The governor announced that the State of Connecticut will hold a parade and rally to honor the University of Connecticut men's basketball team after their NCAA Championship win.
Gov. Ned Lamont said the parade will be held Saturday, April 8, to congratulate the UConn men for winning its fifth men's basketball national title Monday night. UConn won 76-59 over San Diego State in Houston, Texas.
The parade will start at 11:30 a.m. and will step off from the State Capitol building at the intersection of Trinity and Elm streets. From there, the parade will continue north on Trinity Street, go through the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, turn right onto Jewell Street, turn left onto Trumbull Street, and end at the intersection of Asylum and Trumbull streets.
Get Connecticut local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Connecticut newsletters.
The governor said the rally will begin at noon and will take place outside of the main entrance of the XL Center on Trumbull Street. 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.”
The event is being put on by the City of Hartford, the Hartford Business Improvement District and the State of Connecticut. Private donations and business sponsorships are being used to pay for the event.
Road Closures
- Rally Area Closure, from 9 a.m. to around 3 p.m.
- Trumbull Street to Church Street
- Hartford 21 Residents can utilize garage until 11: a.m.
- Trumbull Street is a "No Parking" area. Illegally parked vehicles will be towed.
- Capitol Area Closures, from 10:30 a.m. to around 3 p.m.
- Trinity Street from Capitol/Elm, Elm Street from Pulaski Circle
- Parade Route Closures, from 11 a.m. to around 2 p.m.
- State Capitol to Trinity Street, North on Trinity Street, East on Jewell Street, north on Trumbull
- Street, to the front of the XL Center. Roads adjacent to the Parade Route will have closures.
- Parade Route is a "No Parking" area. Illegally parked vehicles will be towed.
