Bring Back the NHL Fact Sheet, Long Version, Feb. 6, 2026
PREPARED BY: PETER R. DEMALLIE, URBAN PLANNER & HWBC MEMBER
https://www.hartfordwhalersbc.com/knowledge-corridor-blog/bring-back-nhl-fact-sheet-long-version
New England’s Knowledge Corridor (a/k/a Metro Hartford/Springfield/New Haven) is the nation’s 20th largest market with a population of 2,884,112 between #19 Denver (pop. 2,967,239) & #21 St. Louis (pop. 2,803,228.)
The New England Knowledge Corridor (NEKC) market has a workforce of 1,532,920.
The 400-year-old Knowledge Corridor has some 220,447 college students in 42 colleges and universities (e.g., main campuses of UMass, UConn & Yale). It also heralds some of the nation’s best prep schools and public school systems.
The Knowledge Corridor is home to many international and national corporations and public sector entities. Those with headquarters or major operations here include: ESPN, Stanley Black & Decker, MassMutual, RTX Corporation, Big Y Foods, Barnes Group, Honeywell, Pegasus, Otis, Colt, Carrier, SS&C, The Hartford, CRRC MA, AETNA, Lego, Trumpf, Cigna, Pratt & Whitney, Voya, Jackson Labs, Kaman, Travelers, Hartford Healthcare, Stop & Shop, UnitedHealth Group, UConn, Trinity Health, UMass, Baystate Health, Smith & Wesson, Yale, Yale New Haven Health, Vantis, Yankee Candle, Cognizant Technology, EverSource Energy, Mercy Medical, Bank of America, Cartamundi, the State of Connecticut, Aldi, Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and Broadridge.
The Knowledge Corridor is the 2nd largest market in New England, after Greater Boston (pop. 4,873,019). NEKC’s population is 59.18% of Greater Boston.
The bi-state Knowledge Corridor (pop. 2,884,112) has 164 communities, with 2,185,771 residents in Connecticut and 698,341 in Western Massachusetts. Household incomes are relatively high for an NHL market (comparable to Denver, or for that matter to Raleigh/Durham, albeit with a much larger number of households).
The linear and compact Knowledge Corridor covers 4,413 square miles, resulting in a population density of 653 residents per square mile, which is more urban than Denver (352 residents per square mile in 8,414 sq. miles) or St. Louis (331 residents per square mile in 8,458 sq. miles).
Of the nation’s top 50 markets, the Knowledge Corridor is larger than 30, in descending order: St. Louis, Baltimore, Charlotte, Orlando, San Antonio, Portland, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Austin, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Columbus, Indianapolis, Cleveland, San Jose, Nashville, Virginia Beach, Providence, Milwaukee, Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, Raleigh, Memphis, Richmond, New Orleans, Louisville, Salt Lake City, Buffalo and Birmingham.
Of the nation’s top 20 markets, the Knowledge Corridor is smaller than nineteen, in descending order: 1)New York City, 2)Los Angeles, 3)Chicago, 4)Dallas, 5)Houston, 6) Washington, D.C., 7)Miami, 8)Philadelphia, 9)Atlanta, 10)Phoenix, 11)Boston, 12)San Francisco, 13)Riverside/San Bernardino, 14)Detroit, 15)Seattle, 16)Minneapolis, 17)San Diego, 18)Tampa and 19)Denver.
Of the ten largest markets in Canada, only Toronto and Montreal are larger. The Knowledge Corridor market is thus larger than, in descending order, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton, Quebec, Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Kitchener. The Knowledge Corridor also has 2.1 million more residents than either of two Canadian markets often mentioned as excellent NHL expansion markets – Quebec City and Hamilton.
And just how do we compare to the NHL’s 32 current markets (25 in the USA/7 in Canada), based on 2019 Census estimates and the 2016 Canadian Census? If added to the league, the Knowledge Corridor would be the 16th largest market, and larger than sixteen current NHL markets, as follows, in descending order, with the market population first, and our population difference second: St. Louis (2,803,228/+80,884); Newark (2,529,734/+354,378); Vancouver (2,463,431/+420,681); Pittsburgh (2,317,600/+566,512); Las Vegas (2,266,715/+617,397); Columbus (2,122,271/+761,841); Raleigh/Durham (2,035,152/+848,960); San Jose (1,990,660/+893,452); Nashville (1,934,317/+949,795); Calgary (1,392,609/+1,491,503); Nassau County (1,356,924/+1,527,188); Ottawa (1,323,783/+1,560,329); Salt Lake City (1,321,426/+1,562,686); Edmonton (1,257,936/+1,626,176) Buffalo (1,127,983/+1,756,129); and Winnipeg (778,489/+2,105,623.) Yes indeed, the Knowledge Corridor has 2.1 million more residents than Winnipeg. The NHL Hartford Whalers franchise was in the Knowledge Corridor for 18 seasons, eventually departing for Raleigh in 1997.
We, and the New England Knowledge Corridor Partnership, define the Knowledge Corridor as the three counties around Springfield, three around Hartford, and New Haven County, plus twelve communities in the immediate Hartford Metro area which are in three abutting counties, e.g., Torrington in Litchfield County and Willimantic in Windham County, resulting in a population just shy of 2.9 million.
The Knowledge Corridor market is, by far, the nation’s largest market without a major pro sports team (NHL, MLS, NBA, MLB, or NFL). Austin recently came off the list as second largest, when they landed a MLS expansion franchise.
The Knowledge Corridor is served by Bradley International Airport, the second largest and “most convenient” airport in New England, which is centrally located just 1½ hours from Boston and 2¼ hours from New York City. In 2019 alone, Bradley Airport supported $3.59 billion in total economic output, including 22,800 jobs and $257 million in state and local taxes. It is served by major passenger airlines, including multiple low-fare carriers, which provide Bradley’s millions of annual passengers with service to key nonstop destinations across the country and world. These destinations provide convenient, direct connectivity with major business hubs, and they also provide one-stop connectivity to virtually any major destination in the world. BDL has undertaken many large capital improvements of late, including a new 1.4 million square feet ground transportation center, at a cost of $210 million, and more recently, a $243 million project, including a new concourse and new inline baggage system.
In June of 2018, the Knowledge Corridor commenced operations of the 62-mile “Hartford Line” commuter rail system from New Haven through Hartford to Springfield, with 17 daily round trip trains. With upgrades presently underway, service is expected to grow to 44 daily round-trip trains as demand increases. The system presently accommodates 800,000 passengers annually. In 2015, the Knowledge Corridor launched the “CTfastrak” 9.3-mile/11 station dedicated bus rapid transit(BRT)line into Hartford, now averaging over 2.5 million riders annually. The system has recorded 28+ million passengers over its history. Thousands of fans will travel to NHL games via these two new transit systems – from New Britain on the CTfastrak BRT line, and from New Haven and Springfield via the new Hartford Line.
Major expressways in the Knowledge Corridor are Interstate 91 on the north/south axis (connecting Hartford, Springfield & New Haven with Burlington, Vermont, and Montreal), and on the east/west axis Interstates 95 (connecting with New York & Boston), 84 (connecting with New York & Boston) & 90 (connecting with Albany & Boston)
The Knowledge Corridor’s ten county television market serves a population of 3,348,461 and has 1,117,490 tv households (885,890 in Hartford/New Haven; 231,600 in Springfield). It is the nation’s 22nd largest tv market. We are awaiting updated Nielsen/Scarborough figures for 2026.
Major attractions in the Knowledge Corridor include: the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield; Yale University and its acclaimed museums (Center for British Art, Peabody Natural History & Art Gallery) in New Haven; Wadsworth Atheneum (nation’s oldest public art museum) in Hartford; The Connecticut River; Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA; the Mark Twain Memorial in Hartford; Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield; Long Island Sound; MGM Grand Casino in Springfield; the Connecticut State Capitol; Dr. Seuss Museum and the Springfield Museums in Springfield; the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford; and Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in Hartford.
Historical Perspective – The city’s original pro hockey franchise, the New England Whalers, was part of the World Hockey Association, having relocated here from Boston in 1975 to play in the new Hartford Civic Center coliseum with a seating capacity of 10,507. In 1979 the Whalers and three other WHA franchises (Edmonton, Quebec City and Winnipeg) were invited to join the NHL. Hartford thus joined the league in 1979 after reconstructing and expanding the Hartford Civic Center coliseum to a seating capacity of 15,635 for hockey and 16,294 for basketball. Since 2025 the building has been called the PeoplesBank Arena, which was recently renovated. It is operatedby Oak View Group (OVG). The NHL Hartford Whalers franchise was in Hartford for 18 seasons, eventually departing for Raleigh in 1997. Its final game was on April 13, and they played in front of a sold-out building.
Several years back, the Capital Region Development Authority retained the NHL’s architect of record, SCI (the same firm which designed the reconstruction of Madison Square Garden), to develop a plan to renovate and expand the 45-year-old XL Center to a state-of-the-art NHL facility. SCI then estimated the project cost at $250 million, a relative bargain compared to the cost of a new building, which generally cost between $500 million and $1 billion. We are now projecting that cost at closer to $650 million. A related CRDA study indicated that there are 3.1 million residents within a 60-mile radius of the coliseum on Trumbull Street. PeoplesBank Arena will continue to accommodate UConn men’s and women’s basketball games and UConn men’s hockey games, tournaments, plus other entertainment, including more concerts. A renovated and expanded PeoplesBank Arena, with a NHL franchise as the major tenant, if privately owned and operated, would be expected to be profitable on day one. An expanded arena, meeting state-of-the-art NHL standards, however, will have to wait for a Private Public Partnership (PPP) between the CRDA, OVG, the State of Connecticut, City of Hartford, and a new NHL franchise owner, with the concurrence of the NHL. The State of Connecticut’s financial position has improved measurably since the Whalers departed, implying that the State has more resources to assist in any expanded or new arena proposal.
We are of the mindset that, rather than an expanded PeoplesBank Arena, the best scenario for a return of the NHL to this market would be to utilize the10 recently upgraded coliseum as an interim facility for the franchise, to be replaced with a new building, under a PPP, which would expect to cost $1+ billion.
The Knowledge Corridor supports four competitive Division One college hockey teams (UMass-Amherst, Yale, Quinnipiac & UConn), three of which have been in the Frozen Four national championship game in recent years. The region also supports two AHL hockey franchises, in Hartford and Springfield, and New Haven previously had an AHL team. This indeed is hockey country!
The Hartford Whalers Booster Club remains one of 21 booster clubs sanctioned by the National Hockey League and has been an official NHL Booster Club since 1979.
NHL Hartford Whalers merchandise continues to sell well, some 29 years since its last game in this market, in part due to the large fan base and the iconic blue and green Hartford Whaler logo. New minor league sports franchises, including the AA Hartford Yard Goats baseball club (they recently led the league in attendance) and the USL Championship. Hartford Athletic soccer club, have adopted the Whaler colors in their respective logos and merchandise as well as Brass Bonanza in their stadiums.
Forty-five nights a year of 18,000+/- hungry and thirsty NHL Hartford Whaler fans will boost Downtown Hartford’s restaurants, hotels, parking facilities and bars, and add to its renaissance, while creating hundreds of jobs for city residents.
Adding a NHL franchise to the Knowledge Corridor region will make it easier for human resources and recruitment professionals to both attract and retain the young workforce needed to address changing demographic patterns, as well as for the region’s 42 colleges and universities to increase admission applications and acceptance levels.
The return of the Hartford Whalers will increase demand, already strong, for apartments, condos, restaurants, and hotels in the city’s vibrant downtown and adjoining neighborhoods.
For further information, contact Peter DeMallie at pdemallie@designprofessionalsinc.com or 860-922-0920.
