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New Britain Rockcats Minor Leage Baseball Ends 9 year marriage to Buckley

At least New Britain still has a minor league baseball team. Unlike New Haven and Norwich, New Britain drew fairly well for a team which didn't make the playoffs last season. As for their affiliation, the Red Sox are with the Portland Seadogs in Maine, and their buisness is doing quite well up there as a result. (I was at the Rock Cats road game there last Memorial Day.) As for the Yankees, they had their chance in Norwich. They moved to Trenton and they're presently the two-time defending Eastern League Champions. As for being with the Minnesota Twins, is that any worse than Norwich being with the San Francisco Giants? Lastly, Norwich completely changed their logo. OK, so did New Britain, but at least "New Britain" was kept somewhere near the logo. We came in back in 1995 as "Hardware City", realized it lacked identity and changed it to New Britain. Phew!

Getting this all back to radio, who carries the Defenders games on radio anyways? ???
 
KML-224 said:
At least New Britain still has a minor league baseball team. Unlike New Haven and Norwich, New Britain drew fairly well for a team which didn't make the playoffs last season. As for their affiliation, the Red Sox are with the Portland Seadogs in Maine, and their buisness is doing quite well up there as a result. (I was at the Rock Cats road game there last Memorial Day.) As for the Yankees, they had their chance in Norwich. They moved to Trenton and they're presently the two-time defending Eastern League Champions. As for being with the Minnesota Twins, is that any worse than Norwich being with the San Francisco Giants? Lastly, Norwich completely changed their logo. OK, so did New Britain, but at least "New Britain" was kept somewhere near the logo. We came in back in 1995 as "Hardware City", realized it lacked identity and changed it to New Britain. Phew!

Getting this all back to radio, who carries the Defenders games on radio anyways? ???
Click to expand...
You think New Haven will get another team?
 
videokilledtheradiostar said:
KML-224 said:
At least New Britain still has a minor league baseball team. Unlike New Haven and Norwich, New Britain drew fairly well for a team which didn't make the playoffs last season. As for their affiliation, the Red Sox are with the Portland Seadogs in Maine, and their buisness is doing quite well up there as a result. (I was at the Rock Cats road game there last Memorial Day.) As for the Yankees, they had their chance in Norwich. They moved to Trenton and they're presently the two-time defending Eastern League Champions. As for being with the Minnesota Twins, is that any worse than Norwich being with the San Francisco Giants? Lastly, Norwich completely changed their logo. OK, so did New Britain, but at least "New Britain" was kept somewhere near the logo. We came in back in 1995 as "Hardware City", realized it lacked identity and changed it to New Britain. Phew!

Getting this all back to radio, who carries the Defenders games on radio anyways? ???
Click to expand...
You think New Haven will get another team?
Click to expand...

In these economic times, I have my doubts.

Everyone's forgetting the Bluefish. They have been quite a success story for the minors. Not sure about recent attendance rates though.
 
videokilledtheradiostar said:
Maybe cause we are between 2 major markets there is not interest for minor league sports?
Click to expand...

Oh really? If that were the case, then explain to me why The Rockcats have been setting attendence records every year for the past few years? They have had more sell-out games in the past few years than they ever had in their entire history dating back to when they played at Muzzy Field in Bristol.
 
MarcB said:
videokilledtheradiostar said:
Maybe cause we are between 2 major markets there is not interest for minor league sports?
Click to expand...

Oh really? If that were the case, then explain to me why The Rockcats have been setting attendence records every year for the past few years? They have had more sell-out games in the past few years than they ever had in their entire history dating back to when they played at Muzzy Field in Bristol.
Click to expand...

The Rock Cats are an anomaly. The team has been brilliantly marketed as part of a fun night out for the whole family, and just about everything at the ballpark and between innings is designed to delight the kids. Even the "dull" parts of the game (though as a baseball fan I personally subscribe to the belief that baseball is only dull to dull minds) are enlivened for the kids by funny sound effects over the PA system or clips from "Family Guy," "SpongeBob" or Will Ferell movies on the big screen. The Ravens never did anything like this. Neither did the West Haven Yankees/A's or the Waterbury franchise, which was affiliated with at least a half dozen teams in its 20 years in the Eastern League.

However, I don't think it's a secret that the Rock Cats' attendance figures are inflated by discounted tickets distributed to youth groups and schools and coupons for freebies given out at various events -- including free seats for upcoming games to anyone wearing a seat belt on the way into the park on "Click It Or Ticket" nights. The team also counts empty seats as fans if those seats are held by season ticket holders or sponsors. I've been to many a chilly April game where there might have been 800 people in the place and the attendance is still announced as 2,300. Same for youth group days when the weather isn't great -- sellout announced, but park only half to three-quarters full, and the kids are usually gone by the sixth inning.
 
MarcB said:
videokilledtheradiostar said:
Maybe cause we are between 2 major markets there is not interest for minor league sports?
Click to expand...

Oh really? If that were the case, then explain to me why The Rockcats have been setting attendence records every year for the past few years? They have had more sell-out games in the past few years than they ever had in their entire history dating back to when they played at Muzzy Field in Bristol.
Click to expand...
There are a few examples of successful minor league teams Rockcats, Bluefish, and maybe a couple more. But New Haven hasn't supported a minor league team in a few years.
 
Reading the comments after that article, I'm surprised that New Britain was only mentioned in passing. Strange!
 
Re: Defenders to Richmond next season

bub said:
MarcB said:
The CT Defenders Minor League team will be moving from Norwich, CT to Richmond, VA next season. (2010)

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/breaking/x679398855/Defenders-headed-to-Richmond-Va-for-2010
Click to expand...
According to this article from the official web site of Minor League Baseball, pure speculation only. Nothing set in bronze.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/...13&content_id=509371&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp
Click to expand...

Wouldn't be surprised to see it happen. No matter who's been running the show in Norwich, attendance has been poor, especially in the years since the Yankees left for greener pastures in Trenton. And it wasn't all that great when the Yankees were there. The affiliation with the SF Giants would be a big enough challenge by itself, but throw in the fact that the parent club has generally preferred fielding older players acquired through free agency or trade to developing its own young talent and you have absolutely no marketing hook for the baseball (as opposed to entertainment) aspect of the operation.

Did you know that the Rock Cats have refused to call the club "Connecticut" since it dropped "Norwich" from its name a few years back? It's true. The standings board next to the program stand always reads "Defenders" and when the team is in town to play the Rock Cats, the abbreviation on the scoreboard is "DEF," rather than the "POR" (Portland), "TRE" (Trenton), "BING" (Binghamton), etc. that the other teams get. How's that for pettiness? Wanna bet NB becomes the Connecticut Rock Cats after the Navigators leave the state?
 
Re: Defenders to Richmond next season

CTListener said:
bub said:
MarcB said:
The CT Defenders Minor League team will be moving from Norwich, CT to Richmond, VA next season. (2010)

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/breaking/x679398855/Defenders-headed-to-Richmond-Va-for-2010
Click to expand...
According to this article from the official web site of Minor League Baseball, pure speculation only. Nothing set in bronze.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/...13&content_id=509371&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp
Click to expand...

Wouldn't be surprised to see it happen. No matter who's been running the show in Norwich, attendance has been poor, especially in the years since the Yankees left for greener pastures in Trenton. And it wasn't all that great when the Yankees were there. The affiliation with the SF Giants would be a big enough challenge by itself, but throw in the fact that the parent club has generally preferred fielding older players acquired through free agency or trade to developing its own young talent and you have absolutely no marketing hook for the baseball (as opposed to entertainment) aspect of the operation.

Did you know that the Rock Cats have refused to call the club "Connecticut" since it dropped "Norwich" from its name a few years back? It's true. The standings board next to the program stand always reads "Defenders" and when the team is in town to play the Rock Cats, the abbreviation on the scoreboard is "DEF," rather than the "POR" (Portland), "TRE" (Trenton), "BING" (Binghamton), etc. that the other teams get. How's that for pettiness? Wanna bet NB becomes the Connecticut Rock Cats after the Navigators leave the state?
Click to expand...

It's not being petty at all. With another team in Connecticut at the time(Rockcats), Lou Debella had no right to call the Norwich team Connecticut. Besides they had a verbal agreement at the time with the Rockcats not to use Connecticut in their team name. But it looks like New Britain is having the last laugh now. And no, New Britain will not change it's name to Connecticut Rockcats. I can almost guarantee you that. They have a long time relationship with New Britain and would do nothing to upset that. Can't argue with their success by focusing on being a local team. Still the best sporting value for families out there by far.
 
Re: Defenders to Richmond next season

ComminSensei said:
CTListener said:
bub said:
MarcB said:
The CT Defenders Minor League team will be moving from Norwich, CT to Richmond, VA next season. (2010)

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/breaking/x679398855/Defenders-headed-to-Richmond-Va-for-2010
Click to expand...
According to this article from the official web site of Minor League Baseball, pure speculation only. Nothing set in bronze.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/...13&content_id=509371&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp
Click to expand...

Wouldn't be surprised to see it happen. No matter who's been running the show in Norwich, attendance has been poor, especially in the years since the Yankees left for greener pastures in Trenton. And it wasn't all that great when the Yankees were there. The affiliation with the SF Giants would be a big enough challenge by itself, but throw in the fact that the parent club has generally preferred fielding older players acquired through free agency or trade to developing its own young talent and you have absolutely no marketing hook for the baseball (as opposed to entertainment) aspect of the operation.

Did you know that the Rock Cats have refused to call the club "Connecticut" since it dropped "Norwich" from its name a few years back? It's true. The standings board next to the program stand always reads "Defenders" and when the team is in town to play the Rock Cats, the abbreviation on the scoreboard is "DEF," rather than the "POR" (Portland), "TRE" (Trenton), "BING" (Binghamton), etc. that the other teams get. How's that for pettiness? Wanna bet NB becomes the Connecticut Rock Cats after the Navigators leave the state?
Click to expand...

It's not being petty at all. With another team in Connecticut at the time(Rockcats), Lou Debella had no right to call the Norwich team Connecticut. Besides they had a verbal agreement at the time with the Rockcats not to use Connecticut in their team name. But it looks like New Britain is having the last laugh now. And no, New Britain will not change it's name to Connecticut Rockcats. I can almost guarantee you that. They have a long time relationship with New Britain and would do nothing to upset that. Can't argue with their success by focusing on being a local team. Still the best sporting value for families out there by far.
Click to expand...

The Dodgers (or, for that matter, the Giants, who also play in California and were there before the Angels) had no problem with the Angels when they were the California Angels. It was the recent co-opting of "Los Angeles" by the Anaheim-based club that pushed the Dodgers to do the same thing the Rock Cats are now doing: That other "Los Angeles" team is "Angels" on the out-of-town scoreboard. To me, that's not petty. The Angels aren't a Los Angeles team, the Dodgers are. But both New Britain and Norwich are in Connecticut. If Levy and Dowling wanted no other baseball team in the state to use "Connecticut" in its name, why didn't they use it in their own team's name? As for "verbal" (actually, oral or spoken) agreements ... hey, if it's that important to you, get DeBella to agree to it in writing. Both Levy and Dowling are lawyers; they should have known better.
 
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