do nothing but perpetuate unfounded concern.

 

[Palatine]

In most normal size US cities, New Britain would be inside the Hartford city limits.

 

[Deepster]

the safety issue for both New Britain and Hartford is a moot point. Yes, If you walk from NB stadium a half mile down the road, or out of the proposed Hartford site toward the north end, its dicey. But you don't have to do that. You park your car and go to the game. The safety concerns are silly, and do nothing but perpetuate unfounded concern.

Are you serious? In New Britain, it's self contained recreation. You pull into one guarded and contained parking lot, go into the game, you get in your car and drive home. There is absolutely no reason at all to walk a half mile down the road.

Hartford is going to want you to get out and about and there will most definitely be an added exposure to a riskier element for families.

 

[minidarren]

Are you guys really that scared of the people who live in certain sections of the city? Damn, I used to ride my bike around Park and Zion Streets. I don't know how I ever made it out alive!

 

[Husky25]

Give someone an excuse not to do something, and they'll take it every time. - Bill Parcells (paraphrase)

 

[Palatine]

Are you serious? In New Britain, it's self contained recreation. You pull into one guarded and contained parking lot, go into the game, you get in your car and drive home. There is absolutely no reason at all to walk a half mile down the road.

Hartford is going to want you to get out and about and there will most definitely be an added exposure to a riskier element for families.

You should never leave the house. It's not safe especially for children.

 

[Husky25]

Can't...like...a...Palatine...post!! Don't...do...it!!!

 

[Deepster]

Are you guys really that scared of the people who live in certain sections of the city? Damn, I used to ride my bike around Park and Zion Streets. I don't know how I ever made it out alive!

Yeah. My bad. I guess the fact that Hartford is like 200+% higher than the national average in terms of violent crime rates is silly.

FYI - I grew up on Ward St., just off Park St.

 

[minidarren]

Yeah. My bad. I guess the fact that Hartford is like 200+% higher than the national average in terms of violent crime rates is silly.

FYI - I grew up on Ward St., just off Park St.

Then what are you afraid of? Crimes are typically gang vs. gang/dealer vs. dealer/scum vs. scum, not John Smith walking with his family to the Rock Cats game on a Friday night. Does the occasional crime against an innocent civilian occur, absolutely. I dont think they are in the majority and I like my chances of making it out alive.

 

[Ha Who]

What do you mean? I can only understand smarm at day's end. It's too early right now.

From your answer you have not spent time in NB

 

[Deepster]

Then what are you afraid of? Crimes are typically gang vs. gang/dealer vs. dealer/scum vs. scum, not John Smith walking with his family to the Rock Cats game on a Friday night. Does the occasional crime against an innocent civilian occur, absolutely. I dont think they are in the majority and I like my chances of making it out alive.

You're twisting my words.

All I said was that, in addition to other things I see as "cons" in Hartford vs the current New Britain location/relationship, there is the increased potential for crime or even just adding an unsavory element into the mix. Even if it's a much lesser situation like a bunch of bums setting up their panhandling shops between the stadium and where you're parked. Some families will see that as enough of a negative to keep them away next time and that is not in existence in the current NB stadium.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

I think it's a good move. Hartford needs something to do, especially for young people who would consider living there. Minor league baseball isn't a huge commitment, and is a great outdoor, summer activity. And much cheaper than most concerts. Nor do I think Hartford is a terribly dangerous city. Violent crime continues to go down and the media just keeps implying it's going up -- ask anybody in what direction crime is going and they'd be almost universally wrong.

Culturally we are moving towards urbanization, and young people especially are moving back into cities. I think this is a well-timed move. As a New Haven resident, I wish we still had a team. I'd love to go to a game maybe once every other week, especially if I could ride my bike, enjoy a nice summer breeze, and I know I'm not the only one. Plenty of other young professionals looking for entertainment alternatives to the bar.