by Amos Santos
The Big East Women's Basketball tournament is taking place in downtown Hartford through Tuesday for the 10th straight, but likely final year, in the Connecticut capital.
The XL Center has played host to the tournament, which began last Friday, and features top women's teams Notre Dame and the University of Connecticut.
"We fully expect this year’s tournament to be the best in its 10 year history in Hartford," said Kristen Sullivan, a spokeswoman for The Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau.” However, there may not be an 11th year of hosting a collegiate basketball tournament. After 34 years, the Big East Conference announced Friday that it would disband on July 1. The conference has lost 16 members since 2011 due to conference realignment. Financial considerations forced Big East charter members to leave and join new conferences. The fate of a new conference for UCONN- a perennial national title contender and thus, always a big draw in women's basketball- remains unsettled as does the location of the new conference's tournaments. Hartford Courant "Finale to UConn's Big East Chapter"
DTHartford Staff
The Big East Women's Basketball tournament is taking place in downtown Hartford through Tuesday for the 10th straight, but likely final year, in the Connecticut capital.
The XL Center has played host to the tournament, which began last Friday, and features top women's teams Notre Dame and the University of Connecticut.
"We fully expect this year’s tournament to be the best in its 10 year history in Hartford," said Kristen Sullivan, a spokeswoman for The Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau.” However, there may not be an 11th year of hosting a collegiate basketball tournament. After 34 years, the Big East Conference announced Friday that it would disband on July 1. The conference has lost 16 members since 2011 due to conference realignment. Financial considerations forced Big East charter members to leave and join new conferences. The fate of a new conference for UCONN- a perennial national title contender and thus, always a big draw in women's basketball- remains unsettled as does the location of the new conference's tournaments. Hartford Courant "Finale to UConn's Big East Chapter"
“Everything is up in the air," Sullivan said, when asked about Hartford hosting future tournaments in 2014 and beyond. "The GHCVB’s main focus is making sure this year’s event is successful.”
The Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau (Official website) is the agency that was hard at work to offer fans special rates and discounts on hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. The city began its preparations for this past weekend’s activities well over two weeks ago. Flyers and various types of ads were posted all throughout downtown.
In addition to the Big East Tournament, the annual Greater Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade also took place downtown over the past weekend.
Downtown Hartford was mobbed Saturday with several thousand people -- essentially, a block party was taking place, with the XL Center at the hub.
“The fact that the UCONN women’s basketball team is playing next door, in addition to the St. Patrick’s Day parade taking place is without a doubt bringing in more money to my bar this weekend,” said Sean Davidson, an assistant manager at Pig’s Eye Pub.
The XL Center and Hartford Convention Center were offering parking at a reasonable fee for people who were downtown on Saturday. The option provided by the XL Center was very convenient for tourists and fans of the schools that participated in the Big East Tournament.
Michael & Sandra Westbrook, a couple from Patterson, N.J., were in Hartford on Saturday for the tournament. Their daughter, Jamie, is a cheerleader at Seton Hall University.
“Honestly we had no intention of exploring downtown after Seton Hall played, but there was so much activity going out we had to go out,” said Michael Westbrook outside of City Steam, a popular bar/restaurant across the street from the XL Center.
The success of last year’s tournament, in addition to the St. Patrick’s parade certainly had a big effect on surrounding businesses seeing an economic boom this past weekend, especially Saturday. Public parking lots were full, bars and restaurants were packed, hotels were booked.
People downtown Saturday enjoyed the revelry and did not express concern about losing a women's basketball tournament-- yet.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for the conference soon to be formally known as The Big East, but Hartford will reportedly be considered as a contender to host a rotating tournament.
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