[SteveM85]

The Winnipeg Jets are winning their first home playoff game vs COL in front of an absolutely ruckus sold out crowd.
Were the Hartford crowds that loud when they took on Montreal in the 86 semifinals?

[BHW2436]

sums it up perfectly…

The Whalers were never as successful in the NHL as they had been in the WHA. They recorded only three winning seasons in their 18 years in the NHL, made the Stanley Cup playoffs eight times and won only one playoff series, earning the nickname "The Forever .500s" in mocking jest of their winning percentage. Whenever they did make the playoffs, they faced the near-certainty of having to get past the Boston Bruins or Montreal Canadiens to make it to the Conference Finals. The team developed a heated rivalry with the Bruins because they were based only 100 miles northeast of Hartford and the fact they used to play in the same arena. Home games against the Bruins usually attracted the Whalers' largest crowds, as many Bruins fans followed their team to Hartford. The Whalers had an all-time head-to-head record of 37–69–12 against Boston.

The Whalers were hampered by numerous off-ice factors. Hartford was the smallest American market in the NHL and was located on the traditional dividing line between the home territories for Boston and New York area teams. This limited the team's marketability. Additionally, for most of the Whalers' tenure as an NHL team, the Hartford Civic Center was one of the smallest arenas in the league. At its maximum, it seated just 15,635 for hockey. The team averaged over 14,000 fans only twice in its 15 years at the Civic Center. They averaged only 13,867 from 1980 to 1997. Most of their sellouts came when either the Bruins, the New York Islanders, or the New York Rangers played in Hartford, bringing thousands of their own fans with them.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Hartford would be a perfect fit for the Sun if they weren’t tied to the tribes.

Yes and no. Tribes work on the basis of not taxing themselves, just pure straight economic growth. I could see them eventually going to boston but it would take years.

Personally I wish boxing would come back but UFC and too many belts killed it.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

I understand but if they are confident they will get 16K vs. 10K they might do it. Same reason XL Center still gets at least some concerts over Mohegan. They probably do the math and determine a selllout at XL will still put them ahead. Equal attendance? It will be Mohegan every time.

Most WNBA arenas are much smaller than 10K. I wasn't thinking about the casino angle too hard. I imagine they would find 10,000 possible casino users to be more profitable than 16,000 tickets not tied to gambling.

[JayCT]

Well it appears that we may be barking up the wrong tree with the NHL. Apparently there is talk of bringing a NBA team to Hartford/Springfield.

It was in Dom Amore’s column in today’s Hartford Courant that a proposal has been sent to the NBA to create the New England Founders. It’s a team that would primarily play at the XL Center in Hartford with several games at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield. In addition it notes that the team would seek a new arena halfway between Hartford and Springfield, likely in Enfield or Windsor Locks.

Could this be what Governor Lamont had in mind when he made his comment about pro sports in Connecticut not over yet?

https://www.courant.com/2024/04/27/d...ford-and-more/

https://www.newenglandfounders.com/

[ryanthegoldengod]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Well it appears that we may be barking up the wrong tree with the NHL. Apparently there is talk of bringing a NBA team to Hartford/Springfield.

It was in Dom Amore’s column in today’s Hartford Courant that a proposal has been sent to the NBA to create the New England Founders. It’s a team that would primarily play at the XL Center in Hartford with several games at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield. In addition it notes that the team would seek a new arena halfway between Hartford and Springfield, likely in Enfield or Windsor Locks.

Could this be what Governor Lamont had in mind when he made his comment about pro sports in Connecticut not over yet?

https://www.courant.com/2024/04/27/d...ford-and-more/

https://www.newenglandfounders.com/

I love it. Also a real long shot, but I love the idea of building an arena between Hartford and Springfield. Drawing on both metro areas. Especially with the upcoming Hartford Line expansion. Mohegan Sun has been a big success and a lot of that is because its location straddles the Hartford/New Haven and Providence markets. Two for the price of one.

[ryanthegoldengod]

Originally Posted by BHW2436

sums it up perfectly…

The Whalers were never as successful in the NHL as they had been in the WHA. They recorded only three winning seasons in their 18 years in the NHL, made the Stanley Cup playoffs eight times and won only one playoff series, earning the nickname "The Forever .500s" in mocking jest of their winning percentage. Whenever they did make the playoffs, they faced the near-certainty of having to get past the Boston Bruins or Montreal Canadiens to make it to the Conference Finals. The team developed a heated rivalry with the Bruins because they were based only 100 miles northeast of Hartford and the fact they used to play in the same arena. Home games against the Bruins usually attracted the Whalers' largest crowds, as many Bruins fans followed their team to Hartford. The Whalers had an all-time head-to-head record of 37–69–12 against Boston.

The Whalers were hampered by numerous off-ice factors. Hartford was the smallest American market in the NHL and was located on the traditional dividing line between the home territories for Boston and New York area teams. This limited the team's marketability. Additionally, for most of the Whalers' tenure as an NHL team, the Hartford Civic Center was one of the smallest arenas in the league. At its maximum, it seated just 15,635 for hockey. The team averaged over 14,000 fans only twice in its 15 years at the Civic Center. They averaged only 13,867 from 1980 to 1997. Most of their sellouts came when either the Bruins, the New York Islanders, or the New York Rangers played in Hartford, bringing thousands of their own fans with them.

But things are a little different now. The MAIN reason they--and almost any sports team--struggled at the gate and with ratings was because they were generally terrible. But today the NHL has a hard salary cap and revenue sharing which helps small market teams. They had to lose an entire season to get one. But Tampa Bay has won 3 Stanley Cups since the Rangers last won one. Carolina has won one since the Rangers last won. I think at least part of that is due to the NHL's current financial structure.

[SteveM85]

You guys are serious aren’t you.
There’s no way the NBA is going to allow a team called the New England Founders. They’ll think it’s a joke. That’s DOA right off the bat.
Change the name to the Hartford Hellcats, build the state of the art Travelers Coliseum and Expo Center at Hartford Yards for $2B all taxpayer funded, no prop taxes for 20 years, pay exorbitant franchise fees to the Celtics and Knicks and then, just maybe, they’ll think about it.

[BobNJ1960]

It still faces not just getting the NBA on board, but getting all owners,with a huge buyout of territory rights to the Knicks & Celtics, on top of huge money to get a new franchise from the league itself.

FYI, to the non true sports fans here, mainly the business side. The (then) New Jersey Nets essentially sold DR. J (Julius Erving) to pay off the windfall they owed the Knicks to allow them in.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

You guys are serious aren’t you.
There’s no way the NBA is going to allow a team called the New England Founders. They’ll think it’s a joke. That’s DOA right off the bat.
Change the name to the Hartford Hellcats, build the state of the art Travelers Coliseum and Expo Center at Hartford Yards for $2B all taxpayer funded, no prop taxes for 20 years, pay exorbitant franchise fees to the Celtics and Knicks and then, just maybe, they’ll think about it.

You have the right prereqs. If Lamont truly wants a team, it starts by getting one approved, funding locked up, ground broken, absolute built by date. A few billion is the ante.

I think only the two of us understand the business sides of sports as it exists in 2024, not the ancient era the Whalers played in.