Pratt_&_Whitney_Stadium_at_Rentschler_Field
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field
Football stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field is a stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut. It is primarily used for football and soccer, and is the home field of the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies. In 2010, it was home to the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League. The stadium, which opened in 2003, was the first stadium used primarily by an NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) team to open in the 21st century. The permanent stadium capacity is 40,000, consisting of 38,066 permanent seats with a standing-room area in the scoreboard plaza that can accommodate up to 1,934 people. It also has a game day capability to add approximately 3,000 temporary seats as it did for UConn football vs. Michigan in 2013. Connecticut played on campus at Memorial Stadium in Storrs, before 2003.
Rentschler Field, The Rent | |
The stadium during a football game in 2017 | |
| Former names | Rentschler Field (2003–2015) |
|---|---|
| Location | 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118 |
| Coordinates | 41°45′35″N 72°37′8″W |
| Public transit |   120, 121 |
| Owner | State of Connecticut |
| Operator | Spectra[1] |
| Capacity | 38,066 (standing room to 40,000, expandable to at least 42,704) |
| Record attendance | 42,704 (Sept. 2013) |
| Surface | Kentucky Bluegrass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 21, 2000[2] |
| Opened | August 30, 2003; 20 years ago (August 30, 2003) |
| Construction cost | $91.2 million ($151 million in 2023 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket |
| Structural engineer | BVH Integrated Services[4] |
| Services engineer | Diversified Technology Consultants[5] |
| General contractor | Hunt-Gilbane Joint Venture[6] |
| Tenants | |
| UConn Huskies (NCAA) (2003–present) Hartford Colonials (UFL) (2010) Hartford Athletic (USLC) (2019) Toronto FC (MLS) (2020) | |
| Website | |
| rentschlerfield.com | |
Rentschler Field was originally the name of the company airfield for Pratt & Whitney that formerly occupied the site. The airfield, which began operations in 1931, was named after Frederick Rentschler, who founded Pratt & Whitney in 1925 and also founded its parent company, United Technologies. It was originally used for test flights and maintenance operations, and later for corporate aviation. The 75-acre (30 ha) site was decommissioned as an airport in the 1990s, and donated to the state of Connecticut by United Technologies in 1999. A subsequent 65-acre donation by United Technologies in 2009 allowed for the construction of additional grass parking lots adjacent to the Stadium.
Pursuant to a lease agreement with the State, UConn plays all its home football games at Rentschler Field.
The New England Patriots considered moving to Connecticut and sharing a stadium with the UConn football team in the mid-1990s. The new stadium was supposed to be built on the Connecticut Convention Center site in downtown Hartford. However, when the Patriots completed the deal for Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, the Hartford stadium plan was scaled down and the location was moved to East Hartford. The current capacity of 40,000 can expand to 50,000 with limited rehabilitation and has the layout and design for expansion of up to 60,000 seats in the future.[7]
The stadium is owned by the State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management, while operations are overseen by the quasi-public Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). Global Spectrum, L.P. has managed the building on behalf of CRDA since 2013. Previously, the Stadium was managed by Bushnell Management Services (2011–2013), Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)(2007–2011) and Madison Square Garden L.P. (2003–2007).
Prior to the 2013 season, a new 28 feet high by 73 feet wide and a 15HD pixel video display was installed replacing the stadiums original scoreboard.[8]
On July 16, 2015, it was announced that the stadium had been named Pratt & Whitney Stadium in a deal between Pratt & Whitney and UConn. The playing surface is still named Rentschler Field.[9] In return, Pratt and Whitney donated additional land that will be used for game day parking.
The UConn Huskies football team has an all time 68–59 record at Rentschler Field.
| Year | Record |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5–1 |
| 2004 | 6–1 |
| 2005 | 4–2 |
| 2006 | 3–4 |
| 2007 | 7–0 |
| 2008 | 4–2 |
| 2009 | 4–2 |
| 2010 | 6–0 |
| 2011 | 4–3 |
| 2012 | 3–3 |
| 2013 | 2–5 |
| 2014 | 2–5 |
| 2015 | 4–2 |
| 2016 | 3–4 |
| 2017 | 2–4 |
| 2018 | 1–5 |
| 2019 | 1–5 |
| 2021 | 1–5 |
| 2022 | 5–1 |
| 2023 | 1–5 |
Sellouts
| Date | Opponent | Result | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 13, 2003 | Boston College | L 14–24 | 40,000 |
| November 8, 2003 | Rutgers | W 38–31 | 40,000 |
| September 11, 2004 | Duke | W 22–20 | 40,000 |
| September 25, 2004 | Army | W 40–3 | 40,000 |
| September 30, 2004 | Pittsburgh | W 29–17 | 40,000 |
| October 13, 2004 | #17 West Virginia | L 19–31 | 40,000 |
| October 23, 2004 | Temple | W 45–31 | 40,000 |
| November 20, 2004 | Buffalo | W 29–0 | 40,000 |
| September 1, 2005 | Buffalo | W 38–0 | 40,000 |
| September 10, 2005 | Liberty | W 59–0 | 40,000 |
| October 7, 2005 | Syracuse | W 26–7 | 40,000 |
| October 22, 2005 | Rutgers | L 24–26 | 40,000 |
| November 26, 2005 | South Florida | W 15–10 | 40,000 |
| December 3, 2005 | #16 Louisville | L 20–30 | 40,000 |
| September 16, 2006 | Wake Forest | L 13–24 | 40,000 |
| September 30, 2006 | Navy | L 17–41 | 40,000 |
| October 20, 2006 | #4 West Virginia | L 11–37 | 40,000 |
| November 11, 2006 | Pittsburgh | W 46–453OT | 40,000 |
| October 19, 2007 | Louisville | W 21–17 | 40,000 |
| October 27, 2007 | #11 South Florida | W 22–15 | 40,000 |
| November 3, 2007 | Rutgers | W 38–19 | 40,000 |
| November 17, 2007 | Syracuse | W 30–7 | 40,000 |
| September 13, 2008 | Virginia | W 45–10 | 40,000 |
| October 25, 2008 | Cincinnati | W 40–16 | 40,000 |
| November 1, 2008 | West Virginia | L 35–13 | 40,000 |
| October 17, 2009 | Louisville | W 38–25 | 40,000 |
| November 28, 2009 | Syracuse | W 56–31 | 40,000 |
| October 2, 2010 | Vanderbilt | W 40–21 | 40,000 |
| October 29, 2010 | West Virginia | W 16–13OT | 40,000 |
| November 27, 2010 | Cincinnati | W 38–17 | 40,000 |
| September 21, 2013 | #15 Michigan | L 24–21 | 42,704 |
Hartford Athletic
On March 11, 2019, it was announced that the renovations at Dillon Stadium would not be completed on time for Hartford Athletic's home opener on May 4 against Charlotte Independence.[11] Hartford Athletic played seven games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium.
| Date | Opponent | Score | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2019 |  Charlotte Independence | 1–1 | 11,346 |
| May 10, 2019 | Memphis 901 | 1–2 | 5,045 |
| May 25, 2019 |  Ottawa Fury | 1–1 | 5,346 |
| June 1, 2019 | North Carolina | 1–1 | 5,003 |
| June 8, 2019 | Saint Louis | 2–1 | 5,132 |
| June 16, 2019 | Nashville | 2–3 | 4,489 |
| June 29, 2019 | Bethlehem Steel | 0–3 | 5,012 |
Major League Soccer
On September 23, 2017, New York City FC played a home match at Pratt & Whitney Stadium, against the Houston Dynamo, in the stadium's first Major League Soccer game. The game was relocated from Yankee Stadium in New York City due to a schedule conflict with the New York Yankees.[12]
On September 11, 2020, Governor Ned Lamont announced that Toronto FC would finish their season's home matches at Pratt & Whitney Stadium due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]
| Date | Teams | Score | Opponent | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 23, 2017 | New York City | 1–1 | Houston Dynamo | MLS | 10,165 |
| September 27, 2020 | Toronto | 3–1 | Columbus Crew | MLS Trillium Cup | – |
| October 3, 2020 | Toronto | 2–1 | Philadelphia Union | MLS | – |
| October 14, 2020 | Toronto | 1–1 | New York Red Bulls | MLS | – |
| October 18, 2020 | Toronto | 1–0 | Atlanta United | MLS | – |
| October 28, 2020 | Toronto | 0–1 | New York City | MLS | – |
| November 1, 2020 | Toronto | 2–1 | Inter Miami | MLS | 1,394 |
| November 24, 2020 | Toronto | 0–1 | Nashville | MLS Cup Playoff | – |
United States men's national soccer team
Rentschler Field has hosted several United States men's national soccer team's home games, including Landon Donovan's last game for the National Team on October 10, 2014.[14]
| Date | Opponent | Score | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2005 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 1–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification CONCACAF fourth round | 25,488 |
| May 30, 2006 |  Latvia | 1–0 | Friendly | 22,455 |
| May 25, 2010 |  Czech Republic | 2–4 | Friendly | 36,000 |
| July 16, 2013 |  Costa Rica | 1–0 | 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup | 25,432 |
| October 10, 2014 |  Ecuador | 1–1 | Friendly | 36,265 |
| July 1, 2017 |  Ghana | 2–1 | Friendly | 28,754 |
| October 16, 2018 |  Peru | 1–1 | Friendly | 24,959 |
| October 14, 2023 |  Germany | 1–3 | Friendly | 37,743 |
United States women's national soccer team
Rentschler Field has also hosted several United States women's national soccer team's home games.
| Date | Opponent | Score | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2004 |  China | 3–1 | Friendly | 15,093 |
| July 14, 2007 |  Norway | 1–0 | Friendly | 9,957 |
| July 17, 2010 |  Sweden | 3–0 | Friendly | 5,570 |
| October 23, 2012 | Germany | 2–2 | Friendly | 18,870 |
| June 19, 2014 |  France | 2–2 | Friendly | 14,695 |
| April 6, 2016 |  Colombia | 7–0 | Friendly | 21,792 |
| July 29, 2018 |  Australia | 1–1 | 2018 Tournament of Nations | 21,570 |
| July 1, 2021 |  Mexico | 4–0 | Friendly | 21,637 |
| July 5, 2021 | Mexico | 4–0 | Friendly | 27,758 |
Other soccer matches
| Date | Winner | Score | Opponent | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 27, 2004 | Liverpool  | 5–1 |  Celtic | Champions World Soccer Series Two 2004 | 24,271 |
| July 16, 2013 | Cuba  | 4–0 |  Belize | 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup | 25,432 |
| July 29, 2018 | Brazil  | 2–1 |  Japan | 2018 Tournament of Nations | 13,027 |
| March 8, 2022 | New York City | 3–1 |  Comunicaciones | 2022 CONCACAF Champions League[15] | 15,642 |
| June 18, 2023 | Venezuela  | 1–0 | Guatemala | International Friendly | 8,568 |
The Hartford Colonials were a United Football League team that played their home games at Rentschler Field. During their (2010 UFL season), the Colonials played all four home games at Rentschler, after having played one there the previous season while they were known as the New York Sentinels. Attendance at Colonials games averaged a consistent 15,000 people, third place in the five-team league behind Omaha and Sacramento. The UFL suspended the Colonials franchise in 2011 and the franchise was officially terminated when the team's former owner (Bill Mayer) was named as the new owner of the Virginia Destroyers.[16]
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, November 12, 2009 | Florida Tuskers | L | 6–24 | 5,201 |
| Saturday, September 18, 2010 | Sacramento Mountain Lions | W | 27–10 | 14,384 |
| Saturday, October 9, 2010 | Florida Tuskers | L | 20–33 | 14,468 |
| Saturday, October 16, 2010 | Omaha Nighthawks | L | 14–19 | 14,056 |
| Saturday, November 20, 2010 | Las Vegas Locomotives | W | 27–14 | 14,554 |
On May 19, 2019, Rentschler Field hosted the Quarterfinals for the 2019 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship.[17] In 2021 and 2022, Rentschler Field will host the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship for Divisions I, II, and III.
| Date | Tournament | Result | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2010 | 2010 ESPNU Warrior Classic | Denver 9–8 Fairfield | 6,415 |
| Georgetown 12–13 UMass | |||
| May 19, 2019 | 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Quarterfinals | Penn State 21–14 Loyola | 8,568 |
| Yale 19–18 (OT) Penn | |||
| May 29, 2021 | 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Semifinals | North Carolina 11–12 Virginia | 13,707 |
| Maryland 14–5 Duke | |||
| May 30, 2021 | 2021 NCAA Division III Men's Finals | RIT 15–14 (2OT) Salisbury | 5,815 |
| 2021 NCAA Division II Men's Finals | Le Moyne 12–6 Lenoir–Rhyne | ||
| May 31, 2021 | 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Finals | Virginia 17–16 Maryland | 14,816 |
| May 28, 2022 | 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Semifinals | Cornell 17–10 Rutgers | 21,688 |
| Maryland 13–8 Princeton | |||
| May 29, 2022 | 2022 NCAA Division III Men's Finals | Union 10–12 RIT | 14,650 |
| 2022 NCAA Division II Men's Finals | Mercy 7–11 Tampa | ||
| May 30, 2022 | 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Finals | Maryland 9–7 Cornell | 22,184 |
On June 4, 2005, Rentschler Field hosted two rugby union matches; Wales vs USA Rugby and the 2005 U.S. Rugby Super League Championship game, between New York Athletic Club Rugby Football Club and Belmont Shore RFC in front of 8,027. Wales would defeat the US 77–3 and NYAC would defeat Belmont Shore 23–19. In 2008 Rentschler Field hosted a match between Irish provincial side Munster and the USA Eagles, with Munster winning 46–22.[18]
| Date | Winner | Score | Opponent | League | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 4, 2005 | Wales  | 77–3 | United States | IRB | Friendly | 8,027[19] |
NYAC  | 23–19 |  Belmont Shore | USRSL | Championship | ||
| August 31, 2008 | Munster  | 46–22 | United States | IRB | 2008 Setanta Challenge Cup | 8,350[18] |
On August 24, 2010, a fan event, called Whalers Fan Fest, occurred, featuring many of the former players, draws were close to 5,000 people on a Saturday afternoon.
From February 11 to the 20th, 2011, the stadium hosted the Whalers Hockey Fest 2011. A hockey rink was constructed on the field much like is done for the annual NHL Winter Classic. Events included a Hartford Whalers Alumni vs. Boston Bruins Alumni game, with an appearance from the Hanson Brothers, from the film Slap Shot, a double-header featuring both UConn men's and women's hockey teams, a Hockey Legends team faced off against the Mystery, Alaska Hollywood team, along with the Hanson Brothers from the movie Slap Shot,[20] and the second edition of the American Hockey League Outdoor Classic between the host Connecticut Whale and the Providence Bruins. Over 15,000 fans came out to watch the so-called "Whale Bowl", while over 1,700 attended the UConn men's game.
| Date | League | Away Team | Home Team | Score | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 13, 2011 | Atlantic Hockey | Sacred Heart Pioneers (M) | UConn Huskies (M) | 3–1 | 1,911 |
| Hockey East | Providence Friars (W) | UConn Huskies (W) | 4–3 | 153 | |
| February 15, 2011 | NESCAC | Wesleyan Cardinals (W) | Trinity Bantams (W) | 5–1 | 100 |
| NESCAC | Wesleyan Cardinals (M) | Trinity Bantams (M) | 3–1 | 820 | |
| February 19, 2011 | Atlantic Hockey | Army Black Knights (M) | AIC Yellow Jackets (M) | 4–1 | 1,142 |
| NHL Alumni | Boston Bruins Alumni | Hartford Whalers Alumni | 4–4 | 10,000 | |
| AHL | Providence Bruins | Connecticut Whale | 5–4 (SO) | 21,673 | |
| Date | Artist | Opening act(s) | Tour / Concert name | Attendance | Gross | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 16, 2003 | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | The Rising Tour | 51,569 | $3,788,325 | [21] | |
| September 18, 2003 | 66,000 | [22] | ||||
| August 26, 2005 | The Rolling Stones | Maroon 5 | A Bigger Bang Tour | [23] | ||
| July 31, 2007 | The Police | Fiction Plane | The Police Reunion Tour | 32,450 | $3,318,015 | [24] |
| September 15, 2018 | A Will Away | UConn Fan Fest | [25] | |||
| May 28, 2022 | Kenny Mehler | [26] |
- Football & basketball facilities, 2008
- Grandstands and boxes, 2008
- Scoreboard in 2010
- End zone view, 2011
- Luxury box, 2011
- Jasper Howard monument
- Doyle, Paul (July 17, 2013). "Global Spectrum Pleased With Its First Event At Rentschler". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- "Ground Broken on UConn Stadium". Record-Journal. Meriden, CT. Associated Press. October 21, 2000. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
- 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- "Rentschler Field Division I Football Stadium". BVH Integrated Services. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- "Rentschler Stadium". Diversified Technology Consultants. Archived from the original on September 5, 2004. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
- Sedlak, Melissa (September 1, 2003). "Sales Records Fall at UConn Stadium". SportsBusiness Journal. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
- "Scoreboard Unveiled at Rentschler Field". NBC 30. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- 2015 UConn Football Media Guide (PDF). UConn Huskies. p. 121. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- "Hartford Athletics to start home schedule at Rentschler Field due to ongoing renovations at Dillon Stadium". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- "NYCFC's Home Game vs Houston Dynamo Relocated to Pratt & Whitney Stadium". New York City FC. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- "Governor Lamont Announces Toronto FC Reaches Agreement With State To Play Home Matches at Pratt & Whitney Stadium". State of Connecticut. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- Drehs, Wayne (December 22, 2014). "The Bitter End". ESPN The Magazine. Boone, Iowa: ESPN The Magazine.
- "NYCFC announces date, time and venue for Scotiaband CONCACAF match". www.nycfc.com. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
- "Omaha And Sacramento To Host Opening Games Of Four-Team 2011 United Football League Season In September" (Press release). UFL Press. August 10, 2011. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
The UFL has suspended operations in Hartford, Connecticut, where the Hartford Colonials played the 2010 season at the city's Rentschler Field stadium. Colonials players will join the other four UFL teams through an allocation draft to be held on Monday, August 15, while head coach Jerry Glanville will assume a new role as a consultant to the league.
- "Munster Retain The Setanta Cup". Munster Rugby. August 31, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- "Wales tour in Canada/United States of America 2005 2005". espnscrum. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- "Radcliffe to run in Berlin Marathon - AP News Wire, Associated Press News - Salon.com". Archived from the original on June 25, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
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