New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-09-12
HANNA PLANS To
REVIVE POLO HERE
Local Sportsman Will Remodel
Main Street Garage Into an Arena

III tho plans OF the polo promoters
In six cities In this state materializs
accoruinE TO details discussed yestcr-
day at New Haven, some fine sport Is
In Btotc for tho lovers OF the popular
indoor sport this coming winter Will
liam w. Hanna, ono OF the best known
sporting men In New England. ~ ac-
lively engaged I'm promoting the local
end Of the proposed league. Announce
mcnt that this city has been met with
rejoicing. yet there has been some
Hkeptical persons as To whore the
game could he successfully conducted
here without an adequate hall. rs
exists at present.
uannn's Plans
MIR. Hanna today set all these doubts
mt rest, when he issued tho following
abatement 10 tho sporting editor OF the
Horald: Seven years ngo when I
erected the building at tho rear OF
Main street which has since becn util-
lied for garage purposes. II was my In
tention OF rcmodelinF tho place
into n first class arena. whore sporting
social and I'm fact any events on large
scale could be- successfully carried out
With the outlook for tho success of
polo this winter. IL IL my intention to
start work about October /, with
force OF workmcn adequate to having
the place I'm readiness TO open the sea-
son on October Is. will have nm en-
tire new maple floor built on the con-
crete base. With the dimensions OF the
building as erected, ia feet long. and
81 feet I'm width. will have n polo
surface of 100 feet In length and So
feet In width. Bleachers and reserved
seats will be erected to accomm odate
1000 persons. A new structure will be
made into the building. at tho south
end OF tho structure. Dressing rooms
will be erected for the convenience OF
ladies and gentlemen. At tho entrance
TO the arena will be located the re-
served seat section. The building as
now constructed has four exits, and
can ba omptied of n capacity crowd I'm
N few minutes. on nights when polo
In not being played. roller skating
will be- held. The arena will be avail
able for basketball and dances"
Can Stage Other Events
Mr.. Hanna. by his above statement,
will give tho city n place where sport
Ing and other events can BIO held 20
accommodate large gatherings. This
kind OF n building has been lacking for
aometime. Formerly dances and occa-
slonally boxing shows were conducted
In Bardock's hail. but this place has
since been turned into n garage store
f0oU1s iIhNT MAIZE ABOUT inc city naNe
been too small for polo. with the
exception OF the State Armory. on
Arch street. which was obtainable only
through certain conditions. IL IL the
intention OF Mr.. Hanna to fix up the
entrance TO the arena, which il at the
head or East Main street, directly
across from tho Hotel Bronson. with
arc lights. AZ present there Ia an ex-
ccilcnt concrete walk leading to tho
building.
Long Experience I'm Sports
billy" Hanna as he In most general
~ known throughout the state, has
long been identified with polo In this
city A. far back as 1881, he has been
ut the helm. and the present day fans
will remember his famous teams that
performed at the East Main street
nrmory. After the game had died out
following a successful run for several
years at the Casino on Church street.
Mr.. Hanna again took the reigns. and
In 1907 he brought tho game back
here. with n National league club. IL
was during this time. that he brought
Co his city. Mercer, Hnwkins. Lyons
and Bannon. from Canton. Ohio. and
with Fred Jean. comprised tho great
est quintet o. polo players to ever
grace a rink. - this quintet. Harkins
Lyons and Jean are still playing. Mcr-
Ger having retired, 10 conduct a garage
In this city. and Bnnnon Is living i'm IA
Massachusetts city.