CRDA targets $107.2M upgrade to Hartford’s XL Center (Hartford Business Journal)

[huskymedic]

Check out what a $107.2M renovated XL Center looks like

The Capital Region Development Authority has a new $107 million renovation plan for the XL Center. In addition to rehabbing core systems, like the roof and elevators, the planned rehab would redesign the stage, create premium seating areas at ground level, renovate seating, upgrade vending...

www.hartfordbusiness.com

 

[ConnHuskBask]

inb417pages

 

[NowInStorrs]

That's a fairly significant amount of money. Is it a real fix instead of a bandaid?

 

[krinklecut]

That's a fairly significant amount of money. Is it a real fix instead of a bandaid?

The renderings look very much like a band-aid

 

[SubbaBub]

It is more scab these days than band-aid. As a long time supporter of the Civic Center, it is time to let it go.

 

[CL82]

 

[huskymedic]

Backdoor <<

 

[gampelcrazies]

Needs to be at least 250 millions to make it worth while.

 

[CL82]

Needs to be at least 250 millions to make it worth while.

Just curious, what would you anticipate the CDRA could do to the arena to make it more viable at that number?

 

[JonnyRI]

It is more scab these days than band-aid. As a long time supporter of the Civic Center, it is time to let it go.

I beg your pardon. That’s a $107mm scab you are talking about.

 

[How Sway?!]

More than a band aid and less than a full renovation. What interest me more is that the state is looking to renegotiate with current management so that they would be in the hook for operating losses and not the state.

 

[UConnSwag11]

That's a fairly significant amount of money. Is it a real fix instead of a bandaid?

Will we still pay to play?

 

[gampelcrazies]

Just curious, what would you anticipate the CDRA could do to the arena to make it more viable at that number?

A lot of things. Better seating, concessions, premium seats, more bathrooms, upgrade the guts to allow more concerts/events to happen.

But let's be honest, none of that is ever going to happen. The place is just going to close down in 5 years.

 

[Devland]

How about an upgrade also for Gampel. It was designed for midgets.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

A lot of things. Better seating, concessions, premium seats, more bathrooms, upgrade the guts to allow more concerts/events to happen.

But let's be honest, none of that is ever going to happen. The place is just going to close down in 5 years.

The renovations will happen and the place is not going to shut down.

 

[willie99]

Reduce the seating capacity, make everyone more comfortable, expand the concourse.... and stop putting lipstick on a pig

Go world-class, or don't go at all. Go all in, or furgetaboutit

And raise some money for GP too

 

[HuskyHawk]

Wake me up when something gets past the talking about it stage. I don’t know what is going to drive revenue if they put money into it.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Reduce the seating capacity, make everyone more comfortable, expand the concourse.... and stop putting lipstick on a pig

Go world-class, or don't go at all. Go all in, or furgetaboutit

And raise some money for GP too

Reducing the seating is actually the worst scenario because it then has no advantage over Mohegan Sun for concerts, there'd be little difference between it and Gampel, and it wouldn't make sense design-wise. What would you do - lop off the highest 25 rows of 200-level sections seats and all of the 300-levels?

 

[CTBasketball]

How about an upgrade also for Gampel. It was designed for midgets.

State won’t help ya there.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Wake me up when something gets past the talking about it stage. I don’t know what is going to drive revenue if they put money into it.

More concerts, NCAA tourney events, etc and higher priced seats_suites in the new aspects (premium loge, bunker suites, etc).

 

[Waquoit]

How about an upgrade also for Gampel. It was designed for midgets.

Not crazy about the choice of words but you are on the right track. Gampel is tough if you have an inseam greater than 28". Of course, almost no one on the Yard actually attends games there so it's a moot point.

 

[gampelcrazies]

The renovations will happen and the place is not going to shut down.

Time will tell but I wouldn’t count on it

 

[CL82]

How about an upgrade also for Gampel. It was designed for midgets.

An upgrade is in the works, but I suspected that won’t be changing.

 

[CL82]

The renovations will happen and the place is not going to shut down.

I’m not convinced. Which isn’t to say that it’s not possible. I just don’t think that the current leadership is even vaguely competent.

 

[Matt1010]

As someone who knows nothing about construction, how much would it take to build a brand new arena from scratch?