[El Scorcho]

Originally Posted by wma152

LOL, Now you saying you were referring to your line of work and your own definition of dress code, just walk in downtown hartford for once during the work day around 4PM, and observe what most workers wear.

Never did I dispute baseball is a family event, I simply added, which you seem to still not understand, the extra audience in downtown hartford that's missing from new britain. Local workers and residents walking to the stadium, which makes the hartford location a lot better then the New Britain location.

I work a lot later than 4 pm, and the people in my office dress accordingly, but that's not the point. I still don't see me or them streaming into the north end to watch baseball, especially in work clothes.

I don't fail to understand the extra audience at all...I just don't believe it. I think it is wishful thinking. I also don't think it's going to be done by 2016.

But as I said before, I wish the city, the residents and the franchise all the best.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by El Scorcho

I work a lot later than 4 pm, and the people in my office dress accordingly, but that's not the point. I still don't see me or them streaming into the north end to watch baseball, especially in work clothes.

I don't fail to understand the extra audience at all...I just don't believe it. I think it is wishful thinking. I also don't think it's going to be done by 2016.

But as I said before, I wish the city, the residents and the franchise all the best.

I know people who work downtown and often their families will meet them for events in the city on weeknights. They simply bring a change of clothes unless the event is more formal like the theater. If a ball park is built, I think that workers downtown will take advantage of it. Why wouldn't they? Jay

[RogerAnthony]

Originally Posted by JayCT

If a ball park is built, I think that workers downtown will take advantage of it. Why wouldn't they? Jay

Because its still AA baseball. Their market is families with young kids. People who work downtown want to go somewhere with other adults, not somewhere to be surrounded by 9-year-olds.

[pulpfiction]

I don't get why this move has brought on so much attention.

How many people on there can really name even one Rock Cats player?

Who wants to venture out to the ghetto...whether New Britian or Hartford...to see a AA minor league team play? Sure the novelty effect of a baseball team in downtown Hartford will be nice for a couple of months...but, lets face it...the ONLY reason the majority of the state ventures to Hartford is their position at one of the huge insurance companies. When 5 PM hits, the city is a ghost town--a minor league baseball team will not do a thing to change that, especially given the allegiance the majority of the state has to one of the neighboring states' major league teams.

[wma152]

Originally Posted by El Scorcho

I work a lot later than 4 pm, and the people in my office dress accordingly, but that's not the point. I still don't see me or them streaming into the north end to watch baseball, especially in work clothes.

I don't fail to understand the extra audience at all...I just don't believe it. I think it is wishful thinking. I also don't think it's going to be done by 2016.

But as I said before, I wish the city, the residents and the franchise all the best.

Trumbull and Main is not North End. There are already people walking to that area to get to their parking lots.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by pulpfiction

I don't get why this move has brought on so much attention.

How many people on there can really name even one Rock Cats player?

Who wants to venture out to the ghetto...whether New Britian or Hartford...to see a AA minor league team play? Sure the novelty effect of a baseball team in downtown Hartford will be nice for a couple of months...but, lets face it...the ONLY reason the majority of the state ventures to Hartford is their position at one of the huge insurance companies. When 5 PM hits, the city is a ghost town--a minor league baseball team will not do a thing to change that, especially given the allegiance the majority of the state has to one of the neighboring states' major league teams.

People still go to Bridgeport Bluefishand Downtown is a ghost town like Hartford. Bluefish Games are not packed though

[wma152]

Originally Posted by RogerAnthony

Because its still AA baseball. Their market is families with young kids. People who work downtown want to go somewhere with other adults, not somewhere to be surrounded by 9-year-olds.

Even at the major league level, you are going to see 9 year olds in those stadium, so I don't think this is specific to minor league.

I know me and my co-workers want to go because it's the only baseball game in town. Yankees and boxsox are too far for people in central ct.

[garnetpalmetto]

Originally Posted by pulpfiction

I don't get why this move has brought on so much attention.

How many people on there can really name even one Rock Cats player?

Who wants to venture out to the ghetto...whether New Britian or Hartford...to see a AA minor league team play? Sure the novelty effect of a baseball team in downtown Hartford will be nice for a couple of months...but, lets face it...the ONLY reason the majority of the state ventures to Hartford is their position at one of the huge insurance companies. When 5 PM hits, the city is a ghost town--a minor league baseball team will not do a thing to change that, especially given the allegiance the majority of the state has to one of the neighboring states' major league teams.

You could have asked a similar question in Greensboro, NC in 1993 - how many people out there can really name even one Hornets player? And there would likely be many who couldn't name anybody. That still doesn't take away that two guys named Jeter and Rivera were on that roster. Or that just a few years ago, New Britain had guys named Mauer and Morneau on their roster. Or that past Rock Cats/Red Sox rosters have had Roger Clemens, Mo Vaughn, Jeff Bagwell, Torii Hunter, David Ortiz, and A.J. Pierzynski. While I'm sure it's true that the majority of Hartfordians (Hartfordites?) are Mets/Yankees/BoSox fans, the argument that unfamiliarity with players isn't a strike against having a minor league team. The stars and hall of famers of tomorrow are in the minors today, especially at the AA level. And who knows - PDCs change up every few years so it's possible the Rock Cats wind up with the Mets/Yankees/Red Sox affiliation.

[Mr_250]

Apparently the City doesn't need approve to start soliciting bids for the Rock Cats Stadium.

Hartford Begins Seeking Bids For Baseball Stadium Project - Courant.com

The money hasn't been allocated yet and still they are going out to bid. This has disaster written all over it. There is no way to design, engineer and construct a baseball stadium AND re-align 4 streets by April 1 2016. If they rush it will end up costing well over the estimated $60m.

To me this sounds like a ploy to use Hartford as leverage for Springfield. Remember I91 in Springfield is getting a major interstate upgrade in the next couple years that will be able to handle the traffic. By the end of the summer it will come out that the rock cats "couldn't make a deal" and will move to Springfield.

[BPt111]

Where Cities Are Growing Faster Than Their Suburbs - CityLab


New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area no SW CT huh

The Suburbs grew faster than the Primary Cities in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT.
Themetro as a whole grew by 0.10% between 2012 and 2013, while its primary cities grew by -0.10% and its suburbs grew by 0.10%.