[Mr_250]

Looks like people can make a difference when they stand up.

The city will not bond the stadium project. They are looking for investors to shoulder the risk. From all accounts the ROi in this is terrible. We'll see who shows up to play.

My prediction is that the rockcats are leaving CT. Give it until September.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

Looks like people can make a difference when they stand up.

The city will not bond the stadium project. They are looking for investors to shoulder the risk. From all accounts the ROi in this is terrible. We'll see who shows up to play.

My prediction is that the rockcats are leaving CT. Give it until September.

Bridgeport Bluefish attend rate is going down every year This could be same for Hartford if Rockcats go there. Bluefish seeking solution to sagging attendance - Connecticut Post

[BPt111]

Hartford Withdraws $60 Million Bond Plan For New Stadium; Wants Private Funding - Courant.com


It look like 50% of going to Springfield, MA along with MGM Casino

[QuickJoin]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

Looks like people can make a difference when they stand up.

The city will not bond the stadium project. They are looking for investors to shoulder the risk. From all accounts the ROi in this is terrible. We'll see who shows up to play.

My prediction is that the rockcats are leaving CT. Give it until September.

Yes. Between the low ticket prices and smaller stadiums it would take quite a while to make money off that stadium. Might make sense as a city if they can revitalize an area of the city, but as a private investor where would they get anything back?

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Hartford Withdraws $60 Million Bond Plan For New Stadium; Wants Private Funding - Courant.com


It look like 50% of going to Springfield, MA along with MGM Casino

I doubt Malloy would let that happen. I think the state will be coughing up some money for this eventually. Timing is everything in politics so the election will play into this but a lot needs to be done. We will see. Jay

[BPt111]

HARTFORD — Hartford’s controversial plan to build a new minor-league baseball stadium to lure away the New Britain Rock Cats took a dramatic turn Friday, as the city’s Mayor Pedro Segarra rescinded a resolution to bond $60 million for the project.

Hartford officials said Friday they are now looking for private partners to finance the stadium, just north of downtown Hartford. In a letter to the city council, Segarra said the proposed Rock Cats move in 2016 has created redevelopment interest around the stadium site and that the $60 million in bonding is no longer needed.

Trusting that revenue from redevelopment rather than property taxes will help pay for the new stadium, Segarra said the city welcomes partnership proposals from property developers and construction managers. Proposals are due by Aug. 1. If the city builds a 9,000-seat stadium, Rock Cats officials have said they will sign a 25-year lease.

Not wanting to create a “tax burden” on the community, the mayor expects a partnership with developers will be discussed by the Hartford Common Council when it meets on Aug. 11, followed by a public hearing.Hartford Councilman Kenneth Kennedy, Jr. told The Herald from the start it was obvious that in a worst-case scenario “we would have to bond sixty million [dollars] if it came to that. We knew there would always be other sources available. This being an election year, we knew the state was no longer an option.”

Kennedy said the City of Hartford never intended to absorb the entire $60 million cost of the stadium. He added that he knew of private investors who were interested in the project.

According to Kennedy, the ballpark will still be an anchor to attract other investments of economic value. He said that 900 proposed construction jobs “are probably accurate. The 665 full-time jobs may be a bit high. But, other related jobs will eventually develop. If done the right way public-private partnerships are a good thing. They lower the burden on city taxpayers.”

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart credited Segarra for listening to his constituents. “I’m going to applaud Mayor Segarra for listening to his constituency and reacting based on what the public was very vocal about wanting,” she said. “His response to the public outcry against this proposal is a good example of what leaders should do. However, that being said, I guess time will tell whether there will be an investor to put up that sum of the money.”

Stewart hinted that New Britain will continue to look for a team to replace the Rock Cats upon the team’s departure. “Throughout this whole thing, I’ve said I’m committed to keeping baseball in New Britain Stadium and I want to assure our residents that whatever the outcome we will have just that.”

New Britain state Rep. Rick Lopes said he never had confidence that Hartford “would pull this deal off. Guys in Hartford I talk to don’t want the stadium; they see it as a luxury.”

Lopes said the way the deal was done “hurts New Britain. Our stadium had one of the highest attendance rates.”

Bill Carroll, business development director for the City of New Britain, said Hartford’s decision not to bond a new stadium was no surprise. “It’s no secret that if you look at the economic cost for the municipality to take on this venture it doesn’t make a lot of sense [to bond it].”

Robert Storace and the Associated Press contributed to the story.

[BPt111]

Micro apartments coming to downtown Hartford | HartfordBusiness.com

[BPt111]

I think Rock cats are coming to Hartford I would'nt be surprise if Malloy announce his Hartford free money package in coming days.

[Mr_250]

Hooker is planning on building a brewery/restaurant adjacent to the stadium which would be awesome! That is what is needed is private investment NOT public money.

[BPt111]

Beer and Baseball: Brewer Eyes Hartford Move | NBC Connecticut