After investing some $28 million in the park, the first manager, Hershey Entertainment, backed out in 1987 because of a change in corporate policy.
Hershey Entertainment and its partners also received an $8 million loan guarantee from the Federal Government.
They said they doubted, given a slowing real estate market and the difficutly in marketing an amusement park, that Hershey Entertainment would profit from any sale.
Hershey Entertainment underestimated the cost of the renovations, Mr. Roberts said.
He said that, while Connecticut's 4 percent unemployment rate hurt recruiting, Hershey Entertainment offerred only the minimum wage of $3.37 an hour.
The Mayor said that, despite the city's experience with Hershey Entertainment, it would help find a new buyer, and then do what it can to help them.
The team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company.
Less than a week after the championship match, in October 2001, Hershey Entertainment announced that the Wildcats were folding.
However, in 1985 and 1986, the park did not install any rides, because Hershey Entertainment & Resorts chose to invest in hotel properties.
Once Hershey Entertainment & Resorts got the hotel investments behind them, they were able to focus on investing in the park.