HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The University of Connecticut won't play any of its home basketball or hockey schedule in Hartford this season.
Athletic director David Benedict said the school and the operators of the XL Center agreed that it would not make financial sense to utilize the 16,000-seat arena during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our teams love competing in downtown Hartford, but the conditions brought about by COVID-19 have made that impractical,” Benedict said in a statement. "Our men’s hockey and basketball teams will compete (on campus) in the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum and Gampel Pavilion, respectively. We look forward to playing at the XL Center during the 2021-22 season.”
No decisions have been made on if or how many fans might be allowed to attend.
The Huskies normally split their basketball home games between the 10,000-seat arena in Storrs and the XL Center.
Plans are still being finalized that would use the Mohegan Sun arena in Uncasville as a “bubble” for several non-conference fall basketball tournaments, which would also have the Huskies playing some games there.
The Big East has said it expects to have members play a slate of 20 conference basketball games, but has not released a schedule.
