SignalR initial connection takes way too long (logs included in comments)

protected override async Task OnAfterRenderAsync(bool firstRender)
{
    if (firstRender)
    {
        _hubConnection = _hubService.MakeHubConnection(Constants.HubRoutes.DISPLAY_HUB);

        _hubConnection.On<Settings>(Constants.HubRoutes.SETTINGS_UPDATED, async (settings) =>
        {
            _actionInProgress = true;
            await InvokeAsync(StateHasChanged);

            _settings = settings;

            if (_settings.DefaultBackgroundId is not null)
            {
                using var db = _dbContextFactory.CreateDbContext();
                _settings.DefaultBackground = await db.Images.FirstOrDefaultAsync(x => x.Id.Equals(_settings.DefaultBackgroundId));
            }

            _actionInProgress = false;
            await InvokeAsync(StateHasChanged);
        });

        _hubConnection.On<Guid, string?, int>(Constants.HubRoutes.NOW_PLAYING_CHANGED, async (instance, _, _) =>
        {
            if (instance.Equals(_instance) || _queue is null)
                return;

            _actionInProgress = true;
            await InvokeAsync(StateHasChanged);

            using var db = _dbContextFactory.CreateDbContext();
            await db.ReloadQueue(_queue);

            _actionInProgress = false;
            await InvokeAsync(StateHasChanged);
        });

        _ = TrackConnectionAsync(_hubConnection);
    }
}

    private async Task TrackConnectionAsync(HubConnection hubConnection)
    {
        await hubConnection.StartAsync();
        _isConnected = true;
        StateHasChanged();
    }