Hartford cuts ties with stadium developers

No, baseball and ballpark fans, the Dunkin’ Donuts Park soap ain’t over yet.

Last Friday, the devolopers  Centerplan Cos. and DoNo LLC sent an email indicating that the construction of the ballpark would take another additional 60 days before it could be called ready for occupancy. This caused the Hartford Stadium Authority to cancel the contract with the two developers.

In the past few weeks, the tensions between the developers and the city intensified after the May 17 deadline wasn’t met. If this date would have been met, the YardGoats could have played their first home game in Dunkin’ Donuts Park on May 31.

According to the developers, the city is to blame for the delay as well, as it made too many design chances in the course of the construction.

The stadium was part of a bigger plan that is named Downtown North, a mixed-use development that includes retail, residences, and dining. Centerplan Cos. and DoNo LLC are the developer of this plan as well. But it remains to be seen if they will. The city council and mayor Bronin will decide on this later.

Now the city has terminated the contract and called for the insurance bond, there is a very big chance that the YardGoats may not play in their stadium this season at all.

Furthermore, the Eastern League has yet to make any announcements about the Yard Goats’ remaining schedule. According to the latest update, the team has to play two home series this month at Norwich’s Dodd Stadium, and another one at Reading’s FirstEnergy Field.

I think it is safe to say that the home opener will be in 2017, unless the city of Hartford manages to strike a quick deal with another developer.