HARTFORD -- In letters obtained by FOX 61 between Josh Solomon, owner of the Hartford Yard Goats, and city of Hartford officials, an increasingly impatient team is revealing frustration with the halted construction of Dunkin' Donuts Park.
"If the stadium is not completed within 180 days of my June 13 letter, the city will be in default under the [Ballpark Development Agreement] and the team will have the right to terminate the BDA," wrote Solomon to city officials. "The current situation is intolerable. The city cannot tell the team when or if the stadium will be completed."
The city of Hartford fired DoNo Hartford LLC and Centerplan Construction last month for missing key deadlines that left the Yard Goats without a home. DoNo Hartford and Centerplan went to court seeking an injunction to reverse their termination.
"The club must now take such action as is necessary to protect its interests, to fulfill its obligations to third parties and to arrange for a home ballpark for the 2017 season," wrote Solomon. "In the alternative, the team is willing to consider other options that will ensure the ballpark is completed so as not to miss the 2017 season."
The letter also says the team suffered significant financial losses worth "seven figures" and it is facing consequences from the Eastern League and the Colorado Rockies, the MLB affiliate of the Yard Goats.
In response to Solomon's letter, Howard Rifkin, corporation council for the city of Hartford, asked Solomon for patience, saying Arch Insurance, the surety of the project, is investigating and will come to a conclusion soon about what needs to be done in order to ensure the prompt completion of the stadium.
The Yard Goats have been playing their inaugural season on the road all year and will finish out the rest of the season away.
No word on when Arch will issue its final findings.
