I will first preface my post by telling everyone that I am from New England, but hate Connecticut. Is it because everyone from CT wishes they weren't New Englanders, but rather Tri-Staters? Is it that I have to take either 84 or 95 to get to NYC and those are the #2 and #3, worst highways in america respectivly? Is it that The Whale would always try to be the Habs and start fights with the B's, even though the B's looked at them like redheaded step siblings? Who knows, butI do hate CT. With all that being said or questioned, I will say this: Give Hartford an MLS team! They already have a stadium for starters. Hartford is a relatively large enough market to support a MLS team, and the city loves soccer. Springfield is less than an hour away, and one would assume that people from there would be Hartford fans and not Rev fans because Gillette is 2 and half hours away from them. ok that is all i got right now, cuz i have to work.
I'm sure these arguments have been rehashed 100 times, but since i live in the hartford area, here goes: It would be great to have a team, but if we can't sell out WC qualfiers and the Liverpool match, couldn't support a hockey team, are losing our golf tournament, got slapped around by the Patriots...why would MLS come here?
I didn't read the old thread, because frankly I don't care that much, but I have to believe that a Revs-Hartford rivalry has the potential to be one of the most heated in the league.
The old thread is worth the read for the humor alone. Hartford v Revs Hartford v Metro Both would be steel caged death match quality.
There may be a better opportunity for soccer in Rentschler Field on the horizon. A very reliable source just told me that this is the last year Madison Square Garden will be running the stadium. In fact, they would be leaving Hartford completely. Just a rumour, yes, but in my opinion this is probably accurate.
as great as that sounds, it would be TORTURE for me! not sure if i ever responded to the old thread, but i read through it all. i was raised in hartford, and as great as i think it would be to have a local MLS team, a Hartford v Revs game might just make my head explode. the Revs are the first sports team in my 33 year history that i have ever actively supported or truly cared about. that being said, id still love for Hartford to get an MLS team. i have no idea how i would deal with it, but i guess id figure that out when/if it happened. Rentschler field is a great little stadium. my head is hurting just thinking about it. let me stop. anyhow: Go Hammers!? (first ive heard about them, but im going to read up and try to keep updated on the situation, thanks)
I just read the old thread. Excellent discussion. Currently UConn football has about 33,000 season ticket holders, which is incredible considering they only had 3,000 during their last year at their old stadium. But for the time being Big East football is nothing to be proud of, but this is coming from a student whose on-campus stadium is the 2nd largest in the country. With MSG moving out of the area, and rumors of a legitimate attempt to bring an NHL team back to the city, this may be a good time to bring an USL/A-League team into Rentschler. The old one was a joke and never got any attention whatsoever. Furthermore I feel that the Celtic v. Liverpool match was not promoted as it could be, however there was a decent amount of attention for the US v Trinidad game.
Good to have you on board Wolfp10. Has MSG officially been outed? Also, I spoke to someone last week and they said NHL will not be in Hartford in the next 10 years, if ever.
I don't think anyone can speculate on what the NHL is going to do. I don't think the league knows what to do. Whatever happens with that happens, in my opinion. I once loved the NHL, but can't be bothered with it these days. But I do think MSG will be out, and somebody else will be running the buildings. MSG failed on its promises of NHL and NBA exhibitions, Rangers training camp, AHL All-Star game, Arena Football, etc. Attendance for their AHL team is appaling, and MSG still made over 4 million on the contract last year by keeping the building empty. Probably a new AHL team, not owned by an NHL team but rather independently, will be here soon.
Well here is my take: NHL - expansion won't happen in Hartford because we have no place to play. New arena won't happen for a few years, probably 7 or so. Do NHL teams own AHL teams? I thought it was just like minor league baseball and the NHL just stocked the team with players, but the ownership was local. My bet: Spectracorp takes over Civic Center and Rentschler Field. New AHL team or they shut down Springfield and put one team in Hartford.
I believe most AHL teams are owned independently, but the Wolf Pack are owned by the Rangers, which is the cause of many of the problems with this team. Springfield just renovated their Civic Center, and is also home to AHL headquarters, so I think they'd probably keep their team.
With their paltry attendance, they might be in huge trouble, but the Springfield CC is very nice. Hit the hockey thread. Its top class by the way.
Depends on who you talk too. The city and state seem to be real gun-ho about bringing the NHL back, which I think will never happen. First an arena has to be built. Then Boston and the New York teams have to agree to let a team move into their media market. As far as MSG, I've heard unofficial things here and there with some WolfPack fans about the future of MSG and the team. Their attendance is about half of what it used to be. I imagine all the talk with bringing an NHL team back also helps to burn a bridge or two.
So the state has not kicked MSG out yet. I thought they had from the 20th till the 31st. NHL - 10 years is about right. AHL team - I think this will happen rather quickly. I'd like a cool affiliation like the Caps, but they shouldn't leave Hershey. I don't want the Bruins, but I'd take Buffalo or Montreal. How about getting dirt rubbed in our faces and we get a Carolina affiliate Check out my sig for the hockey thread.
Bastard! luckily, this wont ever be something i have to worry about, as it will most likely never happen. it would be nice to see the Hammers in Hartford though. maybe that will happen one day.
Really? I would've been sick of Bob Kraft, the stadium, pretty much everything about that Revs organization besides the team would've turned me off quickly if I were a fan.
