NHL Hartford Whalers returning to Hartford?

lakerboy · 06-09-23, 09:01 AM

Mike Liut
Kevin Dineen
Ron Francis

deltgen · 06-09-23, 09:06 AM

They really did have a decent fan base. It just didn't make much sense to literally play in an arena inside a mall (although that was kind of a cool concept, I thought.)

pavyracer · 06-09-23, 09:10 AM

Too many teams in that area. Can't compete with Rangers, Islanders and Bruins. They are building a new arena in Alpharetta. That's where the team is going.

stevenash · 06-09-23, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by deltgen

They really did have a decent fan base. It just didn't make much sense to literally play in an arena inside a mall (although that was kind of a cool concept, I thought.)

Gov. Ned Lamont said yesterday to make this happen XL Center would have to be NHL ready.
XL is NBA ready, that's where the UCONN women and men play the home games.

Whatler merchandise is still selling like hotcakes, and they haven't played in over 25 years, their merchandise is still in the top ten.

I'm from Connecticut, I love the idea.

The complaint from some of the fan base is going to be "I only make 60k a year, I can't afford a 200 dollar decent seat for one game"

I get that, but on the flip side, if you sell out the 40 game regular season, that's 800.000 people, and 800,000 people with money to spend is going to bring in beau coup revenue to our state.

Gov. Lamont is trying to make this happen.
I love our Governor, and I haven't said that about any politician in a long time.

lakerboy · 06-09-23, 11:00 AM

Better to go to Quebec city but Bettman is a prick. ATL tried again and it didn't work and Jets got there team back. Minnesota worked I guess.

stevenash · 06-09-23, 11:04 AM

^
From what I'm gathering the two options are Alpharetta and Hartford Ct.

Snowball · 06-09-23, 11:25 AM

I once went to a Whalers game. It was cool being in a shopping mall, and just walking right into the hockey arena from the mall seamlessly.
I have to say that arena made the most of its space because I remember how steep the steps were. You had to be careful going up and down those cement steps.

Da Manster! · 06-09-23, 04:32 PM

Don't think it's gonna happen but I would love to see Hartford get the Whalers back!...same team, logo, uniform, and colors!...don't change a thing!

packerd_00 · 06-10-23, 01:36 AM

Originally posted by lakerboy

Better to go to Quebec city but Bettman is a prick. ATL tried again and it didn't work and Jets got there team back. Minnesota worked I guess.

If they can go back to Winnipeg surely Quebec should get another shot.

hehfest · 06-10-23, 01:38 AM

Originally posted by lakerboy

Better to go to Quebec city but Bettman is a prick. ATL tried again and it didn't work and Jets got there team back. Minnesota worked I guess.

That would be dam cool to get the Nordiques back into the fold. My favorite team growing up was Hartford probably because of the jerseys. Then, Quebec was second. LOL. I still have "mini-sticks" these plastic souvenir sticks I got at Wings games as a kid. They had this cheap piece of tape on them with Nordiques or whatever. I used to heat the things up and make a curve on them and played with a piece of tape all bunched up. Bad-ass little kids hockey game 100%. After writing this, I'm not share why the F I went on about that. Just brings back the memories.

hehfest · 06-10-23, 01:39 AM

Originally posted by stevenash

^
From what I'm gathering the two options are Alpharetta and Hartford Ct.

Where the F is Alpharetta?

stevenash · 06-10-23, 06:24 AM

Originally posted by hehfest

Where the F is Alpharetta?

Just outside of Atlanta (Pavy country) where the Flames used to play.
The Flames couldn't draw flies so the team relocated tp Alberta.

There's a proposal to build a two billion dollar entertainment center there, even still I don't think NHL hockey is coming back to the Allana area

pavyracer · 06-10-23, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by hehfest

Where the F is Alpharetta?

hehfest · 06-10-23, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by stevenash

Just outside of Atlanta (Pavy country) where the Flames used to play.
The Flames couldn't draw flies so the team relocated tp Alberta.

There's a proposal to build a two billion dollar entertainment center there, even still I don't think NHL hockey is coming back to the Allana area

They've had Thrashers too. Yeah, forget Alpharetta. Bad move! One thing for sure is Canadian fans will show up to the games if back in Quebec. Not as sure about Hartford though.

Otters27 · 06-11-23, 01:48 AM

Same jerseys please

stevenash · 06-11-23, 11:21 AM

The best quote I ever read regarding the Whalers was by a writer whose name I don't remember over ten years ago.

He called them "The Hartford 50/50's, the most popular .500 pro team in any sport in the history of pro sports"