The Hartford Yard Goats have once again postponed their home opener. It ws announced this afternoon that its first home game will not come until after Thursday, June 16.
Originally scheduled to open their season on April 7, opening day was pushed back until May 31 because of massive construction delays at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in downtown Hartford. When developers didn’t have the stadium substantially completed by May 17, the team and its league needed to extend the AA team’s home game schedule at Dodd Stadium in Norwich.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said Wednesday afternoon that it’s “quite likely” the city will pursue financial penalties against the developer of Downtown North’s minor league baseball stadium once the key construction deadline passed.
“The developer has not met today’s deadline for substantial completion, and it’s clear that they will not be done by the 24th, which was the grace period built in,” Bronin said. “We will be working with all of the parties involved and assessing our options. We want to get the stadium open as quickly as possible, but we also need to hold our partners accountable and protect the city’s interests.”
DoNo Hartford LLC and Centerplan Cos. could face tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties, depending on how long it takes them to reach “substantial completion” on the stadium, which will be the new home of the former New Britain Rock Cats, renamed the Hartford Yard Goats.
The penalties are $50,000 on the first day past the deadline, followed by $15,000 per day until the stadium is done.
Following a tour of the stadium this week, Hartford Stadium Authority Chairman I. Charles Mathews told NBC Connecticut that he thinks the stadium will be ready for opening day by late June or the first week of July.
Mathews could not immediately be reached Thursday morning.
But if he’s right, penalties could amass to as much as $700,000.
The stadium is just one piece of an overall plan for Downtown North. Future phases call for a hotel, housing and other amenities.