Why is ct the basketball capital of the world

Connecticut Unveils New Signs Celebrating Its Pizza, Basketball, Foodie, & Submarine Legacy


Governor Ned Lamont's initiative to revitalize Connecticut's image for out-of-state travelers is making a prominent (and perhaps controversial) debut at the state’s borders starting this week. 

On Wednesday, Governor Lamont and the Department of Transportation revealed new "Welcome to Connecticut" signs highlighting the state’s self-designated titles as the capital for pizza, basketball, foodies, and submarines. These signs will be strategically placed along at major interstate entry points as you enter Connecticut from New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.


Pizza Capital of the United States


Two of the new signs proudly declare Connecticut as the "Pizza Capital of the United States." This designation, officially proclaimed by Governor Lamont earlier this year, is a nod to the state’s rich pizza tradition. Whether it’s the classic New Haven-style pizza or innovative new flavors, Connecticut’s pizza scene has earned national acclaim. The signs on I-95 and I-84, welcoming travelers from New York, are a testament to the state’s dedication to


Henry Genga



With their resounding victory Monday night, our beloved Huskies earned their sixth NCAA men's basketball championship in just the last 25 years.

Along with the UConn women's 11 national titles, there is no doubt that Storrs, CT is truly the "basketball capital of the world!"



In addition to their dominance on the court, UConn's success is a source of pride for all of Connecticut and helps bring deserved attention to our flagship university which is consistently rated as one of the top colleges in the country.



Record number of prospective student applicants continue to flood the admissions office, and UConn's presence and impact throughout the state is evident at growing branch campuses in Hartford, Stamford and Waterbury.

Downtown Hartford will host a parade this Saturday to celebrate this latest championship run. Thousands of Husky fans are expected to visit the Capital City to share in the joy and excitement of another great season.



Sports championships can be great community unifiers that bring so many people together, and UConn's continued athletic success helps remind us all how important the University of Connecticut is as an academic institution a



September 9, 2024


From basketball titles to acclaimed pizza, a new series of “Welcome to Connecticut” signs unveiled by Gov. Ned Lamont Wednesday seek to highlight winning aspects of Connecticut’s identity for motorists traversing state highways.

State transportation officials have placed the news signs in seven locations alongside highways where drivers cross into Connecticut from Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island.

Each sign highlights a unique aspect of Connecticut. For instance, the signs tout Connecticut as “the Pizza Capital of the United States” and the “Foodie Capital of New England.” Other signs proclaim Connecticut as home to both the “Basketball Capital of the World” and the “Submarine Capital of the World.”

In a press release, Lamont said the new signs were meant to reflect the qualities that make Connecticut special.

“We want everyone entering our state to immediately feel proud of what we do well here, whether it’s making the nation’s best pizza, world class meals, national championships, or the most complex machines in the world,” Lamont said. “Each sign is an invitation to experience all that we have to offer as one of the best states to


Connecticut is not a big state. Our population is less than half that of New York City, and our square mileage could comfortably fit inside some national parks — with plenty of room left over for Rhode Island.

When Connecticut residents travel overseas, we’re prone to offering a half-apologetic, “Between Boston and New York” when someone asks where we’re from, because why would anyone in Dublin or Tokyo or Lagos or Santiago or Jerusalem know where Connecticut is?

We’re not especially famous for the things that draw huge crowds of tourists: no colossal statues, no splendid ruins, not even a really big canyon. It’s honestly a little weird how much we go on about pizza. Decades ago, we were known for the things we made. Now the only traces of those things are the nicknames for towns where mills and factories once hummed with activity: Silk City, Thread City, Brass City, the Hat City of the World.

There is one thing we do have, though: college basketball.

Over the last 35 years, we’ve been better at that, on both the women’s and men’s sides, than any other college or university in the country.

You know how many schools have men’s and women’s teams that have won championships in