Celebrate Huskies' Championship Saturday In Hartford

HARTFORD, CT — With 11 women's basketball titles at the University of Connecticut and, now, five championships for the men, Hartford is used to hosting celebratory parades since 1995.

So it's no surprise, Gov. Ned Lamont Tuesday afternoon announce plans for a UConn men's basketball NCAA national title victory parade for this Saturday, April 8.

Monday night, a dominant UConn men's team waxed San Diego State, 76-59, in Houston, Texas, securing the fifth men's title and first for head coach Danny Hurley.

And now, according to Lamont, it's time for the state to celebrate in the state's capitol.

He said the State of Connecticut, the City of Hartford and the Hartford Business Improvement District will host a victory parade and rally in downtown Hartford on Saturday, April 8.

The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will step off from the State Capitol building at the intersection of Trinity Street and Elm Street.

From there, it will proceed north on Trinity Street, go through the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch, turn right (east) onto Jewell Street, turn left (north) onto Trumbull Street and end at the intersection of Asylum and Trumbull streets.

A rally will begin at approximately noon and will be held outside the main entrance of the XL Center on Trumbull Street, where the players, coaches and other guests will be invited to give speeches.

“The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team has been a dominating force in the NCAA tournament, and it will be an honor for us to welcome the coaches and the players to downtown Hartford and give them the celebration they deserve,” Lamont said.

“I am strongly encouraging the residents of Connecticut to come to the parade and show the Huskies how proud we are and how much this team means to our state.”

Parade and rally organizers are relying on private donations and business sponsorships to finance the event. No state or city funding is being used.

As in previous years, this 2023 event is produced by the Hartford Business Improvement District in collaboration with the State of Connecticut and City of Hartford, as well as a number of civic and business organizations.

To sponsor the event, businesses may choose from several sponsorship levels ranging from $10,000 to $2,500 or less.

Those interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Chip McCabe at the Hartford Business Improvement District as soon as possible at 860-770-0788 or cmccabe@hartfordbid.com.