New Britain herald., 1927-04-23

several years past, the lack Of hall in this city suitable for the holding Of large events has been mentioned often. The saying was, If there was g good hall in town. those sports would come back again."
 Lack of a hall also practically killed the sport of prize fighting. Where, q quarter of T century ago, New Britain was known as a light town." both because Of the cards conducted here and because of the numerous young men who were fol- lowing pugilism as q means of livli- hood, in late years New Britain has been considered an arid field both for the promoter and the man who inGulged in the a-t of fsticuffs.
 Basketball, as representative sport, was started at the state arm ory. It developed in the last few years unti! the season just passed saw crowds ranging from 1000 10 l,500 attending every game. while hundreds followed the local team in it's games in other cities.
 Boxing conducted under amateur rules made it's appearance. For a city which had grown to be listless towards boxing as form of enter tainment, the amateur tournaments conducted here have drawn more than 2,o0O patrons on various occa- sions. The professional sport re- turned. The field in the first two was anything but lucrative, but this was more because of unfortunate circumstances surrounding the cards themselves rather than because of any lack of interest in the sport.
 Now there is the imminent prob- ability that the next season will see roller polo come back 10 New Brit ain. Last year the American Roller Polo League was organized and one Of the first places thought of ir which to place & team was New Britain. Lack of hall prevented the return of the sport.
 Years ago, the Casino on Church street was the mecca of all sorts Of sports lovers. Then came Hanna s Armory on East Main street. Two spacious halls large enough at that time to hold capacity crowds at fights, basketball and roller polo games.
 As the profits from the enterprises declined, promoters became wary and less and less time was devoted towards quality Of shows. and finally with q last fickering snutter, indoor sports died down.
 A survey of New Britain at tha present time gives the person who is interested in the sporting situation q splendid chance to visualize this city as a beehive of sporting activ- fly for a number of years to come. During the past year, the Y. M. T.. 4. & B. society erected a new build ing on Main street which included 8 spacious hall. Immediately tho amateur fights. which had been holding forth at the state armory on Arch street, removed 10 the new structure and met with unprcce- dented success.
 Cautious because they did not wish 10 have their building damaged, the Tabs took the matter of allowing roller polo under advisement. Al- though no official action has been taken on the matter, it is under stood that the society has about de- cided that no lasting harm can be done if the game is played in the hall and 1t is likely that polo will be allowe1 there.
 Anothcf prospective place for polo is the Casino, which has been used for about seven years as bowling al- leys. Frank McDonoueh. present proprietor. is one Of the parties seeking a franchise in the polo league for this city, and if he SC cures f, tho Casino will be remod- elled back into a polo hall and there is every possibility that lights and ether sports will be held there.
 A third prospective hall which has been tentatively planned is an auditorium for sports on Commer- cial street discussed by the new own CTS of the II. K. Walker Go. prop erty. should there be no place available, this hall will be erected, and, being nearly in the heart oi the city, 1t would most likely b"- come popular sports center in a short time
 The indoor situation seems 10 h" solved, but what about the outdoor' Baseball and track are the main at fractions to the fan who cares to spend his time watching athletes perform. Baseball has been rising up from the depths into which II sank few years ago, and although no league team has been started here and no prospects Of one are near, scmi-pro mines and amateur clubs have been finding success in their baseball activities, Track is being revived through the annual indus trial meets. and it is possible that the sport will be carried on with greater yIgor this year.
 In the llll. there is the All-New Britain football team, which, barring the poor weather of last year. has been q great attraction. In the years to come, q great ;uiuro is seen here for all sorts of outdoor sports.
 Thus it is that the sporting situa- tion appears 10 those in this city who are interested, and predictions are rife that in a very few years Now Britain will once again occupy the high plane in the sport world which f did q quarter of century ago.
 
 During ioo4-e5. the government