The Hartford Courant reports that Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez continues to convene the task force he appointed to study whether corporate support exists for a new downtown arena to replace the Hartford Civic Center (now the XL Center).
Although the Courant has filed a complaint with the state’s Freedom of Information Commission, seeking public access to the task force meetings, the story is significant from another angle: the state’s efforts to attract more sporting events, and potentially a professional team are alive. A professional sports team is clearly a long shot. However, from the Hollywood East Task Force, to the tax credit for filmmakers, to the creation of a sports commission, Connecticut has demonstrated a commitment to the sports and entertainment industry. Whether that commitment can be the impetus for a new arena remains to be seen.
For more on the possibility of a new arena in Hartford, see:
- A New Hartford Civic Center: Fantasy or Reality?
- Speaker Amann’s Retirement: Will it Affect Plans for a New Arena?
Just for the record, an NHL team in Hartford is NOT a long shot. I have a copy of an email from the NHL’s Bill Daly from just a few years ago that states the NHL is still very interested in Hartford, provided that there is a modern arena built in or around Hartford. The fact remains that Hartford/Springfield is one of the Top 10 Markets in the northern 1/3 of the United States – where Hockey is most popular. Build the arena and the Hartford Whalers are a certain reality to return. (The state still owns the logo and name right to the Whalers brand).