Rock Cats Receive Award for Business Innovation

Published on June 17, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats Baseball Club - the state of Connecticut's oldest continuously-operating professional sports franchise - was honored recently when the MetroHartford Alliance - the Hartford region's major Economic Development organization - and the Hartford Business Journal - Connecticut's influential business publication - jointly awarded their 2010 Business Champions Award for Innovation to the Connecticut-based Minor League Baseball franchise. The Award was presented on the morning of June 10th before a gathering of hundreds of business and community leaders at the Connecticut Convention Center in downtown Hartford.

The award for Innovation was one of a total of four given that day; the others recognized regionally-based, privately-held companies for their exceptional accomplishments in the areas of Workforce Development, Sustainability, and Revenue Growth. The Rock Cats were cited, in part, for refreshing their business plan in challenging economic times such that both their Per Game and Annual Attendance numbers have risen over the last five seasons. Between the 2005 and 2009 Seasons, some 1,750,000 fans have visited New Britain Stadium and directly experienced the affordable fun and excitement that have come to define Rock Cats Baseball.

Founded in 2001, the MetroHartford Alliance is a member-driven organization that draws upon the diverse resources of its 2,300 business, institutional, and municipal members to develop a comprehensive economic development plan for the Greater Hartford region. The Alliance awarded the New Britain franchise its most coveted award - The Rising Star - for the Rock Cats' overall business excellence and deep contribution to the region's "Quality of Life" in 2004.

New Britain's VP and General Manager, John Willi, represented the Rock Cats at the morning ceremony and accepted the award on behalf of the club. In brief remarks, Willi emphasized the franchise's delight in receiving the Business Champions Award, indicating that "the Rock Cats organization is community-driven to the extent that virtually everything we do in and around New Britain Stadium is intended to support and strengthen our neighbors. As they are recognized and uplifted, so are we".

The New Britain franchise has its origins in Bristol, CT where it operated for ten seasons - from 1973 to 1983 -- as the Double-A, Eastern League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. In 1983, the franchise moved to nearby New Britain, playing at Beehive Field until New Britain Stadium opened in 1995. In that year, the franchise shifted its Major League partnership to the Minnesota Twins, an association that has been very productive for both parties. Now in its 16th year, the New Britain/Minnesota affiliation has launched the careers of over 100 players who have gone on to play in the Major Leagues; such players include current Minnesota stars and American League MVPs Joe Mauer (2009) and Justin Morneau (2006), along with David Ortiz and Torii Hunter. The franchise was purchased and revitalized by an ownership group headed by Bill Dowling and Coleman Levy in February of 2000.

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