Colonials, No More: Yet Another Team Bails On Hartford

No one outside Connecticut will read this article.

Yesterday, it was announced that the Hartford Colonials, of the fledgling, unofficial NFL developmental pool known as the United Football League (UFL), have suspended operations indefinitely. Although Hartford will be reevaluated at the end of the season, the likelihood of a return is slim.

But, does Connecticut really want them back?


In a league that hemorrhaged $100 million over its first two years, the Colonials are responsible for a significant chunk of that loss. It wasn't derived from lack of fan support. With an average announced attendance of 14,366, the Colonials were one of the higher-attended teams in the UFL. Operating costs did much of the damage. Games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford cost $150,000, roughly 50 percent higher than those for other teams, and security costs ran as high as $28,000, in comparison to $7,000 in Virginia. The stadium was too big and too expensive.

There were signs that the club was facing financial difficulties. When the Colonials promised $10,000 to Quarterback Josh McCown to donate to the Hartford Boys & Girls clubs, the team was late in payment. Dave Heuschkel, Public Relations Director for the Colonials at the time, was contacted by the patient, but check-less nonprofit.

"Well, I got a phone call a couple of months later asking if the check had been written. I had to press and press for that one. My thought was, I know there are financial difficulties, but, geez, don't stiff a nonprofit."

Moreover, in its short time in this state, the team has burned local investors.

Glenn Orkin, head of Motion Inc., the company that produced television coverage of the team, is still owed $16,500. He received a check for $5,000 a month ago, but isn't optimistic that he'll recoup his losses anytime soon. Those fans who have been scrambling to retrieve their $50 deposit on season tickets have been getting the runaround from the team, who have set and missed deadlines for repayment.

Bring Them Back!!!

Ever since losing the Hartford Whalers in 1997, the people and businesses of Connecticut have jumped through hoops to appease any semblance of a professional or semi-professional franchise. The Colonials were no exception. Taking advantage of favored rates given by hopeful locals, the UFL showed its fiscal irresponsibility in its short time in the state.

When it turns its eye on Hartford at the conclusion of this coming season, it won't see crowds of cheering fans nor will it see investors with open wallets. It will see nothing but burned bridges.

Above all, this shouldn't be viewed as a failure of the Connecticut fan. We've embraced everything from this struggling football franchise to women's basketball to the AHL Whaler spin-off, the Connecticut Whale, in search of some form of fan unity. UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue hails from Windsor, Connecticut. When the New York Sentinals sought relocation, he saw an opportunity to get his home state a piece of the pie. While it was a foolish decision in hindsight, it shows that regional identification is very much alive in this tiny state.

Our beloved Whalers may not return anytime soon, and our facilities may be lacking, but we possess the most fundamental building block of a successful franchise: passion. Maybe we should set our sights a bit lower: how about an MLS expansion team?


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Dean Karoliszyn is the Editor-in-Chief and cofounder of Jabroni Free Sports.