UConn announces First Night plans, including block party
UConn has announced details for the men’s and women’s basketball First Night festivities on Oct. 13.
The event at Gampel Pavilion will begin at 7 p.m. and will air locally on WFSB while streaming on UConn+. There will also be an expanded, full-arena capacity for the “student-focused” event.
The night will begin with a block party on Jim Calhoun Way, starting at 5 p.m. Students can begin lining up at the North and East Entrances of Gampel at 2 p.m. and doors will open at 6 p.m.
The pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m., just as the block party ends outside.
The show will feature competition between two teams comprised on members of the men’s and women’s teams. The Blue Team and White Team will be selected in a draft ahead of the event, which in the past featured slam dunk and 3point contests.
Students can claim tickets beginning on Oct. 3 at 10 p.m. Season ticket holders and donors can begin claiming tickets on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m.
Students can claim tickets through the “Tickets” tab on the Top Dogs Student Rewards app or at uconnhuskies.com/students. Season ticket holders can claim a ticket through their UConn Ticket Account (uconnhuskies.com/ myaccount).
Tickets for students, donors and season ticket holders are available on a firstcome, first-serve basis.
Seating is general admission.
UConn students with mobile tickets can enter Gampel Pavilion through the East and North Entrances. Season ticket holders enter through the South Entrance, and there is no reentry allowed.
The block party is open to the general public and will feature food trucks, carnival games, photobooth, live DJ, and more. Concession stands will be open inside Gampel during First Night, but alcohol sales will not be available.
Parking will be available in the North and South Garages. Surface lots (YZ, ILot East & I-Lot West, N) will be open three hours prior to the event, beginning at 4 p.m.
Lot D and commuter lots (C, K, W, Y) are unavailable for parking for First Night attendees without a valid permit.
This will be the first look at the 2023-24 Huskies. The men are coming off an NCAA title and will feature a highly-touted freshman class added to a returning core led by Donovan Clingan and Alex Karaban. The women are expected to be among the best teams in the country, with Paige Bueckers returning after missing last season with a knee injury.