Hartford, CT Dunkin’ Donuts Park was named the “Best Double-A Ballpark in America” by Ballpark Digest.  While this recognition is an honor, it’s even more meaningful considering the hurdles that had to be overcome during the stadium’s construction.  

Murtha Cullina’s construction law group achieved a victory in April when Dunkin’ Donuts Park opened for its first season of baseball. The stadium’s opening marked the culmination of a year of legal representation by Murtha Cullina during what was described as a project management nightmare.  

Dunkin’ Donuts Park originally was slated to open in the spring of 2016. However a string of missteps from funding issues to construction problems caused development to halt, leaving the stadium incomplete. This forced the city’s new minor league baseball team, the Yard Goats, to play their entire inaugural season away from home.    

In May of 2016, the city hired Murtha Cullina construction attorneys Leslie King and Loring Cook, III to represent them for the remainder of the stadium project.  Shortly thereafter, in early June, acting on advice from its attorneys, the city terminated the original project developer and design builder.

After the termination, King and Cook helped the city negotiate a complicated takeover agreement with Arch Insurance to complete the project.  The agreement provided that Arch would complete the project without any cost to Hartford taxpayers, an important goal of the city’s administration. 

In October 2016, construction resumed after a 130-day stoppage. As construction was underway, Murtha continued to provide guidance to the city as issues arose with the ultimate goal of completion for the 2017 season. After several months of hard work, the Yard Goats played their home opener at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on April 13.  

King and Cook, along with other Murtha construction attorneys, continue to represent the city in the ensuing litigation and arbitration proceedings stemming from the stadium project.

Murtha Cullina’s construction law group has been recognized as a legal leader in the industry for more than 60 years, representing public and private owners, developers, lenders, general contractors, construction managers, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and material suppliers in all aspects of construction law.