It’s not Fenway Park or the Yale Bowl, but the XL Center in downtown Hartford has been an entertainment landmark in Connecticut for forty years. It’s been host to presidents, an NHL team, the UConn Huskies, the Boston Celtics, and scores of concerts from Elvis Presley to Madonna to the Grateful Dead. The mention of the place formerly known as the Hartford Civic Center triggers nostalgic feelings among many people, but what about its future?

With us this weekend on Face the State to talk about this, was Mike Freimuth, the new head of the Capital Region Development Authority. Freimuth used to be be in charge of economic development in Stamford, where he worked for a mayor named Dan Malloy.

Stamford is one of Connecticut’s most successful cities, having attracted several major companies over the years. Most recently it snared Chelsea Piers, the massive sports complex in Manhattan. On a smaller scale, Stamford also got Target to open a downtown store.

So what about Hartford? During the taping, Freimuth explained in detail his vision for our capital city and what lies ahead. The key component of CRDA’s plan is new housing, along with more higher education downtown, and a revitalized XL Center. It is an exciting and fascinating time in the city.

Freimuth also talked about the Governor’s comments last week about the possibility of an NHL restoration in Hartford.

You can watch the entire interview with Mike Freimuth that aired Sunday morning at 11 on Face the State, right here: http://www.wfsb.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8419002