As the leaves fall in Storrs, Connecticut, it signals to the students a very exciting time: basketball season. After winning back-to-back national championships, the hype around the new line of men’s basketball is palpable. Not to mention the buzz around Paige Bueckers having one last hurrah alongside Azzi Fudd. This little cow town is ready to have college basketball back in full swing.
As a junior here at the University of Connecticut, I wanted to share some tips prior to the season that I would’ve loved to have known. The feeling I get from being in the student section is unmatched and I hope everyone gets the opportunity to have that. So, here’s some advice coming from a girl who once had 0 student section experience to now having every game written in her planner (color-coded of course).
Getting your ticket 🎟
In order to go to a game, you have to secure a student ticket. They’re free because the cost is included in our fees to go here. The process of getting them is a little tricky, but it’s possible. Tickets are first come first serve, so make sure to get onto the website early. I usually have it open on multiple devices to make sure I have every opportunity to get a ticket.
The tickets will drop at a date 4-5 days before the game at a designated time, usually around 10 PM. You can find the times in the ticket portal. When it comes to the ticket time, there are two things that can happen. One, it’ll just be a first come first serve ticket system or two, you’ll be put in a queue where everyone has to wait. The queue is hard because it doesn’t matter if you get there 30 minutes before tickets drop or 30 seconds before tickets drop, the order is completely randomized. I also recommend having multiple browsers open and doing it with friends. Once one person gets their tickets in the queue, they can sign out and you can sign in and get a ticket with no wait. Once you get your ticket, make sure it is put in your Apple wallet for easy access and so you won’t lose it when it comes game time.
Game Day ⛹️♀️
Now that you’ve made it to game day, it’s time to figure out which arena they’re playing in. The season is split about 50/50 for games at Gampel Pavilion, which is on campus, or the XL Center, which is in Hartford.
If a game is in Hartford, busses will be supplied for students to get there. It’s the same as the Husky Road Show process that football has. Make sure to have your ticket ready to show when you are leaving campus and when you’re coming back. They won’t let you on the bus if you don’t have it. Sometimes, they’ll mark your hand with an X to substitute having your ticket on the way back. Busses leave an hour and a half prior to the game starting and it’s about a 30-minute drive there. Seats are general admission, so you probably won’t be first-row against the upperclassmen that drive there, but you’ll be close if you get on one of the first buses.
If the game is at Gampel, it’s very different. With seats being general admission, whoever is in line in front of Gampel gets first dibs on seats. There are some very passionate fans that get there at 6 AM on game day and camp out just to be sure they’re in the front row. If you want to be close to the student section, I recommend getting in line around 1-2 hours prior to the doors opening. You can find what time the doors open on your ticket. They will usually open an hour and 1/2 prior to the game starting. It’s a lot of waiting around, but it’s worth it. For some games, they will give out food, coffee, snacks, and even free T-shirts or rally towels. This will be posted on Instagram prior to game day so make sure to look out for those!
Themed Games 📣
Finally, we’ve reached what to wear. For most games, you’re free to wear any UConn gear you want, from a simple baseball hat and temporary tattoos on your cheeks to a sweatshirt, jersey, or even something as extreme as a banana suit as I’ve seen in the past season. Some guys paint their bodies to spell out H-U-R-L-E-Y, which is something I don’t think I would do, but to each their own!
For some games, however, the student section is told to wear a certain color. Since our colors are blue and white, we have blue-outs and white-outs. It’ll be put on Instagram before the game so you can prepare the cutest outfit you can think of. It’s fun to see not only the student section, but tons of other fans show up in their blue/white.
There’s also a $2 beer night. Whether you choose to drink or not, this is a top-tier game to be at. Students are rowdier than ever and it’s truly a blast. It usually falls on a Big East Rival Game, such as Seton Hall, St. Johns, or Providence. You don’t have to drink to feel drunk off the energy in the student section. It’s the game I look forward to most of all.
Go Huskies! 🐺
Now you know some of the basics prior to game day. You’ll learn some chants and traditions once you get there. Other than that, make sure to have a charged phone, and maybe eat beforehand because the food and drinks can be pricy. Most importantly, have fun and root for the greatest college basketball program, both men’s and women’s, in the country! Go Huskies!