NYR asking for $3M state subsidy to keep WolfPack in Hartford for 2 more seasons

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Click to read more...

 

[aemoreira1981]

If the Coliseum is available for hockey, I would play "make a deal" with the Islanders, and seek to broker a deal whereby the Islanders' AHL team is moved to the Coliseum and the Rangers then take over the Islanders' lease at Webster Bank Arena. The MSG Training Center is 1 hour away by car from both Webster Bank Arena and Madison Square Garden. The Rangers could easily have the relocated Wolf Pack practice at the MSG Training Center for better monitoring of prospects, and the Islanders would also gain by having their AHL team based across the Meadowbrook from their practice facility on Merrick Avenue (where the NHL team also practices). It would be a win for both teams.

 

[Captain Crash]

I wonder if the Rangers just keep sticking it out in Hartford because they hope to set up shop in the long-delayed 5,000 seat hockey arena that's part of the old armory redevelopment in the Bronx. Messier is the frontman of that project, so there's a relationship there.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

If the Coliseum is available for hockey, I would play "make a deal" with the Islanders, and seek to broker a deal whereby the Islanders' AHL team is moved to the Coliseum and the Rangers then take over the Islanders' lease at Webster Bank Arena. The MSG Training Center is 1 hour away by car from both Webster Bank Arena and Madison Square Garden. The Rangers could easily have the relocated Wolf Pack practice at the MSG Training Center for better monitoring of prospects, and the Islanders would also gain by having their AHL team based across the Meadowbrook from their practice facility on Merrick Avenue (where the NHL team also practices). It would be a win for both teams.

why would the two swap franchises, and I would likely suspect that Webster Bank Arena lease is solely with Bridgeport in an exclusivity agreement since the Islanders own the franchise, which will likely extend past Hartford's tenure, though

as I understand it, is it not true that Bridgeport has a lease until 2021.... I also don't believe NCMVC ALLOWS a non franchise lessee to split dates, also, the Nets control both NCMVC and Barclays, so if the Islanders aren't back on the Island, why remove Bridgeport from that lease to go to the Island, hence the exclusivity deal that Bridgeport signed in 2001... there is no chance Bridgeport is leaving Webster Bank Arena, nor are the Islanders even considering returning to the Coliseum, last I saw, Belmont Park likely becomes a part of the Islanders base of operations.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

I wonder if the Rangers just keep sticking it out in Hartford because they hope to set up shop in the long-delayed 5,000 seat hockey arena that's part of the old armory redevelopment in the Bronx. Messier is the frontman of that project, so there's a relationship there.

I'll bet a lot of money that's never built.

 

[Captain Crash]

I'll bet a lot of money that's never built.

Given the frequency with which you say incorrect things, I'll take that as a guarantee on ground being broken soon.

 

[210]

The first step in the Rangers blaming Hartford for their affiliate move to Albany...

 

[CrazyEddie20]

1. Gerry Cantlon has no inside information or sources and shouldn't be believed ever under any circumstances.

2. The Highbridge Armory rink project in the Bronx is held up by red tape, though the state is looking to provide $108M in funding. See https://ny.curbed.com/2017/1/11/14233044/kingsbridge-armory-conversion-state-funding

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

Great. Rangers can afford to buy out Girardi at 2.16m for six ? years, but can't pony up 3m to the city (let the taxpayers pay)

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Great. Rangers can afford to buy out Girardi at 2.16m for six ? years, but can't pony up 3m to the city (let the taxpayers pay)

uh, this is Connecticut... want to see recent example, the fracas over Dunkin' Donuts Park being half-finished to keep affiliated baseball in CT....

 

[Oak]

I wonder if the Rangers just keep sticking it out in Hartford because they hope to set up shop in the long-delayed 5,000 seat hockey arena that's part of the old armory redevelopment in the Bronx. Messier is the frontman of that project, so there's a relationship there.

Unfortunately that project has been scrapped. Would have done wonders for NYC youth and school hockey but sadly its a no go.

 

[Captain Crash]

Unfortunately that project has been scrapped. Would have done wonders for NYC youth and school hockey but sadly its a no go.

Really? I know it's gone through quite a few issues, but I haven't seen news of that anywhere. I have, however, seen news that they were granted the lease in late May of this year and have all funding in place.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/articl...e-rink-redevelopment-in-the-bronx-moves-ahead

 

[Crunchrulz]

I hope no organization is DUMB enough to place another AHL team in Albany. Huge arena that the local fans refuse to attend games in. For that matter, Albany itself is nothing more than the capital of New York. Not much more than that to draw folks there, let alone enough to support an AHL franchise these days. The glory days of the River Rats are long gone and no one in their right mind wants to spend weekends in Albany. Heck, even the elected state officials cant wait to get out of there on Friday.

 

[Major4Boarding]

The first step in the Rangers blaming Hartford for their affiliate move to Albany...

Was thinking the same thing too when I read that

 

[wellsZe]

I wouldn't trust howlings.net Gerry Cantlon at all. However, 1.55 in 2018-2019 and 1.6 in 2019-2020 is too much $$$. Highest affiliate fee in the AHL.

The XL loses 3 million a yr with the WP and UConn. All those 41 games cost $. Cut the Wolfpack and get better dates for UConn basketball and hockey. Maybe you can book more concerts with more open dates. Concerts are the $ maker. Maybe with the new Casino deal in EW, they'll throw some more concerts to the XL.

http://www.howlings.net/#category/13/article/54837

Inside link is a Nice picture of the status of a new 3.5 million steel ice making piping system (something a
1Billion $ Barclays arena refuses to address)


I agree, they are strong arming a nearly bankrupt city so they can eventually blame Hartford on not accepting the deal and just move the affiliate to Albany.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

I personally think Hartford should be working towards building a new arena.

 

[GindyDraws]

uh, this is Connecticut... want to see recent example, the fracas over Dunkin' Donuts Park being half-finished to keep affiliated baseball in CT....

Also, the city of Hartford is very close to bankruptcy, so there's no way they can give $3 million to the Rangers, especially for a team the locals hate.

 

[Cacciaguida]

good riddance. The Rangers have been sucking Hartford dry for years. No more.

I can't wait to see the Whalers back, even if it's the AHL/ECHL.

As an Islander fan I have nothing against moving the Soundtigers into Hartford and letting them wear blue and green. I'm sure the response would be more than pleasant.

I would still like to keep Bridgeport as our ECHL spot though.

I hope no organization is DUMB enough to place another AHL team in Albany. Huge arena that the local fans refuse to attend games in. For that matter, Albany itself is nothing more than the capital of New York. Not much more than that to draw folks there, let alone enough to support an AHL franchise these days. The glory days of the River Rats are long gone and no one in their right mind wants to spend weekends in Albany. Heck, even the elected state officials cant wait to get out of there on Friday.

The Rangers are probably the only team right now that could make it work at this point. Albany is Ranger territory.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

good riddance. The Rangers have been sucking Hartford dry for years. No more.

I can't wait to see the Whalers back, even if it's the AHL/ECHL.

As an Islander fan I have nothing against moving the Soundtigers into Hartford and letting them wear blue and green. I'm sure the response would be more than pleasant.

I would still like to keep Bridgeport as our ECHL spot though.



The Rangers are probably the only team right now that could make it work at this point. Albany is Ranger territory.

who's owning the Whalers, and please not the fool who tried turning the WP into the Whale for 2+ seasons, and thankfully MSG terminated that deal

I don't see the Islanders allowing Bridgeport to drop a level either, now, with the ECHL affiliation in Worcester to start, Cacciaguida, or did you miss that tidbit

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Unfortunately that project has been scrapped. Would have done wonders for NYC youth and school hockey but sadly its a no go.

At the expense of the taxpayers throughout the state many of whom have nothing to do with the city at all. And they wonder why that state has issues financially. I would hope that project never breaks ground and unfortunately they don't vote on these things because most of the state taxpayers would laugh in their face.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Given the frequency with which you say incorrect things, I'll take that as a guarantee on ground being broken soon.

Things that "keep getting delayed" don't generally happen.

 

[go comets]

Sounds like the Rangers AHL affiliation is available to the highest bidder.... Can't wait to see whom is dumb enough to pay it.....

 

[Cacciaguida]

who's owning the Whalers, and please not the fool who tried turning the WP into the Whale for 2+ seasons, and thankfully MSG terminated that deal

I don't see the Islanders allowing Bridgeport to drop a level either, now, with the ECHL affiliation in Worcester to start, Cacciaguida, or did you miss that tidbit

They're with us only for two years. After that it's a crapshoot, the Rangers might not even leave Hartford by then, they've been teasing it forever. I'm just glad to see Worcester back in the fold

I'm sure Worcester will do fine by us, but I know if the Bruins were their affiliate they'd be a sure success.

My reasoning is because I'm more interested in gaining traction in the Connecticut hockey market, for time being, if I was the Islanders. Or at least a start in making inroads. Why not have the potential Whalers and Islanders team up? Of all the New York teams the Islanders have the most to gain by it, free PR, and I doubt they're as popular as they could be over there. Team Mariners.


Can't go east, (non-Connecticut) New England is Boston territory. Even Eastern-Connecticut has Bruin fan remnants. West is Philly and Pittsburgh. Buffalo and the Rangers have Northern New York, Rangers also are popular in Western-Connecticut. South of the Islanders is New Jersey. North is Connecticut, and would be Whaler territory if they were around, but they are not. The Rangers and Bruins are fine with splitting the territory but I doubt the local Connecticut hockey fans are 100% satisfied by this.

Even if they do it, and the Whalers would come back to the NHL in some strange fashion, the Islanders could still push themselves over the Rangers and maybe the Bruins in Connecticut. Which would add up.

 

[Nightsquad]

I hope no organization is DUMB enough to place another AHL team in Albany. Huge arena that the local fans refuse to attend games in. For that matter, Albany itself is nothing more than the capital of New York. Not much more than that to draw folks there, let alone enough to support an AHL franchise these days. The glory days of the River Rats are long gone and no one in their right mind wants to spend weekends in Albany. Heck, even the elected state officials cant wait to get out of there on Friday.

Yes the Rats era is long gone, helped ended by the Devils organization. Made no sense how the Devils operated in Albany and they are the reason nobody supported them. IF Utica and Springfield can come back definitely Albany can. Albany as compared to Utica? Really lol....I don't know anyone who is eager to stay in Utica, even our airbase bounced out of Utica-Rome lol, they don't call it Shootica for nothing.

 

[go comets]

Yes the Rats era is long gone, helped ended by the Devils organization. Made no sense how the Devils operated in Albany and they are the reason nobody supported them. IF Utica and Springfield can come back definitely Albany can. Albany as compared to Utica? Really lol....I don't know anyone who is eager to stay in Utica, even our airbase bounced out of Utica-Rome lol, they don't call it Shootica for nothing.

Maybe because Utica has more AHL fans than Albany???????

Maybe because after sitting in an office building all day, all those government workers just wanna go home??

Maybe because there are other cheaper options for hockey in Albany with both Union and RPI in town. You have done nothing but complain about the devils ticket prices... It's obvious the Rangers are just going to suck in às much $$$ as possible....

And maybe a 1.5 million $ affiliation fee and a 3 million $ subsidy for the Rangers would drive ticket prices out of site??????