BUILDING UPON HARTFORD S EXCITING TRANSFORMATION DILLON STADIUM COLTSVILLE REDEVELOPMENT

Transcription

1 BUILDING UPON HARTFORD S EXCITING TRANSFORMATION DILLON STADIUM COLTSVILLE REDEVELOPMENT

2 OUR VISION To amplify Hartford s transformation with a redevelopment project that inspires civic pride, contributes to our city, and makes Hartford a rewarding place to live, work, and play. 2

3 OUR VISION Three Pillars of Success to make this vision a reality: 1. The Right Management Team 2. The Right League 3. The Right Venue 3

4 THE RIGHT MANAGEMENT TEAM Founded in 2015, the Hartford Sports Group is a team of successful Hartford business leaders with strong city ties committed to investing in the community and bringing professional soccer to Hartford. Bruce A. Mandell Joseph A. Calafiore Scott M. Schooley Soccer Advisors Forrest Eber Brett Lashbrook Hartford Based Financially Strong Civic-Minded Hartford Public Library Boys & Girls Club of Hartford Hartford Youth Scholarship Foundation Greater Hartford Arts Council Charter Oak Community Center Mandell Multiple Sclerosis Center Mandell JCC 4

5 THE RIGHT LEAGUE UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE

6 6

7 THE RIGHT LEAGUE - THE USL USL is growing 30 teams in 2017 with 3 new expansion Markets joining in 2018 (Nashville, Las Vegas, Fresno) Tier 2 Sanctioned second division 34 Regular Season Games + Additional Exhibition Games Surpassed 2 million total attendance in 2017 Affiliation With MLS Avid, young, and diverse core fan base World Class players Tier 1 Tier 3 Tier or 2019 TBD Sanctioning TBD Unofficial Tier 4 NCAA, Youth, Club Soccer 7

8 THE RIGHT LEAGUE - THE USL Marquee group of dedicated and experienced club owners with financial stability: Strong national media partnerships: 8

9 THE RIGHT LEAGUE - USL MARKETS 9

10 THE RIGHT LEAGUE USL + HARTFORD Hartford is the right city for the USL Avid soccer fan base/community support in Greater Hartford Hosted 12 U.S. National Team matches American Outlaws Hartford Chapter #2 TV Ratings for Premier League Season (2015) #6 TV Ratings for World Cup (2014) UConn Men s soccer top five in attendance in each of the last 18 seasons Strong youth soccer participation across the state Strong corporate sponsorship base Urban Appeal of Dillon Front Street to Coltsville Corridor City focused on growing Gen Z and Millennials Opportunity for Urban Stadium Diverse Community March to the Match

11 THE RIGHT VENUE - DILLON STADIUM 11

12 THE RIGHT VENUE - COMMUNITY ASSET ICON Venue Group Stadium Review Current state unfit and unsafe Renovation Plan - $10.7 million Viable for USL Viable for community and other revenue generating events Artificial turf Sufficient Parking On Urban Corridor Front Street to Dillon Existing Structure Easy Access to & Visible from I-91 13

13 DILLON STADIUM RENOVATION PLAN

14 14

15 15

16 16

17 PROPOSAL SUMMARY

18 PROPOSAL SUMMARY Public-Private partnership to revitalize a community asset: HSG invests $7.5mm - $10mm in startup and operating costs to field a USL franchise that will provide an anchor tenant for Dillon stadium as well as the financial strength to support a marketing, branding and sales organization on par with other successful USL clubs CRDA and City of Hartford to allocate funds to revitalize venue for the USL anchor tenant while also creating a public asset that can attract other revenue-generating opportunities as well as community events (initially estimated at $10.7mm by ICON Venue Group) CRDA to manage the venue and leverage operational efficiencies as they have successfully done at similar venues in Hartford 18

19 BENEFITS FOR COLTSVILLE, HARTFORD & CT HSG to Pay CRDA $125k/year in rent HSG to Attract 100,000+ fans downtown Significant ancillary spending at bars, restaurants, etc. HSG to Generate Significant New Tax Revenue Hotel Occupancy Tax Projection of $220k+/year* (estimate) Admissions Tax Projection of $244k+/year (estimate) HSG to Create NEW Jobs in the Region 45 Full-time Jobs 75+ Part-time/Hourly Jobs Successful Track Records in Sacramento, Cincinnati, Louisville Studies from other markets have shown more than $5mm/year in economic impact from USL team + stadium * Hotel roomnight data based on a 2017 study by Kinship Consulting regarding a new USL team and stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 19

20 BUT WAIT THERE S MORE! Restore a historic community asset Stimulate economic activity and generate revenue that can be reinvested in Coltsville Rally civic pride Connect the urban core (Coltsville National Historical Park to Front St.) Spur further redevelopment initiatives Support grassroots youth soccer development, promoting health and wellness among the City s youth Generate local, regional, and national media exposure for Hartford Provide new advertising and business development opportunities for local businesses Elevate Hartford s image as a sports, tourism and entertainment destination 20

21 CONCLUSION OUR VISION: Accelerate Hartford s exciting transformation. KEY ELEMENTS FOR SUCCESS: The Right Management Team The Right League The Right Venue Working with the CRDA, Hartford and the State, we can make this a reality. 21