Wolf Pack to Remain in Hartford
Team Enters Into Affiliation Agreement With Civic Center Building Operator Northland AEG LLC
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 4:00 PM
The Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers American Hockey League (AHL) member, will continue to call Hartford and the Hartford Civic Center home after the Rangers signed a multi-year affiliation agreement with Northland AEG LLC, the new Hartford Civic Center building operator, it was jointly announced by Glen Sather, president and general manager of the New York Rangers, Bob Newman, chief operating officer, AEG Facilities, and Lawrence R. Gottesdiener, chairman and chief executive officer of Northland Investment Corporation.
“We are extremely pleased to have reached an agreement with Northland AEG to keep the Wolf Pack in Hartford," said Sather. “The Rangers organization has enjoyed a great relationship with the city over the last 10 years and our players, coaches and staff are excited to remain a part of the community and continue to play at the Hartford Civic Center.”
“This is a great day for hockey fans and the City of Hartford,” said Newman. “The commitment of this partnership is to build on the success and the popularity of the Wolf Pack while creating even more excitement both on the ice as well as the total fan experience from the moment they make their plans to attend a game to their arrival at the Civic Center and the exhilarating atmosphere we can create during the game. We are committed to Hartford and are here to stay!”
"Having made the playoffs ten years in a row, the Wolf Pack have demonstrated an ability to produce on the ice," said Lawrence R. Gottesdiener. “Today's announcement means that all of the business operations and management for the Wolf Pack will be run by Northland AEG with all of the financial risk and reward now residing with this Hartford-based partnership."
Mayor Eddie A. Perez said, “Hockey is part of Hartford’s past, present, and future. The sport brings families and friends together as well as plays a vital role in our city’s economy. Today’s announcement shows that Hartford’s revitalization has scored another goal and the momentum continues to build!”
Under the terms of the agreement, Northland AEG LLC will be responsible for the day-to-day business operations of the Wolf Pack, including marketing, sponsorship and ticket sales, while Madison Square Garden and the Rangers will retain ownership of the Wolf Pack and continue to be responsible for on-ice team decisions, including coaching and player movement.
Northland AEG LLC will begin managing the Hartford Civic Center on July 1, 2007 on behalf of the Connecticut Development Authority.
The Wolf Pack brought Hartford its first pro sports championship in 2000 when the team captured the AHL’s Calder Cup. The team has also compiled the most regular season wins and standings points of any team in the league during the its ten year history. The Pack made the playoffs in each of the ten seasons of its tenure, a claim that only two other franchises in the AHL’s 71-year history can make, and won at least 40 games in all but two of its 10 years. In addition to the Calder Cup, Eastern Conference Playoff, New England Division and AHL Regular Season championships that the Pack won during the 1999-2000 season, the Wolf Pack also earned an Atlantic Division crown in 2003-04.
Several dozen young Wolf Pack players have gone on to enjoy solid NHL careers; recent contributors to the Rangers include Fedor Tyutin, Jed Ortmeyer, Thomas Pöck, Blair Betts, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi, Ryan Hollweg, and Steve Valiquette. Off the ice, the Wolf Pack Community Foundation has been committed to the Hartford community, raising more than $1 million for numerous community organizations.
About the Hartford Wolf Pack – The AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack hockey club is owned by Madison Square Garden LP. Cablevision Systems Corporation owns MSG LP, which also includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); and the New York Liberty (WNBA); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and FSN New York; fuse, the music television network, and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.
About AEG Facilities - AEG Facilities provides management, booking and other services for similar sized stadiums and arenas including the Hartford Civic Center. The company, considered the industry leader in venue operations and management, is known for innovation, operational excellence, established management & control and training & delivery of best-in-class service for more than 35 owned or operated venues worldwide.
Parent company AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of companies dedicated to the creation and presentation of live sports and entertainment in addition to management and ownership of facilities worldwide. Among the organization’s sports holdings are 11 professional sports franchises including the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire and Houston Dynamo of MLS and the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL as well as events such as the Amgen Tour of California and ING Bay to Breakers along with a division that operates a full schedule of international soccer programming and exhibition tours.
AEG LIVE, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring for a variety of programming and multi-media production.
About Northland Investment Corporation - Founded in 1970, Northland Investment Corporation is a privately held, fully integrated real estate company focused on the acquisition, development, operation and long-term ownership of real estate throughout the region. The company currently owns 60 properties throughout the United States, aggregating $ 1.4 billion, including downtown and suburban office buildings, shopping centers, R&D properties, industrial facilities, hospitality properties and multifamily communities.
Northland is the largest private property owner in downtown Hartford, with a $500 million dollar portfolio investment representing 4.2 million square feet of real estate. Northland’s downtown Hartford portfolio includes Hartford 21, the landmark redevelopment of the former Hartford Civic Center Mall; Goodwin Square, including The Goodwin Hotel; Metro Center; City Place II; the Crosthwaite Building and Trumbull Place.
Northland has also begun plans for Hartford’s next luxury condominium tower on the former YMCA site at Bushnell Park and owns and manages Bigelow Commons in Enfield as well as The Pavilions in Manchester.
The AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack is newly operated by Northland AEG LLC, a joint partnership between Northland Investment Corporation and AEG Facilities. The team is owned by Madison Square Garden LP.
