Dunkin’ Donuts Park in downtown Hartford was scheduled to open April 7. Last winter, it was obvious that deadline wasn’t going to be met, so Opening Day was pushed back to May 31, with the requirement that the ballpark be “substantially complete” two weeks before that date.
With restrooms unfinished, a key elevator not complete, concession stands not ready to prepare food and a significant portion of protective railing needing to be replaced, the park failed to meet the definition of “substantially complete.” As a consequence, the Eastern League announced today that the Hartford Yard Goats will have to play an additional ten “home” games away from Connecticut’s capital city.
Their temporary home will continue to be Dodd Stadium (see photo), which is about a 45-minute drive away in Norwich, CT. If you were heading to Hartford for the May 31 opener, and would settle for seeing the franchise play in Norwich instead that day (a la yours truly), you’re out of luck. The EL wiped that date off of the Yard Goats’ schedule, and instead they will play a double header at Dodd Stadium the following day.
The Yards Goats’ “home” series against the Fightin Phils on June 14-16 will now be played in Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium, one of the nicest at the Double-A level.
Following the ten additional games to be played away from Hartford, the next home game is scheduled for June 21. The Eastern League stopped short of announcing that the 21st would be the delayed-and-then-delayed-again home opener for the new ballpark. It will certainly be no sooner than that, though.
Back in January when it became apparent the ballpark wasn’t going to be ready for the beginning of the season in April, the City incorporated certain penalties should the developer of the park fail to meet the revised date of May 31. Now that the two-weeks-out deadline has passed, the City is deciding whether to charge those penalties, which are $50,000 for the first day, plus $15,000 for each day thereafter. The City also has the right to replace the developer, which would likely create even more delays.
More details can be found in the Hartford Courant.
I know someone who lives in Texas that is very unhappy about this!
Yes, yours truly is very ticked off about this. Maybe when the City gets around to collecting penalty payments from the developer for failing to meet the deadline, I should apply for some damages, too, for the travel I’ve booked to be in Hartford on the 31st!