UConn basketball expands footprint to Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, Oct. 7 – UConn’s basketball programs will be playing a pair of basketball games at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport this season. The UConn men will host Eastern Washington on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 1 p.m. while the UConn women will host Temple on Saturday, Jan. 11, at noon. 

It’s the first-ever regular season game for the UConn women in Bridgeport. They have played 10 NCAA tournament games in the building, going 9-1. For the UConn men, it’s the first game outside of Hartford and Storrs since 1987 when the Huskies faced Syracuse at the New Haven Coliseum. 

For years, the XL Center in Hartford has had an exclusive deal for all UConn basketball games that weren’t played in Storrs. That contract expired last year, opening up the door to games in other locations, such as Bridgeport. 

“Fairfield County is home to our Stamford campus and is critical to the University as we continue to grow, achieve our goals, and serve the entire state of Connecticut,” UConn president Susan Herbst said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to bring UConn basketball to Bridgeport to enhance our presence in the area and contribute to the city.” 

“We want to bring our University of Connecticut spirit here,” UConn men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie said. “We know some people can’t drive up to Storrs or Hartford, so hopefully those fans can come here and see the spirit and integrate themselves into the Husky pride.” 

There will be an exclusive priority presale of tickets to both games for UConn Club donors and UConn basketball season ticket holders beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Tickets to both games go on sale to the general public on Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or in-person at the Webster Bank Arena box office. 

“We represent the state,” said Warde Manuel, UConn’s Athletics Director Warde Manuel. “It’s important for us to come down here and connect with our fans, with our donors, with our alums — we have 30,000 alums in Fairfield County. It’s just a win, win for us.”