[HumpDay]

Originally Posted by BlueGecko1

I'd love for the Islanders to come here too, but hockey doesn't seem to fit well in Bridgeport. I went to many Sound Tigers games as a kid and over the years the crowds seemed to go down every year. I went to one game this year so far and I doubt even 2,000 people were there on a Saturday. It's pretty depressing.

Now if only we could get a MLB team who is having issues with attendance like the Rays.
The Bluefish attendance is also down from what I've seen. It's a mystery to me because I'm not quite sure any major sport will do well in Bridgeport. I can't think of too many reasons for the declines in attendance since the tickets are not expensive. Heck, you can get in to see the Bluefish for like $5 on some nights and $7 on non special days.

Non sports related, but I really like what Tuxedo Junction has done in Danbury. Someone bought it and fixed it up and got a bunch of **** from EDM artists and now sells out many events. I'd love Bridgeport to have more concerts. Whether that be WBA or another place.

Bridgeport is a great location as well. Not as good as Hartford's location though. Bridgeport is surrounded by suburbs and cities with a high populated metropolitan area. I don't think Bridgeport is a hub for events. It's just not as appealing as other cities nearby. Bridgeport lack jobs, the economy isn't as great as it should be, and the infrastructure isn't great either. I'm not quite sure either on the attendance part. AHL attendance is general has been down. The attendance of the Sound Tigers and Wolfpack are lowering and lowering very slowly every year because there's nothing new to offer and not only is the hype slowing down but every year other venues are gaining more and more momentum while we are left in the dust. It also could be that Bridgeport is one of the poorest cities and one of the highest taxes cities in the country. More people have less money in their pockets. Who knows.

[Lalalally]

Originally Posted by BlueGecko1

Non sports related, but I really like what Tuxedo Junction has done in Danbury. Someone bought it and fixed it up and got a bunch of **** from EDM artists and now sells out many events. I'd love Bridgeport to have more concerts. Whether that be WBA or another place.

??? That 20 year old little punk? I'm pretty sure he's in jail now and is facing up to 20+ years or more. Ian Bick -- local Ponzi king extraordinnaire, who apparently digs scamming his investors, with mail fraud appearing to be his preferred M-O -- at least that's the Fed's story and they seem to be sticking by it

[BlueGecko1]

Originally Posted by Lalalally

??? That 20 year old little punk? I'm pretty sure he's in jail now and is facing up to 20+ years or more. Ian Bick -- local Ponzi king who apparently digs scamming his investors, and mail fraud seems to be his preferred method -- at least that's the Fed's story and they seem to be sticking by it

I heard about some charges, but didn't know it was that bad. All I know is there are still shows being booked and many of my friends are going to them. As far as I know it's still thriving.

[Lalalally]

Originally Posted by BlueGecko1

I heard about some charges, but didn't know it was that bad. All I know is there are still shows being booked and many of my friends are going to them. As far as I know it's still thriving.

Yeah it's that bad. Unless he gets himself a superstar lawyer, he's in A LOT of trouble. And even with the best legal team ever, I doubt he gets off. So young. And so, so stupid...

[just_because]

Interesting question even if it was posed years ago.

I'm optimistic for CT's cities even if today they appear to be struggling. Here's a vision and I'll start with New Haven as it has perhaps the most interesting potential. 20 years from now....

NYC continues to be a top 3 world city and attract talent from everywhere. New Haven's fortunes and growth become more tied to it being part of the NYC metro area (which has continued to expand and urbanize). Advances in car driving automation combined with investment in better public transport drastically reduce travel times between NYC and other points on the CT coast from NH through FFC. Train travel times to NYC (and airports) are nudged down to around to the magic 1 hour travel window. NYC international airports are a vital asset to the region's growth as a global knowledge center and investments are made in these transport links. NH is not a commuter town for NYC but an alternative to it - like a very important NYC neighborhood in a way. Yalies want to stay after graduation and set up businesses and they can easily maintain social and business ties with their pals in NYC. Young, creative people are attracted to NH because there is still a lot left to 'discover' and there is a healthy stock of older homes, industrial spaces, etc, etc to turn into desirable living and work spaces. NH's 'urban edge' is not pushed out by gentrification but becomes core to the creative digital industries. Problems don't disappear overnight but class and race relations warm. Black and Hispanic Yalies and other well educated and/or creative people are particularly attracted to come to or remain in NH and provide inclusive and creative leadership in communities. NH becomes so international and multi-ethnic that terms like 'minorities' become obsolete. African American creative energy is a vital fuel fed directly into NH's innovation machine.

Education evolves to fit better in today's world and Yale's top tier reputation around the world puts NH firmly on the world map in the spheres of science, creative industries, medicine (and the intersection of all 3). Yale emerges as the 'next generation' top tier university and leaves it's competitors in its wake as it has the multidisciplinary strength, creativity and diversity that others lack. It also creates a new vision for universities in global society and creates a new education model and purpose. Yale and NH finally work properly together with a shared vision. Yale (and other unis) become less about 4 years on campus and more about global knowledge collaboration that spans longer through life. Universities and industry also work closer together to solve problems. 'Brain industries' and businesses (like today's Google, etc) and universities are closely interdependent. The Yale 'brand' attracts a swarm of the best brains from all over the world but not in the context of staying for X years to get a degree but rather to work, learn, create and collaborate with the best and the brightest. High tech, 'new economy', digital companies have branched out to solve a greater variety of problems and are not just 'web' or 'computer' companies. Specialisms emerge and NH has carved out a place on the map as a leader in _____ knowledge and research along with other brain centers like Boston, Austin, SF, NYC and emerging new ones.

Creative types are not satisfied with 'the way things are' and lead a rebirth of NH as a prototype of new city design with many creative solutions to problems - a city laboratory for innovation and design. People hear about the 'cool things' happening in NH and want to be part of it. The snowball effect sets in and NH gets on the national map as a cool place to be. NH generates a vibrant storm of ideas and new and cool things are constantly being tried out all over NH as research spills out from the labs. Ideas are born 24 hours a day all over NH. Suburbanites from less interesting places in CT will visit NH and will never know what to expect there. It's an inspiring place to be for all.

In summary, the very powerful combination of NH's existing strengths:
Proximity to NYC (and continuation of the NYC metro area), Yale's global brand and global draw, and urban vibe will make it a global powerhouse - not in size but in creativity and brain power.

Go on shoot me down as naive and idealistic. It's just a vision and you need to start somewhere....

[Stylo]

New Haven absolutely has the potential to become similar to Portland, Cambridge, Austin, Boulder. It's got the college presence, and all the ingredients are there - the key is getting business involved more. Especially Yale grads and incubated Yale startups.

[The Sweeping General]

Originally Posted by Stylo

New Haven absolutely has the potential to become similar to Portland, Cambridge, Austin, Boulder. It's got the college presence, and all the ingredients are there - the key is getting business involved more. Especially Yale grads and incubated Yale startups.

Those cities all have something very important in common. They feel safe to walk around, for the most part.

New Haven is a dangerous city. It simply feels oppressive to walk the streets at night. A couple bright areas surrounded by blighted red zones.

Businesses will come when they feel comfortable that they can thrive and grow from the environment. Until then, it will remain a college town besieged on all fronts by dangerous ghettos.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by The Sweeping General

Those cities all have something very important in common. They feel safe to walk around, for the most part.

New Haven is a dangerous city. It simply feels oppressive to walk the streets at night. A couple bright areas surrounded by blighted red zones.

Businesses will come when they feel comfortable that they can thrive and grow from the environment. Until then, it will remain a college town besieged on all fronts by dangerous ghettos.

I think the perception is far worse than the reality. I don't feel unsafe walking around New Haven at night, at least not East Rock and Downtown.

The problem is New Haven has a bad PR image from some especially sharp rises in crime in the 2000's up until around 2011. Since then crime has dropped precipitously, but the "dangerous cities" lists are usually delayed by stats for a few years.

The stats are also skewed by its tiny, tiny land area. That's one quality of being in one of the oldest parts of the country. If New Haven made up its immediate ring suburbs as well, the crime stats would be drastically different and it would cover a similar area to other small cities in the country.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I think the perception is far worse than the reality. I don't feel unsafe walking around New Haven at night, at least not East Rock and Downtown.

The problem is New Haven has a bad PR image from some especially sharp rises in crime in the 2000's up until around 2011. Since then crime has dropped precipitously, but the "dangerous cities" lists are usually delayed by stats for a few years.

The stats are also skewed by its tiny, tiny land area. That's one quality of being in one of the oldest parts of the country. If New Haven made up its immediate ring suburbs as well, the crime stats would be drastically different and it would cover a similar area to other small cities in the country.

New Haven crime as got better since 2011 when it peaked late 1990s levels