Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field
About Us
The East Hartford, Connecticut location for the stadium was a direct result of a donation by United Technologies Corporation of a 75-acre tract of land at the Pratt & Whitney campus. In gratitude for this donation, the stadium was given the name Rentschler Field, after Pratt & Whitney’s founder, Frederick Rentschler. Construction began in November of 2000, and the project was completed in August of 2003. On September 3, 2015, Rentschler Field was renamed to Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.
Pratt & Whitney Stadium features 36,000 seats in its open-air stadium. The natural grass field is set below ground level and the lower bowl of seats runs the entire circumference of the stadium. The U-shaped facility has an upper deck surrounding the field on the north, south, and east sides. A tower housing the club seating, luxury suites, and press accommodations span the south side of the stadium.
In May of 1999, the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to develop a stadium to accommodate the University of Connecticut’s Division IA Football Team. The facility’s primary use is as the home field for the football team, but it will also host various athletic and special events.
- The Club Level of the Tower and parking lots are available year-round for special event booking. Our caterer can create a menu for any taste or budget to enhance your event.
- Owner: the State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management (OPM)
- Architects: Ellerbe Becket
- Construction Manager: Hunt/Gilbane Joint Venture
- Facility Manager: OVG360
- Primary Tenant: University of Connecticut Athletics (football)
- Budget: $91.2 million
- Stadium Footprint: 8.5 Acres
- Stadium Building: 595,596 square feet, including field and seats
- Seats: 36,000
- Total Site: 75 acres
- Site History: Pratt & Whitney airfield, was named for Pratt & Whitney founder Frederick Rentschler and donated to the State of Connecticut by UTC in 1999.
- Location: Pratt & Whitney Stadium is located in East Hartford, CT and is served by several major routes, including Interstate 84, Interstate 384, Interstate 91, State Route 15, State Route 2, State Route 502 (Silver Lane), and State Route 517/US Route 5 (Main Street).
Oak View Group
In Connecticut, Oak View Group manages the XL Center in Hartford, Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, and Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport. Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents.
Key Dates
- Rentschler Field was renamed Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field on September 3, 2015.
- Inaugural event: Ribbon cutting ceremony: Tuesday, July 29th.
- Construction completion: Summer 2003
- Upper and lower bowl foundations: Summer 2001
- Site improvements and utility construction: Spring/Summer 2001
- Bowl excavation: Spring 2001
- Stadium pre-load: Winter 2000-01
- Site excavation preparation: October 2000
- Airfield runway removal: October 2000
- Ceremonial Groundbreaking: October 20, 2000
- Environmental Impact Evaluation approved by OPM: September 18, 2000
- Environmental Impact Evaluation completed: August 12, 2000
- CT State Legislature approves Public Act 00-140 as Senate Bill 640, as amended by Senate Amendment A, setting Rentschler Field project into motion: May 2, 2000
Fast Facts
- 16-acre footprint open-air horseshoe-shaped football stadium
- 1,300 indoor and 4,000 outdoor club seats
- 38 luxury suites
- Natural Kentucky Bluegrass turf playing field, 25 feet below grade
- Large Screen Daktronics Video Matrix board, 24' x 32' in size
- 38,000 CY of Low-Density Concrete Fill placed under upper bowl seating foundations
- 17 acres of fiber-reinforced grass parking lots
- Groundwater cutoff wall at the perimeter of Stadium footprint
- Nine Concession/restroom buildings with over 480 toilet/urinal stalls
- Stadium designed to also facilitate Soccer, Lacrosse, and special events
- Four 125 foot tall light poles with 316 light fixtures designed for nighttime events, with an average of 131-foot candles
- The first game was played on August 30, 2003 – UConn Huskies beat Indiana University
Booking Information
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field is the perfect setting for your next concert, corporate function, conference, banquet, or special event. With 38,000 seats, the stadium serves as the home field of UConn football and has hosted a wide variety of other athletic, cultural, and civic events, including international soccer, rugby, lacrosse, and major concerts, including The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and The Police. Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, named for Pratt & Whitney aircraft founder Frederick Rentschler, is built on a former airfield donated by Pratt’s parent company, United Technologies, to the State of Connecticut.
Seating Configurations & Capabilities
- Football: 38,066
- West End Stage: 34,000
Stadium Club
- 635 seats
- 325 seat function room with upholstered seats
- 38 Executive Suites with upholstered seats
Specifications & Services
- Kentucky Blue Grass natural playing surface
- Maximum width: 286’
- Maximum length: 435’
Stage Power
- Needs to be generated from outside sources
Audio/VideoCapabilities
- PA announcing – sportscaster dual-purpose headset for communication between internal intercom and house public address systems.
- Patching – the ability to patch outside system accessing house public address and delay speaker system.
Wireless Microphone System
- Videoboard capable of DVD and production performances DAKTRONICS Large Screen Video Matrix board, 24FT x 32FT in size
Backstage
- Four Locker Rooms – Dressing Rooms