HARTFORD- A brand new arena in downtown Hartford? That was one option considered at a meeting Thursday night about the future of the XL Center.
Millions were recently spent for renovations at the XL Center, but the problem is that those upgrades are just a temporary fix. So Thursday night, after a three-month study, consultants came forward with two ideas for more long term plans.
They told the Capital Region Development Authority board members just how outdated the XL Center really is and how recent upgrades only amount to a five-year "band-aid" at best. A big concern is that electrical and mechanical infrastructure issues persist.
So the consultants presented two options:
1. Spend $250 million expanding and renovating the current arena onto Trumbull Street and/or across Church Street
2. Spend $500 Million tearing down the XL Center and rebuilding a bigger one on the same site
Both plans would have more modernized facilities, such as dual concourses that are wider and more lower-bowl seating.
Both options would be "economic growth engines," according to Murray Beynon of SCI Architects.
"They would essentially be the same. Their financial operating performance would not be different in any appreciable way," said Beynon.
The same, except one costs double the money.
The consultants did ensure that both proposed options would accommodate the needs of an NHL team.
"Nobody thought that Winnipeg would ever get a new NHL team and that happened overnight. So you have to have this new building in place and the opportunity may present itself," said Beynon.
That alone is exciting news for Hartford Whalers diehards like Jerry Erwin.
As for those two options? He only sees one real option.
"We can't tear it down. You can't go dark for three years. The competitors outside the Connecticut market are going to succeed," said Erwin.
But that's if an NHL team is your top priority. The consultants suggested that UConn become a partner instead of a tenant, as the university is now. Under that plan, the school would be required to hold more marquee match-ups at the XL Center.
Ultimately there are pros and cons to both plans. A brand new arena provides more seats in the lower level, but would take three years to build. Expansion of the existing arena allows the facility to stay open longer, even during some of the proposed renovations.
"It's up to the taxpayers and the government to decide what is the best decision for the state and the city to do," said Beynon.
It's estimated that it would cost an extra $15 million in the expansion option to make the XL Center "NHL ready," but of course even that wouldn't guarantee an NHL team's relocation to Hartford.
There's no timetable for the development authority's decision.
They'll likely try to build consensus among the community, secure state funding and then, hopefully, start construction of some type in three to five years.