Mayor Pedro Segarra likes throwing around the word "transparency", but the reality is he much prefers secrecy.
Think back to the 18months leading up to the stadium deal, 18 months of secrecy. Secrecy on the part of Segarra and Deller that led to a rushed deal that was forced upon the people of Hartford. A rushed deal that now appears to have serious problems holding together.
The supermarket that was supposed to be part of a done deal. It was originally supposed to involve a well known supermarket, that vendor has apparently now backed away from the project.
The Hooker brewery deal is in question also now. I probably shouldn't call it a deal because apparently nothing in writing was ever in place. No memo of understanding , no written agreement, apparently nothing other than architects renderings to make the stadium look flashy. A source that spoke with me, wishing to remain anonymous, stated that the deal wasn't dead, but was very precarious.
The source said that the owner of Hooker brewery was looking for other space outside of the stadium to locate his operation. Hooker's owner, Curt Cameron did not return repeated calls for comment. Segarra's spokesperson Maribel Laluz also did not return phone calls for comment. The topic was brought up at Tuesday's Stadium Authority meeting with no specifics as to the direction, only that they were working hard to save the deal.
Wednesday the announcement was made that Dunkin Donuts had been awarded the naming rights for the stadium. Once again shrouded in secrecy, no information would be released on the financials of the deal
Why?
It is a public facility funded in most part, or at this point entirely, by public (taxpayers) dollars. The suspicion is that the deal fell short of the Mayor's estimates of the amount needed to make the project viable. If the announcement has been made, the deal should already be in place and negotiated so releasing information to the public, the people footing the bill for the stadium is important. And if the deal has already been negotiated, why not?
Mayor Segarra was quoted in the Courant as saying "I have not been given exact figures" Nonsense. Any good manager would be on top of the project and know exactly what was going on, especially when the annual deal is critical to the project making its financial projections. More likely, the projection made by Segarra is off the mark of the final deal. $500,000 was needed or the projections would fall short.
Whether it is deals done in secrecy or secret "public excluded" meetings held in the Mayor's Office, it raises suspicion about Segarra's operation much more than it builds public confidence and trust in City hall.
I have FOI'd the documents from the Stadium Authority to see the real numbers
I see the whole Dunkin' Donuts deal this way: Enthusiasm for the stadium and "DoNo" development has been waning for several weeks now. There's been less cheerleading and more questioning and doubts coming from the people who had previously wholeheartedly supported the city's grand plan. Why?
ReplyDeleteThe state has been approached requesting funding for the construction of both the stadium (by Segarra,) and for the ancillary DoNo development (by Centerplan). Apparently, assurances that the Stadium Authority could handle things on that end, and that Centerplan would use only private investment on theirs has proven to be false.
Hooker Brewery is still a big question mark. So is the grocery store, although Centerplan said that if they couldn't sign a grocer, they would build and operate a supermarket themselves (!). Retail? Other than a team store at the stadium, there's been no word about what--if any--retailers have committed to being part of the development. Word from the administration, Centerplan, and the Department of Development has been that great interest is being shown, but again--it's a secret.
So why "Dunkin' Donuts Park"? Maybe--just maybe--they were the only qualified bidder for naming rights, and knowing that, presented the city with a lowball figure. And maybe the city held off hoping for a better offer that would cover their nut. When none arrived, perhaps they became desperate to woo the public back with a little of that old ballpark "spark", which lead to yesterday's announcement complete with a waving, grinning styrofoam coffee cup and free doughnut holes. From the looks of things--like the small crowd at city hall and the lack of enthusiasm on social media--that spark fizzled like a dud firecracker.
That naming rights figure DD proferred must have been must a lot lower than the city's projections, or why else would it be "double secret information"? Almost exactly one year since the "done deal" was announced, nearly everything about this project is still veiled in secrecy and lies.
I see the whole Dunkin' Donuts deal this way: Enthusiasm for the stadium and "DoNo" development has been waning for several weeks now. There's been less cheerleading and more questioning and doubts coming from the people who had previously wholeheartedly supported the city's grand plan. Why?
ReplyDeleteThe state has been approached requesting funding for the construction of both the stadium (by Segarra,) and for the ancillary DoNo development (by Centerplan). Apparently, assurances that the Stadium Authority could handle things on that end, and that Centerplan would use only private investment on theirs has proven to be false.
Hooker Brewery is still a big question mark. So is the grocery store, although Centerplan said that if they couldn't sign a grocer, they would build and operate a supermarket themselves (!). Retail? Other than a team store at the stadium, there's been no word about what--if any--retailers have committed to being part of the development. Word from the administration, Centerplan, and the Department of Development has been that great interest is being shown, but again--it's a secret.
So why "Dunkin' Donuts Park"? Maybe--just maybe--they were the only qualified bidder for naming rights, and knowing that, presented the city with a lowball figure. And maybe the city held off hoping for a better offer that would cover their nut. When none arrived, perhaps they became desperate to woo the public back with a little of that old ballpark "spark", which lead to yesterday's announcement complete with a waving, grinning styrofoam coffee cup and free doughnut holes. From the looks of things--like the small crowd at city hall and the lack of enthusiasm on social media--that spark fizzled like a dud firecracker.
That naming rights figure DD offered must have been must a lot lower than the city's projections, or why else would it be "double secret information"? Almost exactly one year since the "done deal" was announced, nearly everything about this project is still veiled in secrecy and lies.
Your conclusion of "SECRET AND LIES" is truly describing this entire stadium fantasy project
ReplyDeleteSegarra told the Courant about the DD deal: "I have not been given exact figures."
ReplyDeleteYour response Kevin was: "Nonsense. Any good manager... would know exactly" etc.
Kevin, there one problen with your argument:
Everybody knows that Segarra is a BAD manager.
Pedro IS and ALWAYS was a bad manager, nothing new here.
DeleteSegarra said he wasn't given the deal's exact figures. That is not 'nonsense', that's ONE BIG FAT LIE, Segarra. No idiot would believe you, Segarra.
ReplyDeleteHere's the Courant editorials for Friday 6/12 morning:
ReplyDelete"WHY KEEP DUNKIN'S BALLPARK NAMING RIGHTS FEE A SECRET?"
Indeed, Pedro, WHY? What are you hiding there? We're giving you this weekend to think it over with Charlie .
Segarra knows the figure, bet on that. He won't disclose the figure as it is lower than what is needed and projected. He and his staff need time as they know when they release the figure, the very next question will be, how do you intend to close the revenue gap. They are working on this spin.
ReplyDeleteSegarra will disclose the 'secret figure' but it's so embarrassing so he'll release it only after the elections. C'mon, how many more bad news can we take before the elections?
DeleteSegarra definitely know the figure, Segarra is a liar.
ReplyDeleteSegarra must know the figure, the exact figure for the DD deal, but it's lower than Segarra's "estimate" and what his wished for.
ReplyDeleteHere are some details about the Dunkin deal:
ReplyDeleteThere will be no $$$ paid, only daily freshly baked donuts delivered to Pedro at his office or at his ballpark luxury suite.
Under the terms of the Dunkin deal, Pedro can sell the donuts he gets, $0.99/donut, $3.99/dozen special.
Kevin, you said "Any good manager would be on top of the project." But we all know that Segarra is a BAD manager
ReplyDeleteI'd like to read the reports/proposals/suggestions written by the lawyers/consultant - those calling themselves "experts" - and see what they estimated was the value of the naming rights as well as their recommendations about the entertainment tax for the "stadium." Pedro paid them hundreds of thousands of dollars!!!
ReplyDeleteNow we know there's one big winner of that miserable"stadium" deal: the Solomon family and their "Yard Rats" team. All the rest - Hartford taxpayers included - are nothing but big time suckers.
It's all leading to a bad deal that was awfuly managed by Pedro Segarra and his 1/4 million dollar a year genious friend Saundra Kee Borges.
ReplyDeleteWhen will these two be indited?
Does anyone here know who will be managing the facility itself?? I have a friend who is a recent college graduate with a major in sports management with no success in that market, he doesn't want to leave CT, and lives in East Hartford. Was wondering if there was a management company to put him in touch with... I cannot find any info on that. Much thanks in advance to anyone w some direction!!!
ReplyDeleteIf each Hartford citizen kicks in $1. we could name the stadium the "Touch of Class Escort Service " stadium
ReplyDeleteManage the facility or mismanage it?
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I do know is Pedro gonna manage the hot dog and donut stand.
Hopefully your friend is related to or good friends with someone at city hall. That is the only shot he has. Oh and he must be incompetent.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone hear anything about the Dunkin Fat Donuts deal? How much $$$ will our city be making out of this deal? Were there other, better options that involve more $$$ but less saturated fat, less sugar and less calories? Was clueless Caviar-Segarra finally "informed" about the details of this deal? Is it all still one big fat secret?
ReplyDeleteIncompetence is a requirement at city hall
ReplyDelete