[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by FunkOdyssey

To my untrained eye, it looks like the stadium is nearly complete. I don't understand why they wouldn't just let them finish the damn thing when they are so close. Are any details available regarding what % of the project is finished and what actual work remains to be done?

My guess is that the city probably didn't think they could do it in another 60 days like the developer claimed. Also likely they would be asking for more money to complete the stadium due to cost over runs and probably higher labor costs.

[Mike 75]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Uh... it is the Yard Goats, not Yard Boats and it is the city that is building the stadium. The XL Center is owned by the State.

The problem with the stadium was that the city had an impossibly short time frame to build it in. They announced the project about two years ago so it did not give anyone much time to design and build a completely new stadium. The developers are highly respected. Centerplan built the wonderfully successful Storrs Center project out next to UConn. They also built a number of projects in the Middletown area. No reason to think they could not handle this. The problem from the beginning was the schedule. There was no time to vet design issues or get proper feedback on what the stadium should be. I think most people knew it was not going to be done on time but this went on for too long now. Jay

Agreed. This was Segarra's $60 million hail mary attempt to get re-elected. Building the stadium itself was secondary, just a means to an end. A shiny thing to distract from the failing schools and violent crime he was either unable or unwilling to address. The real tragedy is now there's $60 million less for Hartford to spend on schools and cops and all the other things needed for a struggling city.
Jeff Jacobs had a piece in the Courant today indicating how surprised he is by all this. Really? I don't know of anyone (outside of JJ and the other cheerleaders at the Courant) who thought there was any chance of this being completed on time.
Jeff Jacobs: Incompetence On Dunkin' Donuts Park Project Will Reverberate For Years - Hartford Courant

[wtby4000]

Former Hartford Whaler Gordie Howe has died

https://twitter.com/MikeAndMike/stat...69712701530113

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by wtby4000

Former Hartford Whaler Gordie Howe has died

https://twitter.com/MikeAndMike/stat...69712701530113

Just saw that. Sorry to hear it. I also saw that the new bridge being built between Detroit and Windsor, Canada will bear his name. That is quite an honor. Jay

https://www.wdbridge.com/

[WILWRadio]

Just heard the news. So pleased I got to seem play when he was with Houston and later with the Whalers especially with Mark and Marty. A great person and one of the greatest players ever and a wonderful ambassador for the game of hockey and the NHL.

[ryanthegoldengod]

Let's start with a new arena--which CT seems to lack the money or will to build. Going to MSG and the TD Garden makes the XL Center seem just embarrassingly bad.

The Yard Goats debacle seems more about unrealistic expectations. The Minnesota Vikings spent the last two years playing in a college stadium while their new stadium was being built. They announced from the start it would take two years. No drama, no grandstanding, no terminated contracts. But that's not how we like it in Hartford!

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

Let's start with a new arena--which CT seems to lack the money or will to build. Going to MSG and the TD Garden makes the XL Center seem just embarrassingly bad.

The Yard Goats debacle seems more about unrealistic expectations. The Minnesota Vikings spent the last two years playing in a college stadium while their new stadium was being built. They announced from the start it would take two years. No drama, no grandstanding, no terminated contracts. But that's not how we like it in Hartford!

Never used to be like this. Things got done. The corporations and even the state and local government were able to function well enough to get most projects off the drawing board and completed close to on time. Got to wonder how long it will take before they can get a new developer signed to finish the entire DONO project, let alone just the ball park?

[Beeker2211]

Anddddd NHL keeps on doubling down on Bettman's dream: Las Vegas might beat out QC for an expansion team for a vote for the league.

NHL Reportedly Chooses Las Vegas for Expansion over Quebec City | Bleacher Report

If QC isn't on the top of the list, the NHL should be probably be considered allergic to money. Doesn't look good for Hartford, not until Bettman retires. Which is a shame, NH-H-S remains the largest media market without a single major league team. Much better numbers market wise than LV.

[wtby4000]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

12k season ticket threshold makes it a DOA issue. The bar for getting a 2nd shot always exceeds the bar to get the 1st shot.. Ct would need to show NHL "Why it is different this time" vs the 1st time. Not impossible, but incredibly high bar.

Is Las Vegas going to meet this so-called threshold?

[robr2]

Originally Posted by Beeker2211

Anddddd NHL keeps on doubling down on Bettman's dream: Las Vegas might beat out QC for an expansion team for a vote for the league.

NHL Reportedly Chooses Las Vegas for Expansion over Quebec City | Bleacher Report

If QC isn't on the top of the list, the NHL should be probably be considered allergic to money. Doesn't look good for Hartford, not until Bettman retires. Which is a shame, NH-H-S remains the largest media market without a single major league team. Much better numbers market wise than LV.

There is an issue with an imbalance in the league divisions (16 teams East, 14 teams West) so adding QC would simply exacerbate that situation. Further, all NHL financial matters (contracts, expansion fees, et al) are conducted in US dollars. As of this AM, that would make it 28% more expensive for a Canadian based team to operate making it difficult for an expansion team to be profitable for quite some time. Lastly, more than half the NHL teams are worth less than the US$500 million expansion fee. It might actually be cheaper and less complicated to buy an existing franchise (Panthers??), pay the relocation fee, and settle down in QC creating a natural rivalry with the Habs.

IMHO, Seattle and Portland will have teams within 5 years with one an expansion and the other the move of the Coyotes.

Originally Posted by wtby4000

Is Las Vegas going to meet this so-called threshold?

There already have well over 12K season ticket deposits.