Some people went to games in good seasons, but the NHL, media, and Madison Avenue know, then and now, most of the state’s strongest hockey towns never really supported the Whalers (Fairfield and New Haven counties), some state corporations in Hartford county which once upon a time supported the Whalers subsequently shrunk in-state operations and/or moved HQs elsewhere, financial obstacles exist to build a competitive 21st century arena let alone even bring the outdated, architecturally-challenged up to snuff, etc.