By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – As if the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) needed another headache with the XL Center.
The ongoing bidding process to marry the CRDA with real-world economics, including meeting the XL Center’s long-needed $107.2 million revitalization estimate, is underway. But, unfortunately, they’ve now encountered another unforeseen speed bump.
The much-heralded and much-needed cash flow of having a sports betting venue in Hartford lost its primary partner on Thursday. The already selected outfit, known as Rush Street, informed all the powers that be that they were exiting the stalled project because of supply chain issues. While they finally received some major pieces and were getting ready to install them, they declared they were leaving, just as hope for a late spring opening was finally coming into sight. Their departure leaves the project in the dust.
This was certainly not helpful.
CRDA Executive Director Mike Freimuth e-mailed a response that the smoldering fire would be put out in short order.
After being asked if Rush Street’s departure as a new development meant the end of sports betting before it even started in Hartford, Freimuth responded very directly. “No,” He wrote. “The (Connecticut) Lottery (CLC – Connecticut Lottery Commission, oversees all sports betting by statute) and Rush Street are ending their relationship. The (Connecticut) Lottery will select a new vendor, and we’ll insert them into XL sports bar.”
Rush Street’s departure still raises a whole range of questions. Can CRDA find, properly vet, and have a new partner before the opening? Can they meet the criteria needed with a time crunch on an opening act that sports betting in Connecticut has already opened elsewhere in the state and twenty miles up the road in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MGM Casino? They just opened that portion of their gambling options recently.
Are all the issues regarding upcoming concerts and potential Hartford Wolf Pack playoff hockey going to further delay the time frame to possible installation until mid-May, as rumored to elongate the opening date?
This leaves the XL Center with potentially unfinished or completed work and no operator. Can this help the negotiating of a new long-term lease with OVG (Oak View Group), getting the estimates they seek, or new lease deals with UCONN and MSG?
Only time will tell.
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