Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field opened on August 30, 2003, in East Hartford, Connecticut, built on the grounds of a former Pratt & Whitney aircraft testing airfield. It became the first stadium used primarily by an NCAA FBS program to open in the 21st century, giving the UConn Huskies a modern home after decades of playing in smaller venues.
Known simply as Rentschler Field until a 2015 naming-rights deal with jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney, the stadium has hosted far more than college football. From UFL and USL soccer tenants to U.S. national team matches, CONCACAF Gold Cup games, and stadium concerts by the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen, it has become one of Connecticut’s busiest large-scale event venues.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): UConn Huskies football (2003–present)
- Location: East Hartford, Connecticut
- Opened: August 30, 2003
- Capacity: About 38,066 (expandable to around 41,000)
- Construction Cost: About $91.2 million
- Surface: Kentucky bluegrass
- Notable Fact: First stadium built primarily for an NCAA FBS team in the 21st century
From Airfield to Football Stadium
The stadium sits on land that was once part of a Pratt & Whitney aircraft testing airfield, donated by United Technologies Corporation for the project. Construction ran from late 2000 to 2003, replacing the Huskies’ previous on-campus stadium with a facility built for a growing FBS program, and the Huskies christened it with a win over Indiana in their 2003 opener.
The venue carried the Rentschler Field name alone for its first twelve years. In 2015, UConn and Pratt & Whitney struck a naming-rights agreement, and the venue became Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, with the playing surface itself still commonly referred to as Rentschler Field.
More Than a College Football Venue
Beyond UConn football, the stadium has served as a home field for pro soccer tenants including the Hartford Athletic and a 2020 stint for Toronto FC, and it briefly hosted the UFL’s Hartford Colonials in 2010. It has also staged U.S. men’s and women’s national soccer team matches and games during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
It has also drawn big crowds from outside sports, including sellout concerts from the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and the Police, plus NCAA lacrosse championships and an outdoor hockey event during the 2011 Whalers Hockey Fest. Its all-time attendance record of about 42,704 came during a 2013 UConn game against Michigan.
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Pratt & Whitney Stadium FAQs
Who plays at Pratt & Whitney Stadium?
The UConn Huskies football team has played there since it opened in 2003. The venue has also hosted pro soccer tenants like Hartford Athletic and a brief Toronto FC stint in 2020.
How many people can Pratt & Whitney Stadium hold?
Standard capacity is about 38,066, with the stadium able to expand to roughly 41,000 for larger events using standing room and temporary seating.
Why is it called Pratt & Whitney Stadium?
The stadium was known simply as Rentschler Field from 2003 until 2015, when UConn signed a naming-rights deal with jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, which has deep ties to the land the stadium was built on.
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Photo: Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.