I work in downtown Hartford, right across the street from the XL Center. Over the last month or so I've noticed a lot of construction work going on there. I figured the upcoming basketball tournament was the driver for the renovations but, as it turns out, a number of the improvements are hockey related (UConn starts play in Hockey East this year and Hartford also has an AHL team...the Wolfpack).

I've always found the XL Center to be exceedingly dreary so it's interesting to see what improvements are being made.
Anyone planning on coming to Hartford for the basketball tourney?

I'm going to try. One of 7 states I have not been to so a good reason to visit

Did not realize that Hartford was the site for the 2015 conference basketball tournament. I have not heard many good things about hartford's downtown. With cold weather likely in early March, what attractions in the downtown area are available to visiting fans?

(08-06-2014 10:08 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  Did not realize that Hartford was the site for the 2015 conference basketball tournament. I have not heard many good things about hartford's downtown. With cold weather likely in early March, what attractions in the downtown area are available to visiting fans?

Attractions? There is a pretty good basketball tournament going on in Hartford in that timeframe.

Nice...at least the XL Center will look it's best for the AAC Tourney.



Hopefully the weather will cooperate in early March.

As the son of a former Whaler, I've always been partial to "The Mall" errr Hartford Civic Center errr XL Center! It's an old school hockey barn with a great basketball tradition... the fans of the central Connecticut area in addition to those that travel will likely create a GREAT vibe for the conference tourney!

I grew up in Hartford in the 80's and 90's and moved back after spending my college years in Atlanta. Downtown has come a long way over the past decade and visiting fans will have plenty to do. There are many good to great restaurants, and new ones opening regularly now. I'm glad that the XL will be spruced up. If you are coming with kids, the CT Science Center is a must visit. If you like art, we have the oldest public art museum in the nation in the Wadsworth Atheneum.

I'd be happy to give more recomendations when it gets closer to that time. There is a very nice , new 4 screen movie theater in the Front Street district downtown where you can bring food, wine/beer into the theater with you. A live music venue is opening there in the next few weeks. For steakhouses we have Morton's and Capital Grille, and also a Hartford mainstay, Max's.

I encourage those who can to come up for the tourney. Hartford will exceed your probably very low expectations of it, I'm pretty sure of that.

(08-06-2014 10:08 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  Did not realize that Hartford was the site for the 2015 conference basketball tournament. I have not heard many good things about hartford's downtown. With cold weather likely in early March, what attractions in the downtown area are available to visiting fans?

There are a ton of bars and restaurants surrounding the XL Center. Party options will be plentiful.

As for attractions outside of food and drink, they are the same as most cities in late winter (mostly cultural options). You could to a museum (the Wadsworth Atheneum is the oldest public art museum in the USA). You could go to the Mark Twain House. As a bonus, the Harriet Beecher Stowe house is right next door to the Mark Twain House.

If you will be renting a car, you could go the Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino for a short day trip. While you are in that area, you could go to Mystic and hit up the Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium.

Or, you could do some spring skiing in southern Vermont if you have a few days. Mount Snow is 2 hours away, Okemo is 2 hours and 15 min away, and Killington is 2 hours and 45 min away. If you want to go to a closer mountain, Ski Sundown in CT is 40 mins away, Mohawk Mountain in CT is an hour away, and Berkshire East is 90 mins away just over the Mass border. I would recommend the drive to Mount Snow or Killington, though. They are WAY bigger mountains with great spring skiing conditions (the snow at the resorts is deepest that time of year). Plus, those resorts will have ski bunnies, bands playing, and awesome party scenes for après ski.

(08-07-2014 12:44 PM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(08-06-2014 10:08 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  Did not realize that Hartford was the site for the 2015 conference basketball tournament. I have not heard many good things about hartford's downtown. With cold weather likely in early March, what attractions in the downtown area are available to visiting fans?

There are a ton of bars and restaurants surrounding the XL Center. Party options will be plentiful.

As for attractions outside of food and drink, they are the same as most cities in late winter (mostly cultural options). You could to a museum (the Wadsworth Atheneum is the oldest public art museum in the USA). You could go to the Mark Twain House. As a bonus, the Harriet Beecher Stowe house is right next door to the Mark Twain House.

If you will be renting a car, you could go the Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino for a short day trip. While you are in that area, you could go to Mystic and hit up the Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium.

Or, you could do some spring skiing in southern Vermont if you have a few days. Mount Snow is 2 hours away, Okemo is 2 hours and 15 min away, and Killington is 2 hours and 45 min away. If you want to go to a closer mountain, Ski Sundown in CT is 40 mins away, Mohawk Mountain in CT is an hour away, and Berkshire East is 90 mins away just over the Mass border. I would recommend the drive to Mount Snow or Killington, though. They are WAY bigger mountains with great spring skiing conditions (the snow at the resorts is deepest that time of year). Plus, those resorts will have ski bunnies, bands playing, and awesome party scenes for après ski.

Thanks for all the feedback re Hartford, Huskie fans. Hopefully the Bearcats and UCONN will hook up in the final and I can spend most of my time rooting for the real "UC".

(08-07-2014 12:10 PM)IceJus10 Wrote:  As the son of a former Whaler, I've always been partial to "The Mall" errr Hartford Civic Center errr XL Center! It's an old school hockey barn with a great basketball tradition... the fans of the central Connecticut area in addition to those that travel will likely create a GREAT vibe for the conference tourney!

Whenever I'm there I always get goose bumps looking at the Whalers' Adams Division championship banner from 1987. Ah, good times!

City of Hartford deserves a new downtown arena to replace their 40 yr old Civic Center...as many cities (including much smaller ones) have also been able to do over the last 10 years or so.





The old Hockey Arena has very little premium seating (especially mid-level) as a new arena would bring a lot more acts/events/shows to downtown, plus bring in more $$$.

I too remember the Whalers WHL/NHL Days...and the cool thought of an arena in/attached to a mall (think Atlanta's Omni too).

Heck, a lot of "newer" arenas have been torn down and replaced since the Hartford Civic Center opened in 1975.

PS. Still like it when UCONN gets to play big hoop games ON-CAMPUS...as the atmosphere at much more intimate Gampel Pavillion is so much better vs the much larger off-campus Civic Center.

(08-08-2014 07:32 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  City of Hartford deserves a new downtown arena to replace their 40 yr old Civic Center...as many cities (including much smaller ones) have also been able to do over the last 10 years or so.


The old Hockey Arena has very little premium seating (especially mid-level) as a new arena would bring a lot more acts/events/shows to downtown, plus bring in more $$$.

I too remember the Whalers WHL/NHL Days...and the cool thought of an arena in/attached to a mall (think Atlanta's Omni too).

Heck, a lot of "newer" arenas have been torn down and replaced since the Hartford Civic Center opened in 1975.

PS. Still like it when UCONN gets to play big hoop games ON-CAMPUS...as the atmosphere at much more intimate Gampel Pavillion is so much better vs the much larger off-campus Civic Center.

They are working on it. It's been frustratingly slow for sure but we should know more by the end of the year about the plans for a new downtown arena. It'll be at least 5 - 10 years down the road. That is why they are investing in the XL now.