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Bring Back The Whale!!!

GHartford

By GHartford
in Greater Hartford

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nor'easter Crossroads

nor'easter

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14 years ago i had an idea where the isles would split their games in hartford and long island. every game would be sold out, which would have been a great start since neither them nor the whalers had much luck selling out games with teams that rarely made the playoffs. Neither team needed to build anything and the fan base would have been major. 7th games of playoff series would be the only inequity needing a solution, but big deal when your teams were as good as those two in the late 90s. I am sure the money wouldn't like this idea. i am sure the players would have objected. i am sure a lot of people would tear it apart. i bet enough fans would be ok with it if it came down to the isles leaving long island for canada. and remember, millions of years ago, long island and connecticut were one piece of land!

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HartfordTycoon Town

HartfordTycoon

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If Aetna partnering with Whalers Sports and Ent. and creating the Whalers Alliance is any indication, there is corporate support for bringing back the Whalers. They have pledged $500,000 worth of funds over the next 3 years to build up the Whale brand and the CT hockey market. This is a very significant and encouraging development for those of us who feel that major league pro sports could and should certainly have a future in Hartford.

Hartford Courant

Bertolini is still an avid hockey fan, and Aetna is becoming the title sponsor of the Whale's new amateur hockey program. The Hartford-based health insurer will give nearly $500,000 over three years to Whalers Sports & Entertainment, which operates the American Hockey League's Whale franchise, in an effort aimed at bringing families to downtown Hartford on weekend days and nights.

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The Voice of Reason Town

The Voice of Reason

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yeah, it sucks, but Im also not sure the real loss yet.

Team ownership has not changed right?

they also have not announced a move right?

They are still branded the CT whale too

So, while I has high hope for Baldwin be made some epic bad management moves, and ultimately lost money and more importantly didnt advertise when he ran out of credit.

AEG or MSG will now be forced to manage the marketing and will surely not go broke and owe money around town. they may even do a good job managing the advertising and bring in some fans...

the state hands over the building in 2013 and the cost per game might go down big time after that because the bonds will be paid off for whomever owns it.

sure they might leave Hartford, but there is no guarantee and the economics of the arena will be improving no matter what in 1 year.

we will have to wait and see.

im nervous though

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HartfordTycoon Town

HartfordTycoon

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Eh, the CT Whale idea was good and I still think Hartford is a viable NHL market if we can get a new arena but the fact is that the AHL products is just not relevant here. The biggest reason is that nobody cares about the opponents. I know it shouldn't matter if you are supporting your team but it does. UConn going to Hockey East will be a truer test of where our market is as it relates to hockey. UConn is the sports brand that has the most fan loyalty round these parts and they will be playing quality opposition that CT folks are familiar with. Schools with fanbases within driving distance. For as bad as Baldwin's dream faltering is, UConn going to Hockey East for me is actually a much bigger deal. Bringing in Notre Dame, UMass, and BC is bound to draw some fans downtown.

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The Voice of Reason Town

The Voice of Reason

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My biggest issue is that it is likely in Stamford or at Steel Point in Bridgeport.

 

and in fact Hartford should have a team, not Fairfield county.

 

also, I love how they mention Hartford new haven media market, but dont you think Springfield would be part of our sports media market?

I mean would they not show the game results in Springfield?  I think it would be key for any future team to market heavily in Springfield and New Haven.

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HartfordHope Unincorporated Area

HartfordHope

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My biggest issue is that it is likely in Stamford or at Steel Point in Bridgeport.

 

and in fact Hartford should have a team, not Fairfield county.

 

also, I love how they mention Hartford new haven media market, but dont you think Springfield would be part of our sports media market?

I mean would they not show the game results in Springfield?  I think it would be key for any future team to market heavily in Springfield and New Haven.

 

especially with the pending casino is springfiled.  That casino would help bring in the one off ticket sales

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Luca Brasi Hamlet

Luca Brasi

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My biggest issue is that it is likely in Stamford or at Steel Point in Bridgeport.

 

and in fact Hartford should have a team, not Fairfield county.

 

also, I love how they mention Hartford new haven media market, but dont you think Springfield would be part of our sports media market?

I mean would they not show the game results in Springfield?  I think it would be key for any future team to market heavily in Springfield and New Haven.

I have to think it would be Hartford. Stamford is really to close to all NYC teams and the Hartford media market is what the NHL is eyeing. Hartford is central to New Haven and Springfield

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HartfordTycoon Town

HartfordTycoon

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I have to think it would be Hartford. Stamford is really to close to all NYC teams and the Hartford media market is what the NHL is eyeing. Hartford is central to New Haven and Springfield

 

I agree. I doubt that anyone would seriously consider building an NHL quality arena in CT and not put it in Hartford. Unless it's 100% private funding which I don't see being a possibility. Maybe they would try to move it to Rentschler Field for some sort of sports facility complex, but I think that's the most they would possibly consider. Remember that a major reason cited, among others, that Louisville got the ACC invite and UConn did not was that their facilities were newer and nicer. There is no way that we would get that sort of building build in the state and not have it somewhere that UConn would play. Those who lobby on behalf of UConn would simply not let it happen. Ever.

 

Also, I can't imagine a situation that would drive away the remnants of the Whaler fanbase more than putting an NHL team in CT but 90 minutes away and in the NYC media market.

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The Voice of Reason Town

The Voice of Reason

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How does the 10 year Global Spectrum deal affect our ability to bring back the whale?

 

There are going to be some rennovations that will widen the concourses, and there will be some kind of lodge seats in the lower bowl, and other fixes too Im sure.

 

but what will these changes do to our ability to lure an NHL team?

would these fixes be enough to make the NHL content?

 

A 10 year deal seems pretty long and is certainly interesting.

 

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The Voice of Reason Town

The Voice of Reason

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http://courantblogs.com/capitol-watch/nhl-dream-lives-malloy-talks-hockey-in-hartford/

 

yeah, this gets posted in two spots, becaus a: it is Arena talk and B its Whale talk

 

 

Interesting that there are people out there that just go around and say... Hey if I buy a team will you compete to have it located here... Very interesting indeed.

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HartfordTycoon Town

HartfordTycoon

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I think for a potential NHL owner, resurrecting the Hartford Whalers has to be a pretty attractive idea. The team has been gone for almost 2 decades but Whalers merchandise has recently been among the top ten for the NHL. This is a known brand for which there is pent up demand. It markets itself. I really hope that this is serious. It certainly sounds as if it is.

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drc72 Burg

drc72

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I think for a potential NHL owner, resurrecting the Hartford Whalers has to be a pretty attractive idea. The team has been gone for almost 2 decades but Whalers merchandise has recently been among the top ten for the NHL. This is a known brand for which there is pent up demand. It markets itself. I really hope that this is serious. It certainly sounds as if it is.

It would be awesome to get the Whalers back, but we still need to get a new arena built.

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The Voice of Reason Town

The Voice of Reason

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Those were posted above I think.  but still good to see and read on D. House.

 

I think joining the Big 10 would be pretty amazing.  I just am not sure how that is even remotely possible.

 

I suppose they could take UConn as a project but thats not their style.

 

That being said.... if the current 1.5 Billion project to increase enrollment at Uconn succeeds and the school grow into that tier 1 state school category, I am all for it.  they would first need to gain membership into the AAU to be considered and I could not imagine the Big 10 being OK with Rentschler field at its current size.

 

I know that growth plan would likely include an expansion of the Rent but that will never happen as long as UConn plays sub par opponents and has poor seasons to boot.

 

lets home another growth spurt happen on the field as well and the increased enrollment develops increased attendance making expansion realistic within the decade.

 

so, in short, the Big 10 would be a stretch... less so in 10 years

 

but then again that might line up nicely with a new arena for NHL and Uconn in a Big 12 with an expanded Rentschler...

 

who knows.

 

 

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HartfordTycoon Town

HartfordTycoon

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Those were posted above I think.  but still good to see and read on D. House.

 

I think joining the Big 10 would be pretty amazing.  I just am not sure how that is even remotely possible.

 

I suppose they could take UConn as a project but thats not their style.

 

That being said.... if the current 1.5 Billion project to increase enrollment at Uconn succeeds and the school grow into that tier 1 state school category, I am all for it.  they would first need to gain membership into the AAU to be considered and I could not imagine the Big 10 being OK with Rentschler field at its current size.

 

I know that growth plan would likely include an expansion of the Rent but that will never happen as long as UConn plays sub par opponents and has poor seasons to boot.

 

lets home another growth spurt happen on the field as well and the increased enrollment develops increased attendance making expansion realistic within the decade.

 

so, in short, the Big 10 would be a stretch... less so in 10 years

 

but then again that might line up nicely with a new arena for NHL and Uconn in a Big 12 with an expanded Rentschler...

 

who knows.

 

Rutgers and to a lesser degree, Maryland are both projects by B10 standards. Rutgers has never even won anything worth mentioning. UConn has more BE titles in football than they do. AAU status is an issue though. We'll see how all of that plays out. I'd be cool with the B12 and obviously the ACC but for now as a UConn fan, I'll just make due with what we have.

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