[JayCT]

Let’s stick to discussing Hartford’s development here rather than going off on off topic discussions. JayCT, Moderator

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Let’s stick to discussing Hartford’s development here rather than going off on off topic discussions. JayCT, Moderator

Clarifying question: Hartford as in Hartford County, Hartford MSA or the City of Hartford?

I almsot put something in from the Farmington Valley but didn't want to derail.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Clarifying question: Hartford as in Hartford County, Hartford MSA or the City of Hartford?

I almsot put something in from the Farmington Valley but didn't want to derail.

Good question. I like that idea. I’ll modify the title of this thread to make it Metro Hartford. Thanks for the suggestion. Post away. JayCT, Moderator

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by JayCT

The Capital Region Development Authority is proposing a $107.2 million renovation of the aging XL Center. Long overdue, the renovation will bring the arena into the 21st Century and make it more competitive to attract major events. Will be interesting to see if it moves forward. Jay

https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/art...ords-xl-center

I did not see any mention made of adding more seats in this article. Did I miss something or are they simply going to modernize the facility but not add seats? It will be difficult to attract events like the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament again without adding more seats.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

I did not see any mention made of adding more seats in this article. Did I miss something or are they simply going to modernize the facility but not add seats? It will be difficult to attract events like the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament again without adding more seats.

Not sure, but it takes more than seats. Hotel room capacity is another consideration, which is why, in general, larger metros tend to win these bids. To give some context, for the 2014 women's bb tournament in Nashville, each team sent several buses down filled with fans. Far more went on their own. The men's tournament would have gotten far more beyond that. Add in enormous rooms filled by media.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

Not sure, but it takes more than seats. Hotel room capacity is another consideration, which is why, in general, larger metros tend to win these bids. To give some context, for the 2014 women's bb tournament in Nashville, each team sent several buses down filled with fans. Far more went on their own. The men's tournament would have gotten far more beyond that. Add in enormous rooms filled by media.

Yes, I am aware that the availability of hotel and motel rooms is equally important. But it all starts with the seating capacity of an arena and that will be the first factor in deciding if a larger event can be held in an arena. Both Springfield and New Haven are 30 miles away and they offer hotel and motel space over and above what you find in the immediate Hartford area while providing a relatively short commute (and also train service) to the city.

[SteveM85]

You're not adding seats for just $107M. That would need an extensive tear down or removing the roof. You might as well build a new arena altogether.
A weekend of regional March Madness games aren't going to set the world on fire in Hartford.
$107M keeps the place erect and avoid crumbling to the ground, that's about it.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

You're not adding seats for just $107M. That would need an extensive tear down or removing the roof. You might as well build a new arena altogether.
A weekend of regional March Madness games aren't going to set the world on fire in Hartford.
$107M keeps the place erect and avoid crumbling to the ground, that's about it.

Bingo, add a zero to add seats.

We had a nice run with the Whalers. Its over by decades, and today you get no team w/o 75% of the seats sold with non-refundable deposits to season ticket holders many months in advance. We would not have a shot at March madness again for the men. The bigger metros own that now, as its giant business for the NCAA, also.

I'd be happy if Bridgeport got a round of 16 women's games again.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

Bingo, add a zero to add seats.

We had a nice run with the Whalers. Its over by decades, and today you get no team w/o 75% of the seats sold with non-refundable deposits to season ticket holders many months in advance. We would not have a shot at March madness again for the men. The bigger metros own that now, as its giant business for the NCAA, also.

I'd be happy if Bridgeport got a round of 16 women's games again.

You mean larger metros like Albany, NY?

TV market size is a better indicator of the population density of a metro region. Hartford is larger than many that have pro teams. It seems as though the tax payers are footing the bill for keeping the building in a holding pattern in the sense that it will not be upgraded to attract events that will make it more cost effective to keep the building open.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

You mean larger metros like Albany, NY?

TV market size is a better indicator of the population density of a metro region. Hartford is larger than many that have pro teams. It seems as though the tax payers are footing the bill for keeping the building in a holding pattern in the sense that it will not be upgraded to attract events that will make it more cost effective to keep the building open.

Hartford could never sell 12,000 season tickets. Starting with Nashville, that became the prereq. It should have been that way decades ago! Sell 12,000 non refundable season tickets in a few months. Fail to and you lose the bid fee to get a team also. The many you refer to would be denied a NHL team if they were trying to get one..now.

We need to do realistic things, and a massive upgrade to an arena that lost its only pro team, and the state's would be reckless. Boston & NYC are more than enough for this state's hockey fans.