UConn, Global Spectrum Negotiate New Deal For Hoops And Hockey At XL Center

The UConn athletic department and XL Center manager Global Spectrum have "reached a tentative agreement to play men's and women's basketball games, as well as UConn's holiday hockey tournament, in Hartford next season," according to Dom Amore of the HARTFORD COURANT. Details, including financial terms, are not complete, but sources said that the agreement "will give UConn the option of playing some games at other venues in Connecticut, such as Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport." Under their recently expired agreement, the XL Center had "exclusive rights to games not played at Gampel Pavilion." Sources said that UConn will "play eight women's games and nine men's games at the XL Center, with each offering a game to the Webster Bank Arena, which has been trying for several years to get UConn games." There was "speculation of some games being played at Mohegan Sun Arena, but that is not likely this year" (HARTFORD COURANT, 8/10).