When John DeStefano, Jr., became mayor of New Haven in 1995, he outlined a plan to transform the city into a major cultural and arts center in the Northeast, which involved investments in programs and projects other than sports franchises. As nearby Bridgeport built new sports facilities, the brutalist New Haven Coliseum rapidly deteriorated. Believing the upkeep on the venue to be a drain of tax dollars, the DeStefano administration closed the Coliseum in 2002; it was demolished in 2007. New Haven's last professional sports team, the New Haven County Cutters, left in 2009. The DeStefano administration did, however, see the construction of the New Haven Athletic Center in 1998, a 94,000-square-foot (8,700 m2) indoor athletic facility with a seating capacity of over 3,000. The NHAC, built adjacent to Hillhouse High School, is used for New Haven public schools athletics, as well as large-scale area and state sporting events; it is the largest high school indoor sports complex in the state. COUNT 9
QSN1 What 1995 mayor of New Haven sought to reinvent the area into a northeastern hub of art and culture? ANS1 John DeStefano, Jr. QSN2 What sports complex was shuttered in New Haven by the DeStefano administration in 2002?  ANS2 New Haven Coliseum QSN3 What was New Haven's last professional sports team? ANS3 New Haven County Cutters QSN4 What indoor sporting complex in New Haven was constructed by the DeStefano administration in 1998? ANS4 New Haven Athletic Center QSN5 What is the approximate seating capacity of the New Haven Athletic Center? ANS5 over 3,000 QSN6 Who was the mayor for the city in the late 90s? ANS6 John DeStefano, Jr QSN7 Due to the heavy upkeep, DeStefano decided to close what major infrastructure in the city? ANS7 New Haven Coliseum QSN8 When was the last time New Haven had a professional sport team? ANS8 2009 QSN9 In terms of capacity how big was the new constructed New Haven Athletic Center? ANS9 over 3,000