Rock Cats Get Approved for Move to Hartford
By Matthew Cannata | Sports Correspondent at October 17, 2023 | 9:30 am | Print
On Tuesday evening in the council chambers of Hartford City Hall, the New Britain Rock Cats took a major step towards leaving our city and moving a dozen miles down the road. The final vote, which saw six council members vote yes, zero vote no and three abstain, was preceded by dozens of outspoken supporters and opponents to the plan. However, that didn’t stop the council from voting in favor for it. The six who voted yes said that this marks a historic time for the city and that it represents the best interest of the city and its long-term future.
Although the move is not yet set in stone, it cleared its biggest hurdle on Tuesday night. Now, they will need to go through a few smaller hurdles. This includes the developers seeking a special permit from the planning and zoning commission to build the stadium. It is important to note that this same commission voted 4-2 to give an unfavorable recommendation to the city’s plan to build the stadium and have been outspoken in criticizing the proposal. The biggest sticking point at this time is whether the proposal fits with the city’s plan of conservation and development along with another plan by the city’s redevelopment agency.
Timothy Stewart, former Mayor and current President of the Greater New Britain Chamber of Commerce, wished the Rock Cats well in Hartford but also said that he wishes things could’ve been different in the way that this entire situation transpired.
“The team still has at least one more year in New Britain and probably more because of their aggressive construction schedule. With that in mind, they will most likely not meet the deadline to open in spring 2016,” he said. “We wish them well in Hartford but are still leery of the clandestine nature of the owners’ business practices. Unfortunately, the City of Hartford is so eager for a win on the economic development front that they had little regard for what they were doing to another urban city in New Britain. Honorable people do their business in the light of day not under the cloak of darkness. When all is said and done, we’re confident New Britain will be able to attract another team to the facility because of all the reasons why minor league baseball has been so successful here over the past 40 years.”
New Britain Alderman Jamie Giantonio echoed Stewart’s sentiments and is confident in the city’s administration to make good use of the stadium in the future.
“It’s unfortunate that the Rock Cats chose to leave New Britain without so much as a conversation with city leaders. I have faith in our mayor and Park and Recreation department to attract events to our great stadium.”
Alderman Daniel Salerno agrees with both Stewart and Giantonio that he wishes things could’ve been different with the way this whole process transpired. Most of all though, Salerno feels bad for the fans.
“I don’t like the way the fans were treated. The fans deserve much better based on the loyalty they have displayed during their time here. While the point of Minor League Baseball isn’t to win championships, there still have been many losing seasons here in New Britain but the fans have always come out in full force. It is going to be hard to replicate that kind of loyalty and passion in Hartford, especially when there were so many people against this in the first place.”
Calls and e-mails made to Mayor’s office here in New Britain as well as to the Rock Cats ownership and general manager were not returned as of press time.
The Rock Cats still have a long road ahead of them to finalize their move to Hartford. For now though, they’ve cleared their biggest hurdle to date.
