Bees Open for Business

With Rocky and his Rock Cats relegated to history, New Britain’s (CT) 2016 baseball season opened Thursday evening with a fresh team, the Bees, and a new mascot, Sting, in front of a reported 4,617 fans.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Atlantic League Closing In on New Britain

On Tuesday, New Britain (CT) Mayor Erin Stewart told a local news station that the city and the independent professional Atlantic League  have finalized the first part of a lease agreement that could bring a team to New Britain as early as 2016 to replace the departing New Britain Rock Cats (Double-A, Eastern League).  Read more and watch news report here.

Hartford Yard Goats Unveil Branding

The Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A, Eastern League) unveiled their visual identity Wednesday at a press conference at the XL Center and the team acknowledged Hartford’s “rich sports history” with the colors that pay homage to the city’s former NHL franchise.  Read more and watch unveiling here.

Hartford Yard Goats Caps, Yard Goats Facebook photo.

Dunkin’ Donuts Claims Naming Rights to New Hartford Ballpark

At a press conference Wednesday, it was announced that Dunkin Donuts will be the naming rights partner for the new baseball stadium under construction in downtown Hartford (CT) for the Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A, Eastern League).  The ballpark will be called “Dunkin’ Donuts Park.”  Read more here.  Watch news report here.

Yard Goats Yard Gets Name Today

A press conference is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. today in Hartford (CT) to announce the name of the new downtown baseball stadium currently under construction for the Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A, Eastern League). Read more Read more here and here.

Lawmakers Consider Stadium Financing Plan

The $1.8 billion revenue generation package unveiled last week by Democrats in the General Assembly’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee includes state-issued bonds to help finance Hartford’s minor league baseball stadium.  Read more here.

Debating Admissions Tax Redirect to Pay for Yard Goats Yard

Legislators argued Monday over whether the state should send the 10 percent admissions tax on minor league baseball tickets back to Hartford (CT) to provide financial help for building a new stadium for the coming Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A, Eastern League). Read more here.

Atlantic League to New Britain?

Since early March, when the New Britain Rock Cats (Double-A, Eastern League) informed New Britain they’re ending their lease of the city’s stadium after this year, Mayor Erin Stewart has been fielding calls from interested potential tenants.  She’s already spoken with top indy pro Atlantic League officials and both sides want to see whether a New Britain team could work.  Read more here.

It’s the ‘Hartford Yard Goats’

The ownership of the relocating New Britain Rock Cats (Double-A, Eastern League) announced at a press conference Wednesday that the team will be renamed the Yard Goats when it moves to a new stadium in 13 months.  Yard Goats was chosen from a final list of five, beating out Hedgehogs, Praying Mantis, River Hogs and Whirlybirds.  Read more and view photo here.  Go to HartfordYardGoats.com here.

Please not another snoozer railroad theme, unless Hartford @GoYardGoats logo includes kicking, can-eating hobo goat. https://t.co/lTeSlLw75B

— Alan D. Poff (@BallparkBiz) March 19, 2015

Hartford Baseball Narrows Name Choices from 10 to Five

Over the past week, more than 35,000 ballots were submitted on the website www.hartfordplaysball2016.com as fans had the opportunity to pick their top three name choices out of 10 provided for the relocating New Britain Rock Cats (Double-A, Eastern League).  The remaining five possible names are listed alphabetically below:

Top 10 Names for Hartford Team to be Unveiled Today (UPDATED)

The owners of the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League) will hold a press conference Wednesday at 3 p.m. to unveil the 10 possible names for the relocating team.  Sportslogos.net reportedly obtained a list of the proposed names, which includes Blue Frogs, Choppers, Hedgehogs, Honey Badgers, Hound Dogs, Praying Mantis/Praying Mantises, River Hogs, Screech Owls, Whirly Birds and Yard Goats.  Read more here. UPDATE:  Vote here.  Read name explanations here.

Hartford Breaks Ground on New Ballpark

Let the construction begin!  City and team officials in Hartford (CT) held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday at the corner of Main and Trumbull to officially begin construction of the $56 million baseball stadium for the relocating Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League).  Read more and watch video report here.

New Hartford Ballpark: A Brief Bonding Primer

Have you ever wondered how bonding works for capital construction projects?  Dan Haar from the Hartford Courant takes a look at the bond sale for the new DoNo ballpark for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League), as officials prepare to plant shovels into ceremonial dirt today to officially begin construction on the project.  Read more here.

Hartford Reaches Ballpark Deal with Developer, Groundbreaking Next Week

The city of Hartford (CT) has reached an agreement with the developer of a $350 million Downtown North project that includes a minor league baseball stadium for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League).  A groundbreaking is scheduled for Monday, February 17.  Read more here and here.

Solomon: Hartford Ballpark Construction to Begin Soon

Josh Solomon, owner of the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League), stated during the team’s annual Hot Stove luncheon that they will break ground on their new ballpark in Hartford (CT) in the latter part of February.  Read more here.

Hartford Changes Ballpark Financing Plan

The city of Hartford (CT) is planning to change the way it finances its new minor league baseball stadium, a move that officials say will save taxpayers millions.  The city will utilize a newly created entity called the Hartford Stadium Authority to issue revenue bonds to finance the project.  Read more here.

After Lawsuit Over Deficient Meeting Notice, Hartford to Schedule Do-Over Zoning Meeting

The city of Hartford (CT) will hold a second meeting on zoning changes related to its $350 million baseball stadium development, after attorney and ballpark opponent Ken Krayeske filed a lawsuit alleging that the city hadn’t given the requisite notice before its October 28 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission.  Read more here.

Hartford Ballpark Opponent Files Lawsuit

Attorney and political activist Ken Krayeske, an outspoken critic of Hartford’s (CT) stadium plan, has filed suit in state court saying the city didn’t give proper notice of a recent Planning and Zoning Commission meeting about the stadium.  Read more here.

Hartford to Use Eminent Domain to Take Land Needed for Ballpark

Unable to reach an agreement to buy three acres of land it needs for its new downtown development project that includes a new stadium for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League), the City of Hartford is going to try and take it by eminent domain.  Read more here.

Hartford Approves Ballpark Deal

The Hartford (CT) City Council on Tuesday night approved the $350 million Downtown North development project that includes a new ballpark for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League).  Construction is expected to be completed on the stadium in April 2016.  Read more here.  Watch news report here.

Union Labor Will Build Hartford Ballpark, Drive Up Costs

Hartford’s city council will likely approve a deal to build a new minor league baseball stadium on Tuesday, and there’s one new change to the deal – union laborers will do the work. The developer has said that tweak could easily add 10 percent to the stadium’s cost.  Read more here.

Hartford Ballpark Vote Tuesday

After more than a year of closed-door negotiations and four months of public debate, the Hartford City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to approve a $350 million development north of downtown that would include a new ballpark for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League).  Read more here.

Hartford Courant: City Should Green-Light Baseball Neighborhood Project

In an editorial, the Hartford Courant comes out in favor of the proposed Downtown North project that includes a new ballpark for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League), more than 210,000 square feet of municipal office space, more than 600 residential units, and retail space that features a supermarket.  Read more here.

Hartford Ballpark Plan Takes Step Forward

The Hartford (CT) Redevelopment Agency voted 7-1 Wednesday night to transfer land to the city, which it expects to transfer to chosen Downtown North developer DoNo Hartford LLC.  On Thursday, a council subcommittee will meet to approve the authorization of the land transfer and vote on related ballpark resolutions.  Read more and watch news report here.

Commission Gives Thumbs Down to Hartford Ballpark Plan

The Hartford (CT) planning and zoning commission voted Tuesday to give an unfavorable recommendation to the city’s plan to build a minor league baseball stadium for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League), and sharply criticized the process by which officials have proceeded with the proposal.  Read more here.

Devloper Pitches Hartford Ballpark Plan During Public Meeting

The developers hoping to build a baseball stadium for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League) as part of a $350 million vision for the area just north of Hartford’s downtown pitched their plan to city council members before an overflow crowd Wednesday night.  Read more and watch news report here.

Hartford’s Latest Ballpark Revenue Projections

New Hartford (CT) projections of expenses and revenues for the proposed minor league ballpark for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League), including money raised through property taxes, parking income and a tax on tickets, show that taxpayers would gain $22.8 million over 30 years.  Read more here.

Ballpark Lease Plan More Expensive Than Rejected Bonding Plan

According to an analysis in the Hartford Courant, the public-private partnership between the city of Hartford (CT) and developer DoNo Hartford LLC for downtown redevelopment that includes a new ballpark for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League) is likely to cost city taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars more every year than the maligned plan to issue city bonds.  Read more here.

More on the Hartford, Centerplan Ballpark Plan

The city of Hartford (CT) would pay $3.77 million annually for the first five years it leases a minor league baseball stadium that is part of a sweeping redevelopment plan, according to projections in city documents and the developer’s plan.  The Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League) would pay the city $500 thousand a year for the first 15 years of a 25 year sublease.  Read more here and here.

Hartford Selects Ballpark Developer

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said Tuesday that the city has chosen Centerplan as the lead developer of the Downtown North development, which will include a new minor league ballpark for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League).  Read more here.

Rock Cats Avert Eviction, Pay Tax Bill

Josh Solomon, owner of the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League), showed up at city hall Wednesday afternoon with a check for $164,569, paying off the tax bill on New Britain Stadium and keeping the team’s lease valid.  Read more here.

Hartford Panel Hears from Ballpark Bidders

An advisory panel appointed by Hartford’s development director on Thursday heard presentations from the three bidders seeking to develop land north of the city’s downtown, a project that would include housing, retail space and a minor league ballpark.  Three developers have bid on the project, though only two have broad plans for the area.  Read more here.

Hartford Council Approves Ballpark Land Purchase

The Hartford City Council moved forward with plans to build a new ballpark for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League) by approving land purchases for both the stadium and the Downtown North development.  Read more here.

Three of Four Hartford Ballpark Proposals Meet Criteria

Three of the four proposals submitted to develop Hartford’s Downtown North area and build a ballpark there have met the city’s criteria, according to a release from the mayor’s office Wednesday. Read more here.

Newman Architects rendering from Thomas Hooker Brewing Co.

Hartford Receives Four Ballpark Development Proposals

Hartford city officials said Monday that they received four proposals to develop land north of downtown — a project that would include housing, retail and a 9,000-seat minor league baseball stadium.  The deadline to submit proposals was 3 p.m. Friday.  Read more here.  Watch news report about the possible relocation of Thomas Hooker Brewery to the site here.

Newman Architects rendering provided by Thomas Hooker Brewing Co.

Rock Cats Deliquent on Paying Property Taxes

New Britain (CT) city attorneys put the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League) on notice by certified mail Friday that they are in default of their lease agreement because they have not paid the city of Berlin (CT) $164,569 they owe in taxes.  The Rock Cats owe Berlin taxes because some of the New Britain Stadium property straddles the town line.  According to the New Britain mayor’s office,

Hartford Drops Public Financing Plan for New Ballpark, Will Seek Private Investment

Hartford officials say they have dropped a $60 million public financing plan for a minor league baseball stadium and will seek private investment instead, following criticism by city residents about the cost to taxpayers.  Read more here.

Hartford Issues RFP for Downtown North Development

Despite voices of opposition, Hartford (CT) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for re-developing the Downtown North area of the city, which is slated to include a new baseball stadium for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League).  Responses are due by August 1.  Read more here.  View RFP here.  Learn more about the Downtown North development here.

Rock Cats to Hartford: The New Ballpark Planning Study

For those interested in ballpark feasibility research and analysis, Brailsford & Dunlavey, in partnership with Pendulum, handled the duties for Hartford (CT), as the “Insurance Capital of the World” sought to lure the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League) 12 miles northeast to a new downtown Hartford ballpark.  The report is dated February 18, 2014.  Read more here.  View New Ballpark Planning Study here.

Rock Cats Moving to New $60M Stadium in Hartford

In a deal announced Wednesday, the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League) will be moving from New Britain (CT) to a new $60-million ballpark just north of downtown Hartford (CT) in time for the 2016 season.  Read more here.  Some folks in New Britain aren’t too happy.  Read more here.