Parade of Champions: Tens of Thousands Gather in Hartford to Honor UConn Huskies Men’s Basketball
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Flanked by members of the team, UConn Men's Basketball Head Coach Dan Hurley addresses the crowd that attended a parade and rally in Hartford, celebrating the 2023 NCAA National Championship. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The UConn Men’s Basketball Team’s 2023 NCAA Championship victory was celebrated Saturday with a parade and rally.
Sarah and Jim Falvey of West Hartford have attended all of UConn’s victory parades. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
An estimated 45,000 people turned out Saturday, April 8, 2023, to celebrate the UConn Men’s Basketball Team’s 2023 NCAA Championship victory at a parade and rally.
The Huskies won the program’s fifth national championship on Monday, April 3, defeating San Diego State 76-59 in Houston. “Hu5kies” logos were popular on attire and signage at the parade and rally.
“Our first memory of coming to a Huskies parade – we’ve been to all of the parades – was when our daughter was 2, sitting on my husband Jim’s shoulders, waving to all of the players,” said West Hartford resident Sarah Falvey. “Just the excitement and the pride that we had for our first championship and here we are years later in 2023, enjoying the fifth one as much as the first one,” she said. “I’m so happy for the state.”
Jim Falvey graduated from UConn in 1982, and said he remembered the days before the Huskies were part of the Big East, the Jim Calhoun era and beating teams like Georgetown and Syracuse for the first time, the years in AAC, and now the return to the Big East. “This is the culmination of all that good time.”
Saturday was a day of pride, a day of celebration, and a great day to be in Connecticut.
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin takes a photo of the crowd. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A bus carrying cheerleaders arrives on Trumbull Street. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A bus carrying the cheerleaders arrives on Trumbull Street. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
UConn’s Jonathan mascot spots the National Association of Basketball Coach’s trophy, made of Waterford Crystal, presented annually to the winning head coach of the National Championship game. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The UConn Pep Band arrives on Trumbull Street in front of the XL Center. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The UConn Pep Band bus arrives at the XL Center. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jonathan IVX is a bit too short to speak at the podium. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The UConn Men’s Basketball Team bus is greeted with cheers as they arrive on Trumbull Street headed for a post-parade rally in front of the XL Center. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The UConn Men’s Basketball Team bus is greeted with cheers as they arrive on Trumbull Street headed for a post-parade rally in front of the XL Center. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The UConn Men’s Basketball Team bus is greeted with cheers as they arrive on Trumbull Street headed for a post-parade rally in front of the XL Center. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The UConn Men’s Basketball Team bus is greeted with cheers as they arrive on Trumbull Street headed for a post-parade rally in front of the XL Center. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jordan Hawkins signs autographs. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
UConn Men’s Basketball players gaze at the NABC Waterford Crystal trophy that was on display at the rally following the victory parade on April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jordan Hawkins talks to the crowd at a rally following the victory parade. A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
State, national, and local politicians joined in the festivities at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Hartford Mayor Luke Born addresses the crowd at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz addresses the crowd at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
UConn President Radenka Maric addresses the crowd at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Gov. Ned Lamont addresses the crowd at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A sea of fans, estimated at 45,000, attended the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jordan Hawkins addresses the crowd at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Adama Sanogo addresses the crowd at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Confetti flies as Andre Jackson Jr. addresses the crowd at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Andre Jackson Jr. addresses the crowd at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Donovan Clingan addresses the crowd at the UConn Men’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
UConn junior and Final Four Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo speaks with the media after the victory parade and rally. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
UConn freshman Donovan Clingan speaks with the media after the parade and rally on April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
UConn junior and Final Four Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo speaks with the media after the victory parade and rally. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jordan Hawkins speaks with the media after the victory parade and rally. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Andre Jackson Jr. is interviewed by Andy Katz after the victory parade and rally. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Donovan Clingan speaks with the media after the victory parade and rally. April 8, 2023. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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[…] Tens of thousands of people gathered in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday to celebrate this year’s UConn basketball team, West Hartford News reported. […]
[…] Tens of thousands of people gathered in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday to celebrate this year’s UConn basketball team, West Hartford News reported. […]
[…] Tens of thousands of people gathered in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday to celebrate this year's UConn basketball team, West Hartford News reported. […]