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50 | HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2, 2017 Hartford went 0-for-2 in the past 25 years trying to intercept the New England Patriots from Foxborough, Mass., but while Hartford didn't land what would become a marquee NFL franchise — five Super Bowl victories and counting under the Brady bunch — it didn't go scoreless, either. First, a 1993 attempt by a Connecticut group to buy the team from then-owner James Orthwein and build a stadium downtown failed after Orthwein sold the team to current owner Robert Kraft. Kraft, though, in 1998 walked to the altar with Connecticut on a new stadium deal in downtown Hartford before jumping ship in 1999, only to be rewarded with a new Massachusetts- backed stadium instead. Not all was lost, though, when Kraft and the Patriots did an end around on Harford, scuttling a deal for a $530-million stadium downtown that was to include a convention center, entertainment district and $350-million stadium with 68,000 seats. After Patriots owner Kraft and Connecticut Gov. John Rowland parted ways in 1999 on their deal for the downtown stadium and Massachusetts offered a state-backed stadium, Hartford rallied to build a convention center, science center, hotel and Front Street Entertainment District. The state also agreed to fund and build Rentschler Field in East Hartford as the home of UConn football. "If you look what happened with the space on Columbus Boulevard, it's been a terrific thing to have the Connecticut Convention Center come out of what was going to be a Patriots stadium because of the real economic impact that that building has been able to produce for Connecticut," said H. Scott Phelps, president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB). It's events like the New England regional volleyball tournament that last year attracted 3,600 players and 324 teams over two weekends, "which are huge events for our region, our state," said Bob Murdock, CTCSB's director of sports marketing and director of national accounts- affinity markets. Oz Griebel, president and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance, said he was skeptical of the Patriots deal. "I never thought that was realistic," he said. Griebel never saw a comment from then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue that he couldn't wait for relocation and doubted the NFL would let a team leave such a valuable TV market. Travelers Championship evolves into world-class event Travelers Championship tournament officials could not have scripted a better ending than the rising, likeable and humble superstar Jordan Spieth sinking his bunker shot on the first playoff hole to win the 2017 Travelers Championship in front of thousands of spectators and a national TV audience. The crowd's roar, Spieth's celebratory body slam with his caddie and Spieth's gracious words afterward, including thanking volunteers and suggesting he had such a great experience at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell that he might buy a house in Connecticut, was miles removed from the tournament's once-uncertain future. A tournament that dates to 1952 — first as the Insurance City Open and then under several names before Travelers — was teetering on the edge of being lost when corporate support was drying up. Then Travelers Cos. took over title sponsorship in 2007 and engineered a turnaround. Since then, the Travelers Championship has generated more than $14.5 million for 600-plus local charities. There's also the millions of dollars annually in economic impact from visitors who use hotels, restaurants and rental cars and for companies servicing the course. Then there's the great media exposure. "Retention of the PGA tour stop here and Travelers stepping in as the hometown sponsor … to make this a premier stop (for top names) … is exceptional," said Oz Griebel, president and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance. "That kind of marketing on the international and national media stage is invaluable, plus it is a great entertainment venue." Bob Murdock, director of sports marketing and director of national accounts-affinity markets at the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, said the Travelers showcases Connecticut as a world-class venue. "Getting a Jordan Spieth of the world to come here, saying that he loves this course, really helps the brand of Connecticut," Murdock said. Spieth was just one big name in the tournament. Others included Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk and many more. It was one of the strongest fields ever, a result of hard work and recruiting by Tournament Director Nathan Grube and others. A big-name field and big-time finish was a shot in the arm for a region stung by June's announcement that Aetna was moving top headquarters' staff to New York City and coming amid the state's severe budget crisis. By John Stearns jstearns@HartfordBusiness.com Failed Patriots deal still yields economic impact in Hartford By John Stearns jstearns@HartfordBusiness.com Sports Impact Patriots Deal & Travelers Championship Former Gov. John Rowland shakes hands with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who considered moving his NFL franchise to Hartford. TPC River Highlands in Cromwell has evolved into a premier destination for the PGA Tour. Greater Hartford didn't score the Patriots but it did land a new stadium for the Division I UConn football program.