Baldwin not recieving warm welcome

[Luca Brasi]

Back when the Whalers were in "negotiations" (I use the term sarcastically) for a new arena, the lots by the Crown Plaza (city owned land) was the spot a new arena was going to go on.

[MadVlad]

How about building it next to Metro Center I. It's right by the bar area, they could build it over High St, making the upper part of High a little tunnel. Plenty to do there, it would also allow the current Civic Center to remain open while they build a new one, and free up Northland to demolish the old one and build more residential in the old spot. Thoughts?

[Hartfordfan]

that's an excellent idea. we need a new arena. that is why teams are going away from hartford. I hope northland builds an arena. i am not sure how much people are willing to spend to build a new arena though.

[MadVlad]

I'm ok with spending whatever. The government spends a ton on my money on crap I don't want and will never use, they might as well build something I'll enjoy too.....

[ctman987]

Northlands involvement in this process is wonderful. Northland which is a Newton, MA company has shown great faith in the city of Hartford. They own more then 1,000,000 square feet of office space, just bought Goodwin Square and are developing Hartford 21. This company has chosen Hartford not even Providence which is closer to Newton and now are they are at least attempting to continue their involvement in Hartford

Bringing a new arena to an undeveloped area I think is key. The current site of the civic center is prime space for more downtown residential, retail or office space (whatever the markets ready for) Bringing the arena by I-84 such as the Metro Center/12B parcel/ New Public Safety Complex/ Crowne Plaza area I think is great. The arena would be a great start on that area's revitilization. It would connect downtown and the North Meadows where there is no shortage of concert goers at the Dodge Music Theater (Meadow)

[beerbeer]

The dream of seeing a National Hockey League team return to the Hartford Civic Center might not be squashed, but it could be on its last leg.

Howard Baldwin, a successful movie producer and former general managing partner of the Hartford Whalers - which left Hartford in 1997 - approached the Connecticut Development Authority (CDA), a quasi-public state agency, about leasing the civic center and reinvigorating the market to bring a major league hockey team back to Hartford.

Currently, the civic center is home to the Hartford Wolf Pack, an American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Rangers, and is operated under contract by Madison Square Garden (MSG).

The board of directors for the CDA voted last week to look at all the potential uses of the Hartford Civic Center, which it leases from the city of Hartford, rather than accepting Baldwin's plan outright. The board plans to issue a request for proposals - seeking a consultant familiar with the business of sports and entertainment - to conduct a study on the best use of the center.

Baldwin reacted negatively to the CDA's decision from his office in Santa Monica, Calif., where he, along with his wife, run a film production company, Baldwin Entertainment Group.