[Lowerdeck]

Between the Yankees and Red Sox and deep loyalties, I couldn't see a team being that successful in Connecticut.

Best I can think would be Charlotte or a Texas city like Austin or San Antonio

[Tetto]

Originally Posted by JViello

Bring back the Whale!

They are sucking in NC right now. Talk about a boost for the city if that ever happened! I'm telling you, the city used to BUZZ during the games. It was very much a rally point for people and businesses alike.

I do remember those days! It was great, and I do have a New England Whalers jersey hanging in my closet next to my Hartford Whaler one...remember those days??

[wavehunter007]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

.

LV or PR gives us a warm weather city for early April playing, rather than the cold snowy northeast or upper midwest.

While that may be true in the Midwest....Southern Connecticut averages 0.1 inch of snow in April. Fall is generally warmer on the East Coast than many areas of the interior USA. A baseball stadium based in southern Connecticut around New Haven/Bridgeport would have WARMER weather in both April and October than any of these teams.

Boston Red Sox(A)
Chicago Cubs(N)
Chicago White Sox(A)
Cleveland Indians(A)
Colorado Rockies(N)
Detroit Tigers(A)
Milwaukee Brewers(N)
Pittsburgh Pirates(N)
Seattle Mariners(A)
Toronto Blue Jays(A)

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by JViello

As much as I would love to see it in central CT, I agree that Bport is probably the best venue.

After thinking about it a little more, i'm probably wrong that MLB would be considering Bpt. as a site. When i read the story, my mind automatically associated Southern CT. to mean a point closer to NY and in FFC, as NJ which borders NY is also being discussed. However, i'm now thinking that they could be referring to the Southeastern(Groton/NewLondon) coastline.

The reason i'm thinking this is because if they were to realign the Devil Rays to the National League, this location would give the New England region its own NL team to support, it wouldn't really overlap with the Mets market, and it would be ideal for drawing the most money with a CT and Boston area fanbase supporting the team.

[GrotonMan]

I know if there were a major league team here in Connecticut, especially along the coast where I could take a train to it, I would definitely go to games regularly. I'm not so much a baseball guy as a football guy, but I know that a major league team from any sport would be a major boost to whatever economy it ends up in and I would love for it to be here in CT. I don't know all of the logistics about whether it could work or not, but I would support it for sure!

[Lowerdeck]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

After thinking about it a little more, i'm probably wrong that MLB would be considering Bpt. as a site. When i read the story, my mind automatically associated Southern CT. to mean a point closer to NY and in FFC, as NJ which borders NY is also being discussed. However, i'm now thinking that they could be referring to the Southeastern(Groton/NewLondon) coastline.

The reason i'm thinking this is because if they were to realign the Devil Rays to the National League, this location would give the New England region its own NL team to support, it wouldn't really overlap with the Mets market, and it would be ideal for drawing the most money with a CT and Boston area fanbase supporting the team.

It would make more sense if it was a NL team, but then what? What goes to the AL? Marlins? Brewers come back? Seems like quite a bit of change. it would be better if the Marlins, not the Rays, were the ones moving to Connecticut.


And then also, I was thinking more New Haven rather than Bridgeport - cause it is closer to Hartford but still within range of NYC. New London would probably be too small of a market me thinks.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by markhunt

There has been a lot of mention by the media down in Orlando lately about the Rays or Brewers relocating here.

MLB Team In Orlando? - Video - WFTV Orlando (http://www.wftv.com/video/22320095/index.html - broken link)

Local politician Armando Gutierrez wants to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando. - OrlandoSentinel.com

As for MLB in CT... I don't know if it could work or not. I just know I am looking forward to attending Yankee games again soon, and to see their new stadium.

Any media type that brings up the Milwaukee Brewers as a team that might move to Orlando, or anywhere, has no credibility.

In fact, you should do your homework before throwing the Brewers around in any mention of relocation:

Rumor of Brewers' relocation 'ridiculous' | MLB.com: News

The Sports Bank.Net » Blog Archive » Take it easy Wisconsin; the Milwaukee Brewers aren’t going to Florida

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Lowerdeck

And then also, I was thinking more New Haven rather than Bridgeport - cause it is closer to Hartford but still within range of NYC. New London would probably be too small of a market me thinks.

Yeah, but i don't think there's anywhere to put it in New Haven, and it isn't an ideal location for drawing fans from RI and the Boston area. I also don't think MLB would want to be that close to NY as the NY franchises will probably claim encroachment. We all know there's pretty big money associated with the cable contracts that the Yankees and Mets have.

The southeastern portion of the state also sees a tremendous volume of people passing through on their way to the Cape/Casinos/Mystic in the summertime, so you could say that the area is more of a "destination" point than New Haven or Bridgeport.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

After thinking about it a little more, i'm probably wrong that MLB would be considering Bpt. as a site. When i read the story, my mind automatically associated Southern CT. to mean a point closer to NY and in FFC, as NJ which borders NY is also being discussed. However, i'm now thinking that they could be referring to the Southeastern(Groton/NewLondon) coastline.

The reason i'm thinking this is because if they were to realign the Devil Rays to the National League, this location would give the New England region its own NL team to support, it wouldn't really overlap with the Mets market, and it would be ideal for drawing the most money with a CT and Boston area fanbase supporting the team.

Good point, and it also brings to mind two words: Mohegan Sun.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by JViello

Their attendance record in NC is lower then it was here and it's probably made up mostly of relocated MA/CT people in the triangle anyway. Go figure.



As much as I would love to see it in central CT, I agree that Bport is probably the best venue.

I just would hate to see the team called the "New York" whatevers even though they play in CT like it is with the Giants playing in NJ.

I think you're right about their attendance record, one of my college roomies was a Springfield, MA native who was a rabid Whalers fan and he lives just a few blocks from where the Hurricanes play now and has season tix. He says a lot of the fellow holders he sees around him at the games are the many transplanted Northeasterners who are there (my brother-in-law is originally from metro NY, then lived in metro Boston and his is a big fan of the Hurricanes now since he lives in NC).

Regarding what the team is called, I highly doubt "New York" will be in the name. First off, I think the NY baseball teams would object to that and say that it proves "territorial issues". Second, the Giants/Jets are a weird anomoly in that. With the Giants, it was the first time NJ lured a sports team and the Giants requested that "New York" be kept in the team name as part of the deal. The Jets requested and got it too as they felt being called "New Jersey Jets" would alienate some of the fan base (and that it would sound too much like "NJ Nets").

NJ now requires any new team that moves in there to not be called the "New York" ..... so the Nets and Devils are called NJ. I would imagine if the Rays moved to CT they would be called the "Connecticut" something (like the Norwich minor league team was called the "CT Defenders".....don't know what the new team moving from Oneonta will call themselves).

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Yeah, but i don't think there's anywhere to put it in New Haven, and it isn't an ideal location for drawing fans from RI and the Boston area. I also don't think MLB would want to be that close to NY as the NY franchises will probably claim encroachment. We all know there's pretty big money associated with the cable contracts that the Yankees and Mets have.

The southeastern portion of the state also sees a tremendous volume of people passing through on their way to the Cape/Casinos/Mystic in the summertime, so you could say that the area is more of a "destination" point than New Haven or Bridgeport.

Personally I think New Haven would get it before Bridgeport because it is further from NY (so less "territorial" issues), yet still accessible by train. And closer to the central CT market. But maybe it would end up near Mohegan Sun a la the WNBA team. Though maybe that becomes close enough to Boston to make the Red Sox cry "foul".