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The Bridgeport Sound Tigers won't only play in Webster Bank Arena. The team also will partner with hospitality provider Centerplate to manage the facility under the name Harbor Yard Sports & Entertainment LLC. Team President Howard Saffan made the announcement Thursday at the Bridgeport arena.
"This sports complex is a jewel that we will showcase with not only exciting hockey games, but also attracting first-class events year-round,'' Saffan said.
The Sound Tigers are the American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders. Islanders' owner Charles Wang would not rule out the appearance of the NHL club at the arena. "We're trying to schedule a preseason game here,'' Wang said. "It's not just hockey. We'd like to get as many events as we can. To say we'll get this, this and this at this time is premature." Because of the Islanders' agreement to play its home games at the Nassau Coliseum, it's not likely the NHL team will play a regular-season game in Bridgeport.
The10,000-seat arena opened in 2001, and Webster acquired the naming rights earlier this year. The venue is also the home to Fairfield University for its men's and women's basketball games. Events such as ice skating shows and monster truck shows have been held at arena.
"Today the Webster Bank Arena turns the page and begins a great new era,'' Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said. "I am thrilled to welcome Harbor Yard Sports and Entertainment as the new management team at the arena. This is an outstanding group, and I know they will grow what is already an exciting sports venue at the arena into something very special."
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