Rentschler Field (stadium)
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| Former names | Rentschler Field (2003–2015) |
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| Location | 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118 |
| Coordinates | 41°45′35″N 72°37′8″W / 41.75972°N 72.61889°WCoordinates: 41°45′35″N 72°37′8″W / 41.75972°N 72.61889°W |
| Owner | State of Connecticut |
| Operator | Global Spectrum |
| Capacity | 40,642 |
| Record attendance | 42,704 (Sept. 2013) |
| Surface | Kentucky Bluegrass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 21, 2000 |
| Opened | August 30, 2003 |
| Construction cost |
$91.2 million ($119 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket |
| Structural engineer | BVH Integrated Services |
| Services engineer | Diversified Technology Consultants |
| General contractor | Hunt-Gilbane Joint Venture |
| Tenants | |
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Connecticut Huskies football (NCAA) (2003–present) Hartford Colonials (UFL) (2009–2010) |
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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 the fall of 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 40,642 consisting of 38,110 permanent seats with an additional 2,532 standing room in the scoreboard plaza. It also has a game day capability to add approximately 2,000 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 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 Brant Rentschler, who founded the aircraft arm of Pratt & Whitney and later founded its current 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.
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