My family will probably be moving to the area next year. My wife will be attending UConn law, and we plan to stay in the area even after she finishes, if she can find a job there of course.

I was curious though, what professional sports teams do people in the area pull for? Is it a good mix of the New York and Boston teams, or is one favored more than the other? Like, for hockey, are there typically more Rangers fans or Bruins fans? Are people mostly Patriots fans?

I live in an area that doesn’t really have any teams in close proximity, so the idea of picking a “home” team sounds fun. I’m just not sure what that would be in the Hartford area since there are several kinda close.

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noced t1_izzfy2e wrote on December 12, 2022 at 11:46 PM

Some other good options if you enjoy local cheap sports entertainment: Connecticut Sun (WNBA), Wolf Pack (hockey minors), Yard Goats (baseball minors), Hartford Athletic (soccer).

Moose-Attack15 t1_izzg0p0 wrote on December 12, 2022 at 11:46 PM

Most people I have met are Boston sports fans but there is a sizable New York sports presence as well. I am a New York sports fan myself. Hartford is home to a few minor league sports teams. The Hartford Yardgoats are a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Colorado Rockies and the Hartford Wolfpack are a minor league hockey team affiliated with the New York Rangers. There is also a soccer team called the Hartford Athletic which I believe plays in a league similar to the MLS

TheDemon333 t1_j01fjgn wrote on December 13, 2022 at 11:35 AM

Hartford Athletic play in the USL, which is basically AAA for soccer. It's the top level before the big leagues, so to speak. The Wolf Pack are in a similar league, but for hockey.

The Yard Goats are AA baseball, so they're two teams removed from the Rockies.

DarkStarJimmy t1_izzju1h wrote on December 13, 2022 at 12:14 AM

If moving north or east of Hartford you are all Boston teams. If south you are New York. If in Hartford it’s predominantly Boston teams. As for minor leaguers go all in on the Yard Goats. Get season tickets with YG Club access and it will be your summer time past time (and you’ll get to know the staff and players and have a blast). I love hockey but skip the Wolf Pack - they’re awful. BUT since you’re wife will be at UConn law get all the UConn events at the XL Center. The men’s and women’s basketball and men’s hockey are highly rated in the nation and you’ll see a high level of competition.

dsm4ck t1_izz99u0 wrote on December 12, 2022 at 10:58 PM

Yes a mix of Boston/New York

DrabMoonflower t1_j00g049 wrote on December 13, 2022 at 4:20 AM

UConn is the great equalizer around here. They’re fun to get excited about especially with the Law connection and you can see basketball and hockey downtown and football not too far away.

But to answer your question it’s like 50/50 NY/BOS in most sports I’d say.

Cutlasss t1_izzj5fq wrote on December 13, 2022 at 12:09 AM

I'd say it's something like 40-40 or 45-45 NY and Boston teams with the rest random teams through the nation. Further west and south, more NY teams, further north and east, more Boston teams.

FSAaCTUARY t1_j00fpd6 wrote on December 13, 2022 at 4:17 AM

UConn womens basketball is all I follow

OMG_he t1_izzba64 wrote on December 12, 2022 at 11:12 PM

Red Sox/ Yankees Patriots/ New York Giants/ New York Jets Bruins/ Rangers New York Nicks/ Boston Celtics Just a few. You can root for whoever you like. I’ve seen Dallas fans, Bronco fans , Browns Fans , you name the team and people in CT are rooting for them. Enjoy!

Mackie5Million t1_j02ojef wrote on December 13, 2022 at 5:29 PM

Also the Islanders. There are literally dozens of us!

JRamone0819 t1_j0126lh wrote on December 13, 2022 at 8:30 AM

I root for New York Yankees and New York Giants - always have, even when I lived in Indiana. The Yankees are the premier sports franchise in the world. The Giants are the Giants and fun for me. Yes, there are spots teams in Boston, but I'll leave it to others more qualified to speak about them.

kaw027 t1_j00lg33 wrote on December 13, 2022 at 5:11 AM

You’ll both have time to go to Sun games over the summer! The games are fun and the last few years they’ve been really good— made it to the finals this past season

keepitupxxx t1_j01jzdd wrote on December 13, 2022 at 12:23 PM

You would enjoy Hartford Athletic if you like soccer

CaptainDickRip t1_j01z3p1 wrote on December 13, 2022 at 2:31 PM

If you’re picking a home team and plan on going to games, Boston is slightly closer by car ( Foxborough is even closer) and imo a much easier and less stressful drive. However, if you dont want to drive I find it easier to get to NY by train from here (either Amtrak, or CT Rail to New Haven Metro north) Yankees and Rangers games actually have trains directly to their stadium/arena. As far as who more people support here, I’d lean boston but its very close

CityBird555 t1_j026upq wrote on December 13, 2022 at 3:28 PM

Between Yard Goats, UConn Hockey, and Hartford Athletic you can take your family to a lot of fun, close-by sports events for a lower ticket price and a higher fun quotient. And Welcome to Hartford! (Also check out Hartford.com and sign up for their newsletter for other, non-sports related fun.)

MrA860 t1_j02jtu7 wrote on December 13, 2022 at 4:59 PM

We root for the Miami Dolphins heavily in this area lol.. Patriots, Giants, Jets, Bills, Steelers, Cowboys.

Brooklyn Nets, Celtics, some die hard Knicks fans

Yankees / Redsox is by far the most polarizing and evenly split rivalry in the area.

Welcome, and enjoy. One thing is for sure.. WE LOVE OUR HUSKIES! GO UCONN!

Lilcoqui17 t1_izzxmy1 wrote on December 13, 2022 at 1:57 AM

Boston, New York… but football gets odd. Plenty of Cowboys and 49ers fans.