© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WNPR News sports coverage brings you a mix of local and statewide news from our reporters as well as national and global news from around the world from NPR.

Should Minor League Rock Cats Relocate to Hartford?

The lure of professional sports teams has often been irresistible to municipal leaders. It’s very easy to imagine a stadium filled with happy fans, spending money and spreading civic pride.

It was with that vision that Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra announced that his city would be building a new ballpark for the AA New Britain Rock Cats -- luring a team to the vacant wasteland of parking lots in a part of the city known as “Downtown North.”

It seems, though, that the new ballpark -- planned to be built with up to $60 million dollars in borrowed money -- is not a done deal, at least according to city council president Shawn Wooden, who says he wants to “protect taxpayers.”

The plan faces opposition from a number of fronts, including advocates for a downtown supermarket and long-debated mixed-used development in that part of town. And, of course, from New Britain officials who expressed shock at the year-and-a-half, secret negotiations between the ballclub and Hartford.

This hour, the ongoing story of bringing baseball to Hartford, and what it means to both the Capital City and the state.

GUESTS:
 

  • Jeff Cohen - WNPR Reporter
  • Thomas Deller - Director of the Department of Developmental Services for the City of Hartford
  • Shawn Wooden - President of the Hartford city council; is also in the Aug. 12 primary for the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Senate District
  • Pedro Segarra - Mayor of Hartford
  • Larry Deutsch - Hartford City Council Minority Leader
  • Rex Fowler - Executive Director of the Hartford Community Loan Fund

Tucker Ives is WNPR's morning news producer.
Catie Talarski is Senior Director of Storytelling and Radio Programming at Connecticut Public.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content