Payment Owed
By Robin Vinci | Editor at January 27, 2024 | 2:42 pm | Print
City Seeking Final Payment from Rock Cats
The Rock Cats may now be the Yard Goats heading to Hartford, but they are not done with paying their bills to New Britain.
The City is still seeking payment for over $149,000. On Monday the City sent the team a notice telling them payment is overdue.
“While the team and its owners have relocated from the City, they are not off the hook for these overdue bills,” said Mayor Erin E. Stewart. “Under the lease agreement between New Britain and the Rock Cats, the team is responsible for paying the electric and utilities they used while tenants of New Britain Stadium.”
The outstanding bills are for the 2015 year and include $80,000 to Eversource, $47,900 to TransCanada, $8,600 to Connecticut Natural Gas and $12,200 for water and sewer.
Historically, the City pays the bills throughout the year and in the Rock Cats’ contract, they are responsible for paying it back.
Stewart said they have always paid it back, but this year the City has not received the payment.
“They still have quite a few obligations before they are home free in Hartford,” said Stewart. “We certainly hope they will fulfill their obligations to us. It is past due and we are hoping they remit payment immediately.”
Last year the City had a similar problem with the Rock Cats as the team did not pay over $164,000 in taxes to Berlin.
“I was not going to sour our relationship with Berlin so I paid the taxes and had to give the Rock Cats a letter that they give us the money back,” said Stewart. “They have not yet closed the door and turned all the keys over.”
Stewart is hoping this letter will have similar results with this payment.
“I will not sit silent and have taxpayers foot the bill for these utilities,” Stewart added. “I continue to be troubled by the ownership’s continuing disrespect for the agreement they had with the City. We have held up our end of the lease and acted with professionalism throughout our relationship with them. Now it’s time for them to respond accordingly.”
The Rock Cats decided to leave New Britain for Hartford last year. In Hartford a new stadium is being built for the team, but is far behind schedule and will not be ready for opening day.
The team did not give New Britain any notice before making its announcement to depart the City.
Mayor Stewart announced in August that a new team in the New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League will occupy the stadium.
“Everything is going well with the Bees. They are proving to be a great community partner. We will be happy when Rocky has finally exited,” said Stewart. “Our stadium is ready and our team will be playing on Opening Day, April 21.”
The City Journal was unable to reach a representative of the Rock Cats for comment.
