XL center question

[LGITB]

Hi everyone

Super excited - tomorrow I'm flying in to Hartford, and on Sunday I'll watch the Huskies playing in person for first time since 2001!

I have two questions that I hope you can help me with:
1. For any UConn merch, where can I easily find it? I'm staying quite close to XL. I'm guessing on campus but other than that?
2. Any tips for gameday at XL? Do/don'ts, when to arrive, food, all that? I'm not from the USA so this is all a fairnly new experience for me

Thank you!

 

[Bald Husky]

There is a small gift area in the XL center. Not very big, but it is where I bought my grandsons jersey. It is in the arena, not outside.

 

[topogigio]

UConn apparel and the like available in the lobby of XL before you enter the arena. Lot's of stuff there, and smaller selections available once inside the arena on concourse. There is no UConn "campus" there except for a few buildings of the UConn Hartford Branch close by. Lot's of restaurants on streets around XL center but not sure of Sunday afternoon hours. Food inside XL center for the usual obnoxious price. Enjoy the game.

 

[broooce]

There's a UConn bookstore that sells UConn apparel in Hartford! They're a Barnes & Noble store (same as on the Storrs campus) and they're open on Saturday, but closed on Sunday. Their address is 18 Front St. in Hartford which is about a 15 minute walk from the XL Center.

UConn's main campus in Storrs is only about 25 minutes from Hartford. Since you're flying in you might as well take the short drive to the main campus to look around, see Gampel Pavilion (I have walked in when there's no events and the doors are open). If you're able to get inside you can see all the banners and such! And of course go to the main campus bookstore for what would be a wider selection of UConn apparel and swag.

And if you make it to campus then treat yourself to ice cream at UConn's famous Dairy Bar!

Don't forget that Geno's restaurant is in nearby Manchester with a very nice Italian menu. It's called Cafe Aura, and I've taken my daughter there for dinner. A white tablecloth experience. www.cafeaura.com.

And in case you haven't been in Connecticut in a while or never indulged in other things we're known for, may I suggest the following:
Besides being the Basketball Capital of the World, Connecticut is also Pizza Capital! If you're staying in Hartford then you're only about 40 minutes north of New Haven, where you can indulge in your choice of Sally's Apizza, Frank Pepe Pizza, Modern Apizza or Zuppardi's Apizza - four of the most popular pizzerias. If you like seafood I recommend the White Clam Pizza (you can order it on half the pie and a different topping on the other half). Lines can be long depending upon when you go.

Libby's Italian bakery is just down the street from either Sally's or Pepe's and a fun place to get delicious treats like Italian cookies, cannolis and more. Lucibello's is another famous Italian pastry shop in New Haven.

I'll be there too, in section 101 opposite the UConn band. Have a safe trip!!