Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion
Chase Family Arena at Reich Family Pavilion, commonly called the Sports Center or the Reich Family Pavilion, is a 4,017-seat multi-purpose arena in West Hartford, Connecticut. Home to the University of Hartford Hawks men's and women's basketball teams, the arena opened on January 25, 1990,[2] and was dedicated to the Chase family and the Reich family, both of West Hartford, in 1998 and 2004, respectively.[1] It hosted the 2010 and 2011 America East Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments. In 2015 the men's basketball locker room was expanded and refurbished.[3][4]
Former names | Sports Center (1990-1998) Chase Family Arena (1998-2004)[1] |
---|---|
Location | Hawk Drive, West Hartford, Connecticut, USA |
Owner | University of Hartford |
Capacity | Basketball: 4,017 |
Opened | January 25, 1990[2] |
Tenants | |
Hartford Hawks (NCAA) (1990–present) Connecticut Pride (CBA) (199?–2000) |
Notable games
On January 25, 1990, the Hartford men's basketball team officially opened what was originally known as the Sports Center with the largest crowd in the arena's history as 4,161 attendees watched the Hawks christen their new arena with a 63–61 win over Siena.[2]
March 9, 2002, the Hartford women's basketball team knocked off Stony Brook 50–47 in the America East Tournament Championship, to claim their first conference championship and first NCAA tournament appearance.
December 22, 2012, the Hartford women's basketball team hosted the #2-ranked UConn Huskies in front of a sellout crowd of 3,508. UConn was playing its first in-state road game in 20 years and its first at Chase Arena since a 57–43 win on Dec. 23, 1990. UConn won the contest, 102–45.[5]
On March 13, 2021, the Hartford men's basketball team defeated UMass-Lowell, 64-50, to win the 2021 America East Tournament. It was the men's team's first conference tournament championship and secured its first NCAA Division I tournament appearance. The game was closed to the public due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Events
- President Barack Obama gave a speech on April 8, 2013, at Chase Family Arena.[6]
America East Conference tournament
Chase Arena hosted the America East Conference women's basketball tournament from 2002 to 2006, and then returning in 2008 and continuing in 2010. In 2012 the preliminary rounds of the tournament were hosted at the arena.
Connecticut high school basketball
- The Connecticut Class LL boys basketball state semifinal between East Catholic High School and Hillhouse High School was held on March 15, 2017[7]
- The Connecticut Division II boys basketball state semifinal between Immaculate High School and Glastonbury High School was held on March 14, 2018[8]
References
- "2009-10 Hartford Hawks Men's Basketball". Hartford University Athletics. 2009. pp. 78–81. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- "Hartford Hawks Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). University of Hartford Athletics. 2020. pp. 10, 35. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- "Men's Basketball Celebrates the Opening of its Newly Expanded and Refurbished Locker Room". Unotes Daily. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- "2009-10 Championship Schedule". America East Conference. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
- "UConn crushes Hartford 102-45". CT Post. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
- "At University Of Hartford, President Calls For Congressional Vote On Gun Control". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- "Hillhouse Shuts Down East Catholic And Its Two Top Scorers In Class LL Semifinal, 53-45". Hartford Courant. 16 March 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- "Boys basketball: Immaculate tops Glastonbury to reach Division II final". newstimes. Retrieved June 2, 2018.