XL Center

XL Center
	XL Center logo
	XL Center in 2022
	XL Center Location within Connecticut XL Center Location within the United States
Former names	Hartford Civic Center (1975–2007)
Address	1 Civic Center Plaza
Location	Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Coordinates	41°46′06″N 72°40′37″W / 41.76833°N 72.67694°W
Public transit	Hartford ; 38, 60, 62, 64, 66, 72, 74, 76, Dash
Owner	City of Hartford
Operator	Oak View Group
Capacity	Concerts: 20,500; Basketball: 15,684; Ice hockey: 14,750 (9,801 with curtain system)
Surface	200 ft × 85 ft (61 m × 26 m) (hockey)
Construction
Broke ground	April 2, 1971
Opened	January 9, 1975
Closed	1978–1980 (roof collapse, renovations)
Construction cost	$30 million; ($170 million in 2023 dollars)
Architect	Kling & Associates; Danos and Associates
Project manager	Gilbane Building Company
Structural engineer	Fraoli, Blum, and Yesselman, Engineers
General contractor	William L. Crow Construction Company
Tenants
	Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) (1997–present); UConn Huskies (NCAA); Men's basketball (1975–present); Women's basketball (1975–present); Men's ice hockey (2014–present); New England / Hartford Whalers (WHA / NHL) (1975–1997); Boston Celtics (NBA) (1975–1995); Hartford Hellions (MISL) (1980–1981); Connecticut Coyotes (AFL) (1995–1996); New England Blizzard (ABL) (1996–1998); Connecticut Pride (CBA) (1993–2000); New England Sea Wolves (AFL) (1999–2000)
Website
	xlcenter.com

The XL Center (originally known as the Hartford Civic Center) is a multi-purpose arena and convention center located in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. Owned by the City of Hartford, it is managed by the quasi-public Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) under a lease with the city and operated by Spectra. In December 2007, the center was renamed when the arena's naming rights were sold to XL Group insurance company in a six-year agreement. The arena is ranked the 28th largest among college basketball arenas. It opened in 1975 as the Hartford Civic Center and was originally located adjacent to Civic Center Mall, which was demolished in 2004. It consists of two facilities: the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Exhibition Center.

On March 21, 2007, the CRDA selected the Northland/Anschutz Entertainment Group proposal to operate the arena complex; Northland also developed the Hartford 21 residential tower on the adjacent Civic Center Mall site. It was revealed that Northland will assume total responsibility for the building paying for any and all losses, and will keep any profits. In 2012, the CRDA put the contract out to bid with hopes of combining the operations with Rentschler Field.^[8] In February 2013, Global Spectrum of Philadelphia was chosen to take over both the XL Center and Rentschler Field^[9] with Ovations Food Services taking over all food and beverage operations.

^ "Opportunities for The Hartford Civic Center" (PDF). The Connecticut Development Authority. p. 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
^ "Ground is Broken For the Civic Center". Hartford Courant. April 2, 1971. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
^ Swift, Mike (January 9, 1995). "A Quiet Hartford Civic Center Turns 20 Today". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ Modern concrete: Volume 40. Chicago: Pit & Quarry Publications. 1976. p. 20.
^ ^a ^b "XL Center". Emporis. Retrieved September 21, 2011.^{[dead link]}
^ "Failure Cases – Hartford Civic Center". Materials Education and Research Pathway. Archived from the original on August 1, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
^ Jacobs, Jeff (February 3, 2013). "Secrecy On XL Center, Rentschler Plans Isn't Helping Matters". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
^ Gosselin, Kenneth R. (February 7, 2013). "Philadelphia Group Picked To Run XL Center, Rentschler Field". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 10, 2014.

Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

[1] "Opportunities for The Hartford Civic Center" (PDF). The Connecticut Development Authority. p. 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.

[2] "Ground is Broken For the Civic Center". Hartford Courant. April 2, 1971. Retrieved September 20, 2011.

[3] Swift, Mike (January 9, 1995). "A Quiet Hartford Civic Center Turns 20 Today". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 21, 2011.

[inflation-US-4] 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.

[5] Modern concrete: Volume 40. Chicago: Pit & Quarry Publications. 1976. p. 20.

[emporis-6] "XL Center". Emporis. Retrieved September 21, 2011.^{[dead link]}

[7] "Failure Cases – Hartford Civic Center". Materials Education and Research Pathway. Archived from the original on August 1, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2012.

[11] Jacobs, Jeff (February 3, 2013). "Secrecy On XL Center, Rentschler Plans Isn't Helping Matters". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 10, 2014.

[12] Gosselin, Kenneth R. (February 7, 2013). "Philadelphia Group Picked To Run XL Center, Rentschler Field". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 10, 2014.

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Construction
XL Center logo
XL Center in 2022

XL Center Location within Connecticut Show map of Connecticut XL Center Location within the United States Show map of the United States
Former names	Hartford Civic Center (1975–2007)
Address	1 Civic Center Plaza
Location	Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Coordinates	41°46′06″N 72°40′37″W / 41.76833°N 72.67694°W / 41.76833; -72.67694
Public transit	Hartford 38, 60, 62, 64, 66, 72, 74, 76, Dash
Owner	City of Hartford^[1]
Operator	Oak View Group
Capacity	Concerts: 20,500 Basketball: 15,684 Ice hockey: 14,750 (9,801 with curtain system)
Surface	200 ft × 85 ft (61 m × 26 m) (hockey)
Broke ground	April 2, 1971^[2]
Opened	January 9, 1975
Closed	1978–1980 (roof collapse, renovations)
Construction cost	$30 million^[3] ($170 million in 2023 dollars^[4])
Architect	Kling & Associates Danos and Associates^[5]
Project manager	Gilbane Building Company^[6]
Structural engineer	Fraoli, Blum, and Yesselman, Engineers^[7]
General contractor	William L. Crow Construction Company^[6]
Tenants
Hartford Wolf Pack^[a] (AHL) (1997–present) UConn Huskies (NCAA) Men's basketball (1975–present)^[b]^[c] Women's basketball (1975–present)^[b]^[c] Men's ice hockey (2014–present)^[b] New England / Hartford Whalers (WHA / NHL) (1975–1997)^[c] Boston Celtics (NBA) (1975–1995)^[b] Hartford Hellions (MISL) (1980–1981) Connecticut Coyotes (AFL) (1995–1996) New England Blizzard (ABL) (1996–1998) Connecticut Pride (CBA) (1993–2000) New England Sea Wolves (AFL) (1999–2000)
Website
xlcenter.com