XL Center Renovation/Replacement Plans

[JayCT]

http://www.hartford.gov/Feasibility_Study.pdf

the arena Study page 75 shows a layout with the H-21 retail intact. I think that is the plan at this point, but as we know there is no set plan, so you never really know. this was just a feasability study not any kind of design.

but yeah thats my best guess based on the info we have publicly available.

The plan would close Church Street which is one of the few east-west streets left in the core of downtown. This would really mess up vehicular circulation in the downtown more than it is already. The I-84 frontage roads are already over burdened with traffic and this would just make it that much worse. Plus the city would have to close down the XL Center, demolish it and then build a new arena. This means the city will be without a major arena for several years and I do not think that is very smart. The city would be better served by looking at alternative sites so that construction could be done while the exisitng arena is in use. JMHO

[The Voice of Reason]

The plan would close Church Street which is one of the few east-west streets left in the core of downtown. This would really mess up vehicular circulation in the downtown more than it is already. The I-84 frontage roads are already over burdened with traffic and this would just make it that much worse. Plus the city would have to close down the XL Center, demolish it and then build a new arena. This means the city will be without a major arena for several years and I do not think that is very smart. The city would be better served by looking at alternative sites so that construction could be done while the exisitng arena is in use. JMHO

Jay, did you check out the study?

While I agree with some of your points, the study covers the idea of different sites, and the conclusion was that the current site is best.

getting around downtown is horrible, but I suspect that there are plans to change the grid a bit. The city has been working on traffic calming efforts more and more it seems. I would not be suprised if a few more streets were opened up to two way traffic. Also I would not be suprised if the streets north of -I84 weere better used to travel E-W.

I think Asylum should be 2 way. If the whitehead highway were ever removed a lot of these problems could be fixed on the S side. but there is still no way onto I-84 East from the south and that pisses me off.

[JayCT]

Jay, did you check out the study?

While I agree with some of your points, the study covers the idea of different sites, and the conclusion was that the current site is best.

getting around downtown is horrible, but I suspect that there are plans to change the grid a bit. The city has been working on traffic calming efforts more and more it seems. I would not be suprised if a few more streets were opened up to two way traffic. Also I would not be suprised if the streets north of -I84 weere better used to travel E-W.

I think Asylum should be 2 way. If the whitehead highway were ever removed a lot of these problems could be fixed on the S side. but there is still no way onto I-84 East from the south and that pisses me off.

Yes I did check the study, but it does not seem to take into account the overall impact closing Church Street would have on traffic. Even making other streets two way would not help since they are congested now and making them two way would reduce traffic capacity. It seems that the study is more concerned about getting pedestrians around than traffic. They need to look at it in a balanced way and pick a site that best works for everything. Jay

[beerbeer]

Church Street closes but Pratt goes through so it should be a wash.

[MadVlad]

Asylum between Main St and High Street is currently one way, and never congested.

[mikel]

Who cares about the cars? Every event at the Civic Center, the masses drive down Trumbull Street, causing gridlock because Mapquest or whatever tells all them that's the road to drive down. There is no way to stop all these morons from taking the same one street. Closing Church Street to vehicles would have no impact whatsoever on daily traffic, there is plenty of room where I-84 is to route traffic. The event crowds will just flood another street, while people familiar with the city will go a different way. It might as well be closed to pedestrians already with its current design between Trumbull and Ann. And the loss of the homely Church Street Garage will not be missed.

[daroberts]

Another week being front and center on CNN and every other media outlet. Thankyou retarded

miniouns in Hartford. The Rev. Cornell will blame the suburbs, City Leaders will blame each other, Perez will blame the State for not providing enough politcal welfare.

Ok, let get back to Dreaming about how an Arena or a new restaurant downtown will rejuvenate this town.

[mikel]

Another week being front and center on CNN and every other media outlet. Thankyou retarded

miniouns in Hartford. The Rev. Cornell will blame the suburbs, City Leaders will blame each other, Perez will blame the State for not providing enough politcal welfare.

Ok, let get back to Dreaming about how an Arena or a new restaurant downtown will rejuvenate this town.

A new arena could help rejuvenate downtown retail (mass transit and housing would be much more effective though). However, it would do absolutely nothing to solve the problems of other neighborhoods. If you have any clue about Hartford, you'd know that downtown and the bad neighborhoods have as much a connection to each other in regards to these problems as Simsbury and the North End. It is night and day and problems spill over just as infrequently.

[Lowerdeck]

If you have any clue about Hartford, you'd know that downtown and the bad neighborhoods have as much a connection to each other in regards to these problems as Simsbury and the North End. It is night and day and problems spill over just as infrequently.

Except for when there is hip-hop night at the club downtown or hip-hop concerts at the XL Center.

[The Voice of Reason]

Two things

1. is that I saw something about Gov rell saying something about cutting spending in the state and something about arena studies or whatever. basic political BS, but honestly in this bond market there is now way anyone in the country can afordably finance a new arena.

2. The Xl center has extended the Big East Tourney to 2011 from 2009. this rocks for two reasons by my count. One is that the Casinos lost out to Hartford and two is that they chose 2011 because the plan is still to build a new arena over there ar Northland AEG

[Lowerdeck]

Random sudden thought: Why not spend some of that one billion dollars intended for Preston and the state hospital site for a new arena and some other related development?

[The Voice of Reason]

Anyone think we could get Charlie Wang to move the Islanders to Hartford along with his $3.4 billion development plan?

Think about that.

[drc72]

Anyone think we could get Charlie Wang to move the Islanders to Hartford along with his $3.4 billion development plan?

Think about that.

One could only dream.

[beash19]

Anyone think we could get Charlie Wang to move the Islanders to Hartford along with his $3.4 billion development plan?

Think about that.

The Islanders have too much history. They wont leave. It would be nice, especially for a huge development plan, but I doubt it.

[MadVlad]

The Islanders have too much history. They wont leave. It would be nice, especially for a huge development plan, but I doubt it.

Didn't the Brooklyn Dodgers have history? The Penguins have history, and they barely stayed in Pitt despite that. History means nothing to the guy with the wallet unless he's been a fan since he was a kid. I'm thinking that isn't the case here....

[The Voice of Reason]

The islanders might have a storied past for their relatively short history, but the people of Long Island have definately not given a poop about them for a while now.

I grew up on the Island and they got fairly popular again in the 90s, but I never hear a peep any more. not like I hear much of a peep about the rangers either, but Honestly I could see Wang leaving. I met the guy when I went to Stonybrook University. he was on the same 5 year plan as I was. at the time he was the highest paid executive in the world. now he is not making much at all. not that he is broke, but his generosity will never match what it was back around 2000 when he was making 250 mill a year. he almost went to jail too remember. this guy would likely sell the team and arena not long after he gets the lighthouse built. I am not saying he is a bad guy at all, but any smart business man would use the team to get the deal done.

[MadVlad]

I talked to Jim Geragosian (State Rep, New Britain, 25th district) the other day, he said the main problem with a new arena is dough. Nothing new there, but sounds like if someone could find some good financing, it would be a slam dunk...

[Theophrastus Bombastus]

Gammons: MLB coming to Connecticut? [MLB.com]

By Dom Amore on January 28, 2010 9:44 AM {sodEmoji.|} Permalink {sodEmoji.|} Comments (2)

In a column for MLB.com, Peter Gammons writes that the Rays could be ready to leave Tampa Bay, and mentions New Jersey and Southern Connecticut as possible new homes. Gammons writes:

"There are smart people in the Major League Baseball offices wondering if there's hope of even discussing a potential move of the Rays to New Jersey or Southern Connecticut over certain protests from the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and Phillies."

Click here for entire Gammons column.

This has come up before and, sure, it's fun to dream of having a team here. But for our purposes, let's state the obvious: It's not realistic.

Since nearly everyone in Connecticut has been locked in into Yankees, Red Sox or Mets fandom for generations, how much success would a new team have of developing a following? Could you see large numbers of Yankees or Red Sox fans all of a sudden becoming fans of another team? ...

It wouldn't matter if that team played down the street - Yankees, Red Sox and Mets fans will not convert. So just selling tickets - unless one of those teams are in town - will be a problem, and so would the other revenues, such as corporate sponsorship and the sale of licensed items.

Also, how would the TV work? Who would watch this team if the Yankees and Red Sox were on at the same time? Could you imagine Conn. cable companies blacking out YES, NESN and SNY to put this new team's network on exclusively in Conn.?

And finally, where would this team play? The Yale Bowl? The Rent? There is not even a temporary facility suitable for Major League Baseball anywhere in Connecticut. If they broke ground today, it would take years for the park to be ready, and in fact, with all the haggling over where it would go, how much it would cost and who would pay for it, it would take years before they could even break ground. Could they survive a seven-year lame duck period in Tampa? ... A few years ago, there was talk of building a Stadium where I-84 and I-684 meet, which would be easy to get to, but far from any downtown area that would benefit. Is our economy that much better than Florida? Who is going to support spending public money for this?

It's possible that the Rays will move, if they can't get their new stadium built there (and this is probably the real motivation for all this). But one can't envision Southern Connecticut even being considered as a site. Jersey? Maybe, though it would have many of the same issues as here. Charlotte, Nashville, Buffalo or Orlando would seem more likely.

No chance in h-e-double-hockey-sticks

Edited January 28, 2010 by Theophrastus Bombastus

[drc72]

Gammons: MLB coming to Connecticut? [MLB.com]

By Dom Amore on January 28, 2010 9:44 AM {sodEmoji.|} Permalink {sodEmoji.|} Comments (2)

In a column for MLB.com, Peter Gammons writes that the Rays could be ready to leave Tampa Bay, and mentions New Jersey and Southern Connecticut as possible new homes. Gammons writes:

"There are smart people in the Major League Baseball offices wondering if there's hope of even discussing a potential move of the Rays to New Jersey or Southern Connecticut over certain protests from the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and Phillies."

Click here for entire Gammons column.

This has come up before and, sure, it's fun to dream of having a team here. But for our purposes, let's state the obvious: It's not realistic.

Since nearly everyone in Connecticut has been locked in into Yankees, Red Sox or Mets fandom for generations, how much success would a new team have of developing a following? Could you see large numbers of Yankees or Red Sox fans all of a sudden becoming fans of another team? ...

It wouldn't matter if that team played down the street - Yankees, Red Sox and Mets fans will not convert. So just selling tickets - unless one of those teams are in town - will be a problem, and so would the other revenues, such as corporate sponsorship and the sale of licensed items.

Also, how would the TV work? Who would watch this team if the Yankees and Red Sox were on at the same time? Could you imagine Conn. cable companies blacking out YES, NESN and SNY to put this new team's network on exclusively in Conn.?

And finally, where would this team play? The Yale Bowl? The Rent? There is not even a temporary facility suitable for Major League Baseball anywhere in Connecticut. If they broke ground today, it would take years for the park to be ready, and in fact, with all the haggling over where it would go, how much it would cost and who would pay for it, it would take years before they could even break ground. Could they survive a seven-year lame duck period in Tampa? ... A few years ago, there was talk of building a Stadium where I-84 and I-684 meet, which would be easy to get to, but far from any downtown area that would benefit. Is our economy that much better than Florida? Who is going to support spending public money for this?

It's possible that the Rays will move, if they can't get their new stadium built there (and this is probably the real motivation for all this). But one can't envision Southern Connecticut even being considered as a site. Jersey? Maybe, though it would have many of the same issues as here. Charlotte, Nashville, Buffalo or Orlando would seem more likely.

No chance in h-e-double-hockey-sticks

Realistically I don't think it will ever happen........ But one can dream though. The Yankees and Red Sox would never vote for such a move.

[HopHead]

As someone who would love to see a MLB team here in Charlotte, I can tell you they won't be moving here. We're already stretched thin with the NFL and NBA teams we have now. I agree that I can't see why they'd even consider Connecticut because that really is Sox/Yanks/Mets country. They'd never get the support needed to sustain a solid franchise. Realistically, I think they will leave Tampa at some point in the next 3-5 years. My bet is on Orlando. I know there is a movement there locally to attract an MLB team. I can't see a 3rd ever team coming to Florida (they can't support what they have now) and the Marlins are building their new park as we speak.

[Woonsocketier]

It's true that it's never going happen, but I don't think the Red Sox would have so much of a problem as the Yanks and Mets would. How long has Fenway Park been sold out?? Boston draws plenty of fans and has five states worth of TV coverage, endorsements, and memorabilia. I also think (I don't know for sure) that 95% of attendance is MA, RI, NH (and to a lesser extent) ME and VT at games.

On the other hand the two New York teams rely on Southern Connecticut for much of their business relationships. How much revenue do the Yankees lose when the hedge funds and financial companies in Greenwich/Stamford take their clients to the Connecticut (fill in team name blank here) games?

I don't think attendance would be so much of an issue. You're guaranteed 38 of the 82 home games are sold out because the Sox and Yanks are in town and tickets would be cheaper than Fenway and Yankee Stadium.

[Mike D]

The Mets and, more likely, the Yankees would be the biggest losers if the Rays relocated to Hartford or New Haven. It would be the Yankees because the Rays are in the same division with the Yankees and Sox. Baseball and pro football largely tend to draw their fans regionally while hockey and pro basketball tend to draw fans more locally if there is a baseball and/or football team in the same market. An NHL team has a much better chance of succeeding in central Connecticut than an MLB for that very reason. The Bruins, Rangers, Islanders and Devils aren't popular in Connecticut. Then again, the Islanders aren't that popular in New York City anymore. I see more Rangers fans on the LIRR than Isles fans.

On the other hand there is a significant amount of corporate might in southern Connecticut and around Hartford, probably more so in southern Connecticut because of its proximity to New York City, so putting a team in an area that can attract both areas might be desirable to Rays ownership. Not just that, but if 36-38 home games out of 82 are going to be against the Yankees and the Sox and maybe three more against the Mets during inter-league play, fans of those three teams, in Connecticut and in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, might come to see their teams play the Rays there.

Edited May 31, 2010 by Mike D

[The Voice of Reason]

So I was gonna post this in the whale thread but it really belong here.

does anyone remember when the state hads over ownership to the city?

also, does anyone know where Pedro Segrada stands on a new arena?

these are two MAJOR items to figure out.

after that, does anyone know where any of the leading gubernatorial candidates stand on funding a project like the arena?

I have no answers myself or i wouldnt ask, but I am thinking that even though Oz is very much for cutting state spending, at least he is a Hartford guy, so there would be a small chance of something happening.

Pedro is a self made man, and an intelligent guy, so i have some fairly high hopes for him, but I have no idea if he posseses Eddies best quality. Thinking big! and this area is part of thinking big.

ohh, one more thing. if this coming winter Hockey fest, does super amazingly, what next? does baldwin have the juice, or even the chedder to make something happen on the arena front? would a Northland/Baldwin partnership be possible? successful?

so much new leadership and so many economic changes since this thread began

[MadVlad]

I don't see how any politician can publicly come out and support spending public money on an arena in this economic environment. I'm sure many privately support it, but they'd get run out of town trying to get something paid for when there is an enormous State/City budget deficit. It's unfortunate, because now is definitely the time to get something going while the iron is hot, so to speak.

As far as Baldwin, I actually think he has more cheddar now than he ever has. In the past, he was never the money guy, he was always the brains guy. Now, he's certainly the brains, but has some money too, though he'd still need a guy with deep pockets with him. Unfortunately, that isn't Larry G. From what I hear, Larry isn't a fan of Howard's, and is pretty much the one standing in the way of Howard taking over the Wolf Pack. I'm starting to get the feeling that Larry is a if-I-can't-have-them-no-one-can type of guy. It's a shame, if the two could pool their resources, we might be able to get an arena built and an NHL team in here. Let's hope Pedro has Eddie's zeal for a pro team...

[HartfordTycoon]

ESPN

KFC Yum Center

For those who did not know, Louisville has a brand new 22,000 seat arena with no major pro tenant. All they have is University of Louisville Basketball and their women's side isn't nearly the draw that ours is. So essentially they have half the product that we do in their market. For all those who insist that we don't need a new arena unless we land a major pro team this is further proof that we are only limiting our city, our market, and UConn. This could and should be what we are doing in Hartford.