Before First Night festivities started today, UConn dedicated its $39 million basketball facility located next to Gampel Pavilion.

The school announced the building’s name: The Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center.

Peter and Pamela Werth from Woodbridge donated a total of $7 million. They attended an afternoon press conference.

Standing on a balcony above the practice court, the men’s and women’s team unveiled a banner with the building’s name.

Peter Werth made some brief remarks.

“We’re looking forward to two more new championships,” Werth said.

The extended UConn family also showed up. Athletic director Warde Manuel called it an historic day for UConn athletics.

“I’m overwhelmed and somewhat envious,” said Ray Allen said when asked of his impression of the new building.

Allen was just one of many former men’s players to attend the event. There’s a mural of Allen in the lobby of the men’s side of the building and one of Maya Moore on the women’s side.

The 75,000 square foot facility is state-of-the-art, featuring rooms for weight training, academic support, sports medicine and strength training, video study as well as basketball offices, locker rooms, lounges and practice courts for both teams.

It is the first building on campus built solely with private funds. UConn has raised $33.5 million, so there’s still some fund-raising work to do.

Here’s some reaction:

Manuel: “This facility will allow us to take it to another level.”

Men’s coach Kevin Ollie: “This building is allowing us to strengthen our program.”

President Susan Herbst: “It’s an unbelievable day for us.”

Women’s coach Geno Auriemma: “We did a lot with a little. Now we’re going to do more with more. I promise you.”

Men’s associate head coach Glen Miller said the facility will help recruiting.

“It’s impressive right now to recruits,” Miller said. “We bring them through. We used to bring them over to the football facility and tell them that a few years down the road we’re going to have our own facility right across the street.”

“Now we have it. And it goes along way. Our program is big for development. To have this facility to help our players develop in every facet of their experience here is such a wonderful thing.”

Several recruits are expected to be on hand tonight, including power forward Steven Enoch and guard Jalen Adams who’ve already committed to UConn.

The First Night shows starts at 7 p.m. There will be a 3-point shooting contest. The men’s and women’s players will combine for a scrimmage, with Ollie coaching one team and Auriemma the other.