New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart denied a report on Monday that the Rock Cats are in talks to move the Minor League Baseball team to Hartford.
But a source familiar with the situation tells NBC Connecticut's Len Besthoff that "a deal is in place" to bring the Rock Cats from New Britain to Hartford. No deal has been signed at this time, the source said. According to the source, Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra has tentatively scheduled a news conference for noon on Wednesday.
According to the Hartford Courant, officials with the City of Hartford say a tentative deal has been reached to move the team to Hartford in 2016, but that the deal has not been signed. There is a proposal to build a stadium at Main and Trumbull streets just north of downtown, the Courant reported.
Hartford City Council Minority Leader Larry Deutsch said he has many concerns about moving the Rock Cats to Hartford, including a possible negative impact to the surrounding neighborhoods, cost, facility maintenance and unused space in the off-season as opposed to bringing in year-round businesses.
"We would have real reservations about locating a sports facility like that in a downtown area," he said.
However, Mayor Stewart told NBC Connecticut the report of the Rock Cats moving is nothing more than a rumor, and that there is no truth the team is moving. She said she's heard the rumor three or four times since November and that it's possible the management is exploring options but that the Rock Cats general manager reassured her it was news to him.
"We have a very open and honest relationship," Stewart said. "The city of New Britain really goes above and beyond to accomodate the Rock Cats. They're part of our city. We love them."
"SPOILER ALERT: The Rock Cats aren't leaving New Britain," Mayor Stewart tweeted Monday afternoon.
But she said if it ever became true, she would do everything in her power to convince the Rock Cats to stay in New Britain.
"I can assure the public, the people of New Britain, that I will not let them leave," Stewart reaffirmed on Tuesday.
Rock Cats General Manager Tim Restall told NBC Connecticut that reports of a move to Hartford were a surprise to him.
The Minnesota Twins, the Major Leauge team the Rock Cats are affiliated with, declined to comment and deferred all questions to Rock Cats management.
Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra declined to comment on the rumored deal that would bring the Rock Cats from New Britain to Hartford.
"When we have something further, we will share it with you and we will let you know," he said. "As mayor I have an interest in everything that would be good for our city."
Fans at Tuesday's Rock Cats game said they would be sad to see the team leave New Britain.
"I've been their number one fan since 2000," Christina Gorneault, of Berlin, said. " I love these guys and I don't want to go anywhere near Hartford and neither should they."
Fan Ed Breare, of Beacon Falls, said he's "surprised" but disappointed as a fan of 24 years.
Another fan, Edward Cook, of Suffield, raised safety concerns.
"Honstly, I think they've got a great location here. Number one, it's safer," he said. "I just don't feel safe in the city anymore. I'd rather come to New Britain."
While nothing is finalized, a formal announcement could come on Wednesday. Hartford's City Council, which must approve any stadium deal, is expected to take up the issue very soon.
Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com