The XL Center is now People's Bank Arena. *nm*

[BFieldHusky]

I know the lower bowl has new seats. Does the upper as well?

 

[husky8273]

I know the lower bowl has new seats. Does the upper as well?

no

 

[gampelcrazies]

They couldn't even scrap together enough money to put cupholders for every lower level seat?

 

[Flipside]

Hartford plans $2M grant program to fill empty retail space around PeoplesBank Arena

https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/hartford-plans-2m-grant-program-to-fill-empty-retail-space-around-peoplesbank-arena/

Hartford officials are preparing to launch a $2 million stimulus initiative aimed at bringing new retail, restaurant and entertainment businesses to the area immediately around the PeoplesBank Arena.

 

[Palatine]

Hartford plans $2M grant program to fill empty retail space around PeoplesBank Arena

https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/hartford-plans-2m-grant-program-to-fill-empty-retail-space-around-peoplesbank-arena/

Hartford officials are preparing to launch a $2 million stimulus initiative aimed at bringing new retail, restaurant and entertainment businesses to the area immediately around the PeoplesBank Arena.

This is a good idea. That dead zone on Trumbull Street ruins what could be a very nice area. They should have put the sports book there.

 

[Ha Who]

This is a good idea. That dead zone on Trumbull Street ruins what could be a very nice area. They should have put the sports book there.

Yes they should have put it there. The clowns in charge said the other side was a bunker. It is still a bunker. The sports book is not street level. No one ever gets fired for incompetence.

 

[John]

They couldn't even scrap together enough money to put cupholders for every lower level seat?

Cupholders are for amateurs.

 

[zls44]

Backup beer

Cupholders are for amateurs.

 

[Waquoit]

This is a good idea. That dead zone on Trumbull Street ruins what could be a very nice area. They should have put the sports book there.

I thought The Tavern was a much nicer and interesting space when it was next to Agave. I understand why they moved, yet...

And I think the CT Lottery gets the blame for the sports book debacle. They don't understand their own product.

 

[UCLJ0211]

Yes they should have put it there. The clowns in charge said the other side was a bunker. It is still a bunker. The sports book is not street level. No one ever gets fired for incompetence.

They should have used the sportsbook area to expand concessions and remove that logjam of people near those poles. Anyone who’s tried to walk through there on gameday knows what I’m talking about.

 

[gampelcrazies]

They should have used the sportsbook area to expand concessions and remove that logjam of people near those poles. Anyone who’s tried to walk through there on gameday knows what I’m talking about.

Would have been nice to have a bigger bathroom over there or concessions

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[husky8273]

does UConn share any of the proceeds from the new loge seating and bunker boxes?

 

[DSquiz]

does UConn share any of the proceeds from the new loge seating and bunker boxes?

Yes, Benedict said they’ve negotiated a new contract that is much better for UConn. They’ll get a cut of the premium seating.

 

[Flipside]

Do you take visitors?

Yes, UConn & CT folks always welcome! ... and our SoFL alumni network is coming along too

1st round of 2025 NCAAs this year w/ Kelley Hunt-Gay's (Where Are They Now? Kelley Hunt, UConn Basketball (1994-1998)) daughter, visiting this old man on Spring Break

View attachment 111279

earlier today

 

[John]

Wish they had been able to widen those concourses.

 

[DSquiz]

Wish they had been able to widen those concourses.

Though they didn’t widen them, I will say removing the orange section signs does give a much more open feel.

 

[John]

View attachment 112357
View attachment 112358
Though they didn’t widen them, I will say removing the orange section signs does give a much more open feel.

unfortunately it doesn't help the flow of the boots on the ground

 

[Brad Palmer]

Is that a new scoreboard???!!! If so, hopefully they changed the size of the previously microscopic numbers indicating individual player points, rebounds, assists.

 

[Ha Who]

 

[jostar1]

Dom Amore: As college hockey grows in CT, UConn carries momentum back to downtown Hartford

UConn brought men’s hockey games to Hartford as a necessity. The old on-campus rink didn’t fit the bill for high- profile games as the program began stepping up in class.

Now, with its lavish and still relatively new campus rink, and the program’s break-through success in 2025, the “Ice Bus” won’t be rumbling into the refurbished, renamed Peoples Bank Arena unnoticed.

“When we first built Toscano (Family Ice Forum), we were all excited, but I wanted to play some games in Hartford, I thought that was important for our fan base,” UConn coach Mike Cavanagh said. “I’m hoping when we play downtown, it’s an opportunity for a lot of people who have a hard time getting tickets on campus to come and watch us play.”

The on-campus rink is an intimate setting and is growing into a daunting homefield advantage for the Huskies. But it only holds about 2,600. Last Feb. 1, with UConn surging toward the NCAA Tournament for the first time, 11,781 showed up for a game against Providence at the building then known as the XL Center.

The Huskies, currently ranked 12th nationally, split two games at Colorado College Oct. 3 and 4 — yes, the college hockey season really sneaks up on you — and now open the home schedule with two games against No. 16 Ohio State this weekend, Friday at 7 p.m. in Storrs, Saturday at 4 p.m. in Hartford.

As of Wednesday, the game at Toscano was sold out, and only about 300 lower-bowl seats were unfilled for Saturday’s game in Hartford, which would indicate about 5,000 will eventually come out, even with football in midseason and basketball starting up.

“I’ve heard the lower bowl is almost sold out, which has never happened in October for a hockey game,” Cavanaugh said.

“I’ve always thought this would be a great way to do a weekend series, especially with a team you’re playing on Friday and Saturday at home,” Cavanaugh said. “To be able to play Friday night on campus and Saturday afternoon downtown, it’s going to be pretty interesting.”

https://www.courant.com/2025/10/16/dom-amore-as-college-hockey-grows-in-ct-uconn-carries-momentum-back-to-downtown-hartford/

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[DSquiz]

They’ve got me hyped, place looks great.

 

[huskymedic]

Good overview:



Backstage pass