The University of Connecticut will not play home basketball or hockey schedules at Hartford this season.
Athletic director David Benedict said the school and XL Center operators agreed that it would not be economically feasible to use the 16,000-seat arena during a coronavirus pandemic.
“Our team loves to compete in downtown Hartford, but the situation brought about by COVID-19 makes it unrealistic,” Benedict said in a statement. “Our men’s hockey and basketball teams will compete (on campus) at the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum and the Gampel Pavilion, respectively. We look forward to playing at XL Center during the 2021-22 season. . “
It has not been decided whether or how many fans will be allowed to participate.
Huskies typically divides a basketball home game into a 10,000-seat arena and XL Center at Stors.
Plans to use Uncasville’s Mohigan Sun Arena as a “bubble” for some non-conference fall basketball tournaments are still in the final stages, and Huskies will also play some games there.
Big East said it expects members to play 20 conference basketball game slate, but hasn’t announced a schedule.
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