PeoplesBank Arena to host NCAA Tournament regional in 2027

An NCAA Tournament regional is coming to Hartford this season. On Tuesday, the NCAA announced that the 2027 regional originally slated for Bridgeport will be moved to PeoplesBank Arena.

According to the release, Total Mortgage Arena is “undergoing renovations and unable to host the event.” It doesn’t help that the Bridgeport Islanders, AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, relocated to Hamilton, Ontario after the 2025-26 season, which left the venue without a hockey team.

“I don’t know if Hartford was selected as much it is like the president passes away so the vice president gets the job,” UConn head coach Cavanaugh joked last week. “I think Bridgeport decided not to have it and Hartford got it.”

Even though PeoplesBank Arena serves as UConn’s second home, Mike Cavanaugh’s squad would not necessarily end up there if it makes the NCAA Tournament for a third straight year. Host schools must be placed in the regional they’re hosting, but the Huskies aren’t the hosts — Sacred Heart is.

The selection committee factors in attendance when building the bracket but a lot would have to go right for UConn to land in Hartford. The Huskies would probably have to earn a 1-seed, maybe a 2-seed, then hope Quinnipiac isn’t ranked higher on the same seed line and also avoid getting bumped out by another Hockey East school.

Still, it’ll be the first time Hartford ever hosts a men’s hockey regional.

“We are excited for that,” Cavanaugh said. “It is fantastic for Connecticut to be hosting it. I think Hartford is a great venue. With the amount of money they have put into the PBA facility, it is awesome for us to have that.

“Hopefully we will be playing in it,” he added.

Hartford isn’t the only chance UConn has to play close to home if it punches its ticket to the big dance. The Mass Mutual Center up I-91 in Springfield will host one of the other four regionals, which take place Mar. 25-28. The two remaining sites are Blue Arena in Loveland, Colorado and Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota. The Frozen Four is set for Apr. 8 and 10 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.