Veterans Stadium (New Britain, Connecticut)

Last updated
Veterans Stadium
NewBritain Veteransstadium.jpg
Veterans Stadium (New Britain, Connecticut)
LocationWillow Brook Park
New Britain, Connecticut
Owner New Britain, Connecticut
Operator New Britain, Connecticut
Capacity 8,448 [1]
SurfaceGrass
Opened1982
Tenants
New Britain Golden Hurricanes (1982-Present)
Connecticut Wolves (USL) (1993-2002)
U.S. Open Cup (2001, 2007-2009)
SoccerPlus Connecticut (WPSL) (2006-2008)
CT United FC (ASL) (2015-2017)
Connecticut Crushers (NWFA)

Veterans Stadium (full name Veterans Memorial Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in New Britain, Connecticut. Opened in 1982, it is dedicated to the soldiers of the city who died in various U.S. wars, particularly Vietnam. The stadium now Houses CT United FC of the American Soccer League.

Contents

The stadium is used mostly by New Britain High School, and some other area schools, for football and soccer games. It also hosts the Connecticut Crushers of the National Women's Football Association. The stadium was also home to the Connecticut Wolves team of the United Soccer Leagues before that team folded in 2002.

The stadium is an 8-lane oval track around a regulation-size football field. The track was dedicated to coach Irving S. Black in April 1992. Seating is all in metal bleachers, with 7 sections of 27 rows each on either side of the field. The estimated capacity is 12,448. In the summer of 2012, the middle seating on both sides was changed to better match the colors of New Britain High School, which are maroon and gold.

Seating colors of Veterans Stadium, Sept. 2012 Seating colors of veterans stadium new britain sep 2012.jpg
Seating colors of Veterans Stadium, Sept. 2012

The stadium is owned by the City of New Britain, and is part of Willow Brook Park. Also located in the complex are two baseball fields, New Britain Stadium and Beehive Field.

Sports

Soccer

In the 1970s and 1980s, it hosted four United States men's national soccer team matches. It most famously hosted the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals game between the Carolina Railhawks and the New England Revolution on September 4, 2007, in which New England won 2–1 to advance to the finals, [2] where they eventually defeated FC Dallas for the Dewar Cup. New England would return to Veterans Stadium on July 1, 2008, to defeat the Richmond Kickers 3–0 in the 3rd round of the 2008 U.S. Open Cup. [3] New England would return again on July 8, 2008, to play Crystal Palace Baltimore in the quarterfinal round. After 90 minutes of play and a half-hour of overtime, with the score 1-1, New England midfielder Mauricio Castro scored the Rev's 5th penalty kick out of five, winning the game on penalty kick on a score of 5–3. [4] The New England Revolution were 3-1-0 at Veterans Stadium after their 2-1 Open Cup loss to Harrisburg City Islanders on June 30, 2009.[ citation needed ]

The WPS Boston Breakers played a home match in Veterans Stadium against the Atlanta Beat in 2010. [5]

Notable matches

DateTeamsMatch TypeAttendanceNotes
August 12, 1973 United States  Flag of the United States.svg 1-0 Flag of Poland.svg  Poland International Friendly10,000 [6]
July 13, 1988 United States  Flag of the United States.svg 0-2 Flag of Poland.svg  Poland International Friendly10,213 [7]
June 17, 1989 United States  Flag of the United States.svg 2-1 Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 1990 FIFA World Cup Qualification 10,516 [8]
August 30, 1991 United States  Flag of the United States.svg 0-1 Flag of Norway.svg  Norway International Friendly5,563 [9]
August 16, 1992 United States  Flag of the United States.svg 2-4 Flag of Norway.svg  Norway International Friendly1,547 [10]
August 6, 1994 China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 3-2 Flag of Germany.svg  Germany International Friendly-
July 30, 1995 United States  Flag of the United States.svg 9-0 Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei 1995 US Cup 3,782 [11]
May 15, 1996 China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 5-0 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1996 US Cup - [12]
May 26, 1996 United States  Flag of the United States.svg 2-1 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland International Friendly8,526 [13]
May 31, 1997 United States  Flag of the United States.svg 4-0 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1997 US Cup 6,562 [14]
June 26, 2001 Connecticut Wolves 3–2 Tampa Bay Mutiny 2001 U.S. Open Cup
Second Round
4,362 [15]
September 4, 2007 New England Revolution 1–0 Carolina Railhawks 2007 U.S. Open Cup
Semifinal
4,203 [16]
July 1, 2008 New England Revolution 3–0 Richmond Kickers 2008 U.S. Open Cup
Third Round
3,950 [17]
June 30, 2009 New England Revolution 1–2 Harrisburg City Islanders 2009 U.S. Open Cup
Third Round
3,100 [18]
May 29, 2010 Turkey  Flag of Turkey.svg 2-0 Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland International Friendly4,000 [19]
August 21, 2010 Boston Breakers 2–3 Atlanta Beat Women's Professional Soccer 4,071 [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New England Revolution</span> American professional soccer team

The New England Revolution is an American professional soccer club based in the Greater Boston area that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), in the Eastern Conference of the league. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inaugural season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historic Crew Stadium</span> Soccer Stadium in Columbus, Ohio

Historic Crew Stadium, previously known as Columbus Crew Stadium and Mapfre Stadium, is a soccer-specific stadium in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It primarily served as the home stadium of the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer from 1999 until 2021, when the team moved to Lower.com Field. The Historic Crew Stadium is the current home of the Crew's training facility, the OhioHealth Performance Center and MLS Next Pro team Columbus Crew 2. Historic Crew Stadium is also the site of a variety of additional events in amateur and professional soccer, American football, lacrosse, and rugby, and is a regular site for outdoor concerts due to the permanent stage in the north end zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States women's national soccer team</span> Womens national soccer team representing the United States

The United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) represents the United States of America in international women's soccer. The team is the most successful in international women's soccer, winning four Women's World Cup titles, four Olympic gold medals, and nine CONCACAF Gold Cups. It medaled in every World Cup and Olympic tournament in women's soccer from 1991 to 2015, before being knocked out in the quarterfinal of the 2016 Summer Olympics by Sweden. The team is governed by United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torero Stadium</span> Torero Stadium

Torero Stadium is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose stadium located on the campus of the University of San Diego in San Diego, California. Opened 62 years ago in 1961, it serves as the home of the school's football and soccer teams, San Diego Loyal SC of the USL Championship, and the former home of the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby.

The Connecticut Wolves were an American soccer club that was founded by the Clifton Onolfo, the Onolfo Family, and several investors including Tony DiCicco. The Club's inaugural match was attended by 5,200 plus fans and competed in the United Soccer Leagues from 1993 to 2004. Based in New Britain, Connecticut, and playing in Veteran's Stadium, the club started in the D-3 Pro League before moving to the A-League in 1997. The Connecticut Wolves were sold to the City of New Britain in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yurcak Field</span> Soccer-specific stadium

Yurcak Field is a 5,000 seat soccer-specific stadium on the main campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway Township, New Jersey. Fully acknowledged as The Soccer Stadium at Yurcak Field, it is named in honor of Ronald N. Yurcak, a 1965 All-American Rutgers Lacrosse player. The stadium opened in 1994.

The 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season in the history of Major League Soccer. The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carli Lloyd</span> American soccer player

Carli Anne Hollins is an American former professional soccer player. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion, two-time FIFA Player of the Year, and a four-time Olympian. Lloyd scored the gold medal-winning goals in the finals of the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Lloyd also helped the United States win their titles at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cups, the bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and she played for the team at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup where the U.S. finished in second place. After the 2020 Summer Olympics, Lloyd announced she would be retiring from the national team following four final friendly matches in 2021. Lloyd has made 316 appearances for the U.S. national team, placing her second in caps, and has the fourth-most goals and fifth-most assists for the team. In March 2021, she was named as the highest paid female soccer player in the world. She played her last international match with the USWNT on October 26, 2021, shortly before retiring from professional soccer at the completion of the 2021 NJ/NY Gotham FC season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobin Heath</span> American soccer player

Tobin Powell Heath is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the United States national team. Heath has been described as "perhaps the USA's most skillful player" by the United States Soccer Federation, and she was voted the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2016.

Fifth Third Bank Stadium

Fifth Third Bank Stadium, known as Kennesaw State University Stadium until 2013, is a stadium near Kennesaw, Georgia, that is primarily used as the home for the Kennesaw State Owls football team as well as the KSU women's soccer and women's lacrosse teams. It was built as a soccer-specific stadium and opened May 2, 2010, with the first match played on May 9. The facility is the result of a public-private partnership between Kennesaw State University and the now-defunct Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Stadium (Texas)</span> Soccer stadium in Texas

Toyota Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium located in Frisco, a suburb of Dallas, Texas, United States. Built and owned by the city of Frisco, the 20,500-seat stadium opened in 2005. Its primary tenants are Major League Soccer club FC Dallas and the Frisco Independent School District, which supported the construction to host their high school football games. It also hosts the annual NCAA Division I Football Championship, the title game of college football's Football Championship Subdivision. Additionally, it is the home of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, which opened in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christen Press</span> American soccer player

Christen Annemarie Press is an American soccer player for Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She first appeared for the United States national team during an international friendly against Scotland on February 9, 2013. She has made 155 appearances for her country and is currently ninth all-time with 64 goals scored.

The 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 100th edition of the oldest ongoing competition in American soccer. Qualification began in November 2012 in the fifth tier, although the United States Soccer Federation did not announce the format until March 5, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jill Ellis</span> Football coach and executive (born 1966)

Jillian Anne Ellis is an English-American football manager and executive who is currently the president of San Diego Wave FC. Ellis coached the United States women's national soccer team from 2014 to October 2019 and won two FIFA Women's World Cups in 2015 and 2019, making her the second coach to win consecutive World Cups. She stepped away from being USWNT’s head coach in October 2019 and currently serves as an ambassador for the United States Soccer Federation, with her focus being on working with the federation to help raise the number of women in coaching. She has also served as head coach for various college and United States national youth teams over her career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Mewis</span> American soccer player

Samantha June Mewis is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), as well as the United States national team. She played college soccer for the UCLA Bruins. Her club career started in 2013 when she signed with Pali Blues of the W-League and she has since won three NWSL Championship titles with Western New York Flash and North Carolina Courage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Sonnett</span> American soccer player

Emily Ann Sonnett is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for OL Reign of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as well as the United States women's national soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mallory Swanson</span> American soccer player

Mallory Diane Swanson is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT). She is the youngest player in USWNT history to reach 10 career assists, she holds the record for most assists in USWNT history before the age of 20, and in January 2016 at age 17 she was the youngest in USWNT history to be selected and play in an Olympic qualifying tournament.

Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium officially known as Yousuf Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium is the on campus lacrosse and soccer stadium at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut. In 2019 it was the home stadium for Hartford City FC of the National Premier Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2020 edition of the MLS Cup playoffs tournament

The 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs was the 25th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. The tournament culminated the 2020 MLS regular season. The playoffs began on November 20 and concluded with MLS Cup 2020 on December 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtown Pride FC</span> American soccer team

Newtown Pride FC is an American soccer team based in the Sandy Hook section of Newtown, Connecticut.

References

  1. :: City of New Britain ::
  2. :: Carolina RailHawks FC ::
  3. :: New England Revolution ::
  4. :: Crystal Palace F.C. USA ::
  5. 1 2 "Beat Back in Win Column". oursportscentral.com. Atlanta Beat. August 21, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  6. "11v11.com USA v Poland 1973".
  7. "11v11.com USA v Poland 1988".
  8. "11v11.com USA v Guatemala 1989".
  9. "ussoccerhistory.org USWNT Results: 1990-1994". 5 March 2019.
  10. "ussoccerhistory.org USWNT Results: 1990-1994". 5 March 2019.
  11. "ussoccerhistory.org USWNT Results: 1995-1999". 12 March 2019.
  12. "rsssf.org 2nd US Cup 1996 (Women's Tournament)".
  13. "11v11.com USA v Scotland 1996".
  14. "ussoccerhistory.org USWNT Results: 1995-1999". 12 March 2019.
  15. "2001 U.S. Open Cup Second Round".
  16. "2007 U.S. Open Cup Semifinal".
  17. "2008 U.S. Open Cup Third Round".
  18. "2009 U.S. Open Cup Third Round".
  19. "11v11.com Turkey v N. Ireland 2010".

Coordinates: 41°38′54″N72°46′22″W / 41.648434°N 72.772667°W / 41.648434; -72.772667