Hartford Business Journal

15 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | April 11, 2022 Connecticut, Channel 8, Bank of America, PepsiCo, Corona Extra, Robinson+Cole and Walgreens. In addition, there are 10 new corporate sponsors this year, including Liberty Bank, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Avelo Airlines. There are several value propositions for becoming a sponsor, Mandell said. "One, it's supporting something positive in the community so that their employees can feel proud to be here in the Hartford area. It's a great tool for the retention of employees," he said. "Second, is the community element in building your business and giving back to your community. You have a captive audience [during home games] and I think people really get a connection between the team and the sponsor. It's a very positive connection." Several companies were in negotiations for the naming rights, Mandell said. Trinity Health ultimately beat out about four other businesses, including financial services companies. Dr. Reggy Eadie, president and CEO of Trinity Health, said teaming up with the Hartford Athletic was not a tough decision. He said the "team had the courage to identify and fulfill a community need," by launching operations and helping revive a desolate, unused stadium. Eadie also said Trinity Health's approach is "to heal the mind, body and spirit" and "I believe that soccer addresses at least two, if not three, of those components." In addition, Eadie said, the healthcare system is looking forward to having many of its front- line physicians enjoy an outing at the stadium, in the company's suite. "It allows us the opportunity to have colleagues enjoy the stadium, soccer fans or not," he said. Bullish outlook This year, Mandell said, the team is going all out promotion-wise to lure more fans to the stadium, which has a new scoreboard and is hosting a craft beer garden that will feature brews from seven Connecticut- owned breweries. There will be new food and drink options, including two new food trucks: Wooster Street Pizza will offer stuffed fried dough and pizza; Rasta Rant will feature Caribbean-infused, plant-based meals. New promotions, he said, include the Avelo Airlines "crossbar challenge," in which the team selects individuals to come to the field during halftime to try to hit the crossbar from 20 yards out. If they do, they win a flight courtesy of the airline, which has significant operations at Tweed New Haven airport. Mandell is also an optimist. He predicts his team will win a championship in the next few years. The team, which plays in the USL's Eastern Conference, has had a losing record in two out of its first three seasons, but did go 11-3-2 in 2020, and made the quarterfinals in the playoffs that year. "We will have a winning record this year," Mandell predicted. "And, we will build toward the playoffs. We will make the playoffs this year and will go on a run to try to win that championship this year. We have a team that can do it." Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford can hold just over 6,000 fans, including standing-room only spectators. Hartford Athletic attendance 2019 2020 2021 Home games 19 10 16 Average attendance 4,989 1,458 4,818 Total attendance 94,782 14,575 77,087 Record 8-21-5 11-3-2 12-15-5 Source: Hartford Athletic PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Reggy Eadie Now Open in Unionville. James Murdick, SVP Chief Loan Officer Trish Tomlinson, VP Senior Commercial Loan Officer Antonella Calabrese, AVP Branch Manager, Farmington & Unionville Sherrie Dubois, Officer Cash Management Specialist Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender ThomastonSB.com | 855.344.1874 | 2 South Main Street, Unionville Meet the Community Bankers for Your Local Business.

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