The University of Hartford's new Vin Baker Athletics and Recreation Complex officially opened Wednesday afternoon, drawing students, faculty, staff, and friends for an event that quickly turned from ceremony to activity.
Following brief remarks from Assistant Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Alicia Queally and President Lawrence P. Ward, guests moved into the facility to explore the space for themselves. Before long, the basketball courts were busy with pickup games, tennis courts filled with players, and groups gathered throughout the complex to connect with friends and colleagues.
"The kinds of opportunities that just happen naturally—across the net from someone you don't know or playing pickup basketball with someone that you meet for the first time—are incredibly important," Ward emphasized. "It's what a university community fundamentally is about."
The celebration featured door prizes, refreshments, and plenty of opportunities to put the new facility to use. Nashville chicken sliders were among the most sought-after items on the menu, while cups of hot cider became increasingly popular as the cool November afternoon gave way to evening.
By the latter stages of the event, the outdoor complex was doing exactly what it was designed to do. Courts were occupied, conversations carried from one gathering space to another, and students were still taking shots and playing tennis as others explored the facility. The grand opening offered the campus community a first look at the Vin Baker Athletics and Recreation Complex and an opportunity to begin making the space their own.