The Future of Dillon Stadium high-quality facilities for our families and revenue streams and practical and community groups. This is an opportunity pragmatic expenditures over time. Our Civic Mind to create a premier venue with our revenue sources include grassroots students and our community as our top capital campaigns, strategic business Approach: priority. partnerships, fee-based and sponsored programming, event operations, The revitalization of Dillon Stadium is a services rendered, as well as private and “We First” not multi-faceted community development philanthropic investment. project that will serve as a tremendous “Me First” asset for the people of Hartford and 2. The Process Greater Hartford. More specifically, We believe the process is just as we understand this endeavor to be important as the outcome. A deliberative, Civic Mind is proud to submit our plan to comprised of two separate, yet equally transparent community-driven redevelop Dillon Stadium as a premier important opportunities: development process can efectively community venue and future home to serve to rebuild trust and confidence professional sports teams. Our goal is to 1. The Project among the City of Hartford, its residents, lead the fiscally and socially responsible Dillon Stadium and Colt Park have and regional stakeholders. A continuous development of a historically significant extraordinary potential to become public participation process will be the public park for the residents of Hartford regional and statewide attractions for trademark of the project’s redevelopment and the Greater Hartford region. Our plan diverse, multi-generational audiences approach and will drive capital investment respects the legacy of Dillon Stadium and user groups. Our demand-driven decisions. as an anchor of historic Colt Park and approach provides venue upgrades as a public space that belongs, first and pragmatically and sustainably over Civic Mind and our partners provide foremost, to the people of Hartford. time. Our plan represents an equitable the necessary leadership and expertise public-private partnership, matching to transform this distressed park into a Most importantly, we believe Dillon private investment with any taxpayer regional asset. Our team fully appreciates Stadium should be fundamentally contribution. the integrity and commitment required designed as a shared resource for our to successfully deliver on such a pivotal schools and our community. This project Our financial model achieves project. Our process provides a unique is a matter of equitable access to safe, sustainability through diversified opportunity to build public confidence through transparency, clarity of purpose regional rivalry and alumni events. The recognize this project as a turning point and community-driven decisions. calendar will provide equitable access toward fiscal and social responsibility for Hartford schools to a venue with where we build things together Design Partner: Stantec desirable amenities otherwise unseen prioritizing “we” first, not “me” first. Civic Mind has interviewed three globally in our city and curated to introduce recognized stadium development firms suburban communities and new In partnership, and subsequently selected Stantec Sport audiences to Hartford. as our development partner. Stantec’s exemplary track record to design and In Closing build similar projects and their shared We are confident we possess the unique commitment to a robust community credibility and deepest understanding engagement process are perfectly of the venue’s important role and value aligned with our development approach. to our community. Our plan responsibly develops Dillon Stadium over time TJ Clynch Operational Partner: CIAC through collaboration, humility and Founder, Civic Mind Civic Mind has also partnered with the patience. Our approach empowers our [email protected] Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic community to shape a sustainable future Conference (CIAC), the sole governing for the venue, responsibly invests our body of Connecticut high school athletics. resources and maximizes the use of our CIAC’s partnership will create a venue public assets. Meanwhile, our strategic fundamentally designed with the safety partnerships enhance our ability to of our student-athletes, families and fans, unite the community’s diverse interests while reinforcing the integrity of sport and and efectively mobilize our collective competition. resources. Our partnership with CIAC will establish Dillon Stadium can be revitalized as a an annual calendar of competitive and space for both public play and private inspiring high school sporting events enterprise, but the development must including Connecticut state tournament not be guided by self-interest, personal and championship games as well as ambitions or political patronage. Let’s Phase 1A The Plan Our development plan is designed in phases to grows the venue over time with our community’s needs. Phases are entered based on secured user groups, operational Phase 1B Phase 2 demands and available resources. Our goal is to design the stadium for maximum use by diverse groups and reflect Phase 3 Renderings of development represent the shared values of our an evolving vision for the future of Dillon Stadium. Beyond 2019, the community. community-driven master planning process will define additional venue upgrades and enhancements. 2018 2019 Phase 1A Phase 1B Today, Dillon stadium sits in significant disrepair. Phase 1A is In 2019, Phase 1B will be executed, completing Phase crucial to restore core functionality, upgrade key amenities I, completing the initial expansion of seating capacity, and ensure player and fan safety. Our $1.5 million in private stadium infrastructure and fan amenities. funding, combined with $1.75 million in CRDA community development dollars dedicated to Coltsville, will provide: • New turf playing surface FUTURE PHASES • Necessary safety improvements and ADA compliance • New lighting Future phases are detailed through our master planning • Upgraded AV process and guided by public participation. As demand • Upgraded Restrooms and Locker Rooms at Dillon Stadium increases, Civic Mind will work with our community to engage new user groups and incorporate Phase 1A can be achieved by 2018. This will make Dillon their respective needs and resources into future design Stadium usable for Hartford residents, especially Hartford phases. Schools who deserve reliable, high-quality venues for their athletic programs. Anticipated additional user groups might include: • Universities and colleges 2018 would also see the implementation of a robust public • Pro-sports teams participation process to thoughtfully design the stadium with • Athletic camps and training programs community input and feedback. This would include master • Cultural and civic programming planning future phases while determining the overall design • Special events and performances aesthetic and user experience of the venue. 2018 2019 Hartford City FC is nicknamed the “Colts” who was a Captain in the Continental for the team’s emblem symbolizing the Army during the Revolutionary War. Colt Arms Factory distinctive dome, painted deep blue with gold stars. HCFC Hartford City FC: is comprised of Connecticut based Regional Brand Exposure players. Opponents & Location 2017 Attendance averaged 1,000+ with • Seacoast United – Portland, ME 400+ season ticket holders while playing • Greater Lowell – Lowell, MA in New Britain. • Boston City FC – Boston, MA • Rhode Island Reds – Providence, RI Projected 2018 attendance at Dillon • Kingston Stockade – Kingston, NY Stadium is 3,000 with 700+ season ticket • Hartford City FC – Hartford, CT holders. Founded in 2016, Hartford • Elm City Express – New Haven, CT • New York Athletic Club – Pelham, NY City FC is a soccer club Major Competitions: NPSL Championship, • New York Cosmos – Manhattan, NY in the National Premier U.S. Open Cup • Brooklyn Italians – Brooklyn, NY Soccer League’s (NPSL), • TSF Academy – Wayne, NJ Corporate Sponsors: Hummel, an independent league Henkel, Armstrong Rockwell, Keeney Hartford Friendly Matches spanning over 100 teams Manufacturing • University of Hartford nationally. • University of Connecticut Afordable match ticket pricing: Family of • Central Connecticut State University four costs $30.00 NPSL teams are eligible to participate in • Oakwood Soccer Club the US Open Cup through their afliation • Portuguese Club of Hartford with the US Soccer Federation (USSF) Established Supporters Group and the United States Adult Soccer The ofcial supporters group of HCFC, Association (USASA). The NPSL remains the “Agents of Hale” is a tribute to one of the largest national league in North Connecticut’s state hero, Nathan Hale, America. Economic development projects use Meanwhile, the City’s past experience presumptive statistical models to predict with sports-based economic development revenue returns such as number of jobs projects—the proposed Patriots’ stadium, The Path created, ticket tax revenue, hotel stays, the Yard Goats Stadium and the 2015 but these figures never materialize. attempt at Dillon Stadium—demonstrate Forward the pitfalls of government leaders In this approach, the community plays concealing their performance and crafting a limited role while politically motivated these deals without public participation. government ofcials negotiate, often Fundamental to our plan is behind closed doors, with a private Alternatively, community development defining our Dillon Stadium enterprise promising ambitious