AEG Worldwide comes to Hartford

[Gioca]

It was just announced that AEG will manage the Hartford Civic Center next year and is expected to assume control of Rentschler Field. Will they start a new MLS team in Hartford?

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-civiccenter-0321,0,1345224.story?coll=hc-head

[Michael K.]

MLS in Hartford - thumbs up.
AEG MLS in Hartford - thumbs way, way down.

[smokarz]

i don't see any mention of AEG taking control of Rentschler Field in this article. but if it's true, i am quite excited because it would means more soccer games at Rentschler Field. if anyone had ever been to Rentschler Field, they know that it's a great facility for soccer. mid size stadium with a very good pitch. and btw, i live in the hartford area.

[RogueFC]

I'd be in favor of a Hartford MLS club if and only if they are called the Whalers and have royal blue and kelly green kits and the same crest the NHL club had which I think was one of the coolest crests in all of sports history.

[rocketeer22]

The management aspect of AEG makes sense. However, I don't expect them to go after any sports teams themselves.

1. AEG already has a 'New England' based minor league hockey affiliate of the L.A. Kings called the Manchester Monarchs that play in a facility that opened in 2001. I don't think they'd move them.
2. The Sprint Center in Kansas City (AEG operated) failed to lure the NHL Penguins in recent weeks.

So, I think AEG is looking for other venues to run its music artists to.

[wolfp10]

1. I am very curious as to what will happen to the AHL team who currently plays at the Civic Center, who are owned by MSG/Cablevision/New York Rangers.

2. I don't see any "major" sports teams coming to Hartford, MLS or NHL. The city has lost it's corporate presense as the business center of Connecticut has moved towards Fairfield County. The Civic Center is an old pile of concrete, and I don't see a new arena happening (well maybe with private funds).

As far as soccer, I think Hartford would be an ideal market for a properly managed USL team. Most fantasy teams are managed better than the CT Wolves were. As far as MLS, there are too many large markets (Philly, St. Louis, Seattle etc) that do not have MLS teams, while IMO Hartford would be a smaller market in the league. Plus The Rent may be too "big" for MLS at 40,000 seats.

I think it is good that AEG is now managing the stadium and arena, MSG seemed to care less and less about the Civic Center.

[profiled]

I'd be in favor of a Hartford MLS club if and only if they are called the Whalers and have royal blue and kelly green kits and the same crest the NHL club had which I think was one of the coolest crests in all of sports history.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ed/Hartford_Whalers_1992.gif

[Gioca]

With AEG controlling the stadium (most likely scenario), and having such an investment in the league, I'd be surprised if they didn't consider putting an MLS team here. It's just crazy talk to think that this region of a million people and with no other professional sports teams wouldn't support a soccer team.

[wolfp10]

I'd be in favor of a Hartford MLS club if and only if they are called the Whalers and have royal blue and kelly green kits and the same crest the NHL club had which I think was one of the coolest crests in all of sports history.

The Whalers away jersey in their last season was easily one of the best NHL jerseys ever.

http://www.sportsposterwarehouse.com/warehouse/sanderson94sl-1.jpg

[projectx]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ed/Hartford_Whalers_1992.gif
That's classic stuff... I love it too... grey H... green W.... blue whale. So simple yet so perfect. *nostalgic sigh*

[Gioca]

The Whalers away jersey in their last season was easily one of the best NHL jerseys ever.

http://www.sportsposterwarehouse.com/warehouse/sanderson94sl-1.jpg

Hey Hey Whatdaya Say Geoff Sannnderson!

[phillips10]

That's classic stuff... I love it too... grey H... green W.... blue whale. So simple yet so perfect. *nostalgic sigh*

and dont forgot that theme song they had!...tremendous.

[brittkamp]

and dont forgot that theme song they had!...tremendous.

I swear that at my wedding I will play "Brass Bonanza" as my wife and I are introduced as man and wife!!

So.... why again am I single?

[lfcli30]

As much as I hated them as an Isles fan, I loved them for the same reasons. I really do miss the Whalers.

Hockey was so good back then. It was a regional sport as it should be.

I miss the Patrick division, Campbell Conference and all the old time jerseys and logos.

[jokeefe80]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ed/Hartford_Whalers_1992.gif
OH MY WORD!!!! I JUST HAD A FLASHBACK TO RONNIE FRANCIS, AND THE MALL WITH A FAINT WHISPER OF BRASS BONANZA IN THE BACKGROUND

[Michael K.]

2. I don't see any "major" sports teams coming to Hartford, MLS or NHL. The city has lost it's corporate presense as the business center of Connecticut has moved towards Fairfield County.

Then Bridgeport is ready.*
Call it Park City...City. Or Sporting Bridgeport. Kit sponsored by Omanel. It'll kill.


*I hope I don't need to state that I'm joking.
But Bridgeport - or New Haven, if they had anywhere serious to play within the city - really should have a team somewhere in the USL pyramid.

[WarrenWallace]

With AEG controlling the stadium (most likely scenario), and having such an investment in the league, I'd be surprised if they didn't consider putting an MLS team here. It's just crazy talk to think that this region of a million people and with no other professional sports teams wouldn't support a soccer team.

Region MSAs over 1 million people without professional sports teams.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_metropolitan_areas


Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario.......3,909,954
Las Vegas-Paradise.........................1,710,511
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News..1,647,346
Providence-New Bedford-Fall River......1,622,520
Austin-Round Rock..........................1,452,529
Louisville-Jefferson County................1,208,452
Hartford-East/West Hartford.............1,188,241
Richmond.......................................1,175,654
Oklahoma City.................................1,156,812
Birmingham-Hoover...........................1,090,126
Rochester.......................................1,039,028

[jokeefe80]

I swear that at my wedding I will play "Brass Bonanza" as my wife and I are introduced as man and wife!!

So.... why again am I single?can i come? i will start a fight with Torrie Robertson in the middle of the dance floor.

[DC06]

As much as I hated them as an Isles fan, I loved them for the same reasons. I really do miss the Whalers.

Hockey was so good back then. It was a regional sport as it should be.

I miss the Patrick division, Campbell Conference and all the old time jerseys and logos.

Great, now I'm depressed. :(

[golazo68]

Seeing the passion + fandom in places like Salt Lake City and Rochester, I can't see how one could immediately rule out Hartford.

Its all a numbers game, and if the numbers can work better with AEG control- maybe its worth a go.

It would make for a couple cool derbies a year (NE and NY), and longer term (if Montreal, Rochester and/or another 2nd team in NY get added)...that's fun for fans!