The End of Big League Sports in Connecticut #hartfordwhalers #connecticut #hockey #history On May 6, 1997, the Hartford Whalers announced their move to North Carolina, ending Connecticut’s era of major professional sports. The team had been part of the state’s identity since 1974. Their home, the Civic Center, famously collapsed in 1978 just hours after a game—no one was hurt. Rebuilt and revived, the Whalers remained beloved until the end. Today, their logo lives on—and so does the hope of brin