The Mini Fortress | |
Location | 1 Normal Avenue Montclair, New Jersey 07043 |
---|---|
Coordinates | 40°51′38″N74°12′02″W / 40.860694°N 74.200555°W |
Owner | Montclair State University |
Operator | Montclair State University |
Capacity | 5,000 |
Field size | 120 yd × 75 yd (110 m × 69 m) |
Surface | FieldTurf |
Construction | |
Opened | 1998 |
Expanded | 2016, 2018 |
Tenants | |
Montclair State Red Hawks (NCAA) (1998–present) New York Red Bulls II (MLSNP) (2017–present) New York Red Bulls U-23 (USL2) (2017–present) |
MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field is a soccer-specific stadium on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. Built on the site of a former baseball field, MSU Soccer Park opened in 1998 [1] as the home of the Montclair State Red Hawks men's and women's soccer teams. [2]
From 2007 to 2013, Montclair State was the training site for the Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls [3] while their Red Bull Training Facility was constructed in nearby Hanover Township, New Jersey. The Red Bulls helped finance the construction of a new field house, as well as the installation of a FIFA approved FieldTurf surface at MSU Soccer Park. [4] Lights were installed in 2012 allowing for night matches to be played. [5]
In 2016 it was announced that the Red Bulls' USL Championship affiliate club, New York Red Bulls II, would move into MSU Soccer Park in 2017. [6] To accommodate the Red Bulls II, MSU Soccer Park underwent significant renovations to keep the facility in line with stadium standards set by the United States Soccer Federation for lower division professional soccer clubs. [7] MSU Soccer Park's capacity was expanded to 3,000 seats for the 2017 season [4] and again by 1,500 seats in 2018 bringing the total capacity to 5,000 seats. In addition to the expanded seating capacity, the club built new locker rooms adjacent to the playing field and upgraded the FieldTurf playing surface. The renovations were made ahead of and during the 2018 USL season, forcing the Red Bulls II to play their first six home matches at Red Bull Arena. [8]
In December 2016, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber, a Montclair resident, became the first season ticketholder for Red Bulls II at MSU Soccer Park. [9] At this event, it was also announced that MSU Soccer Park would host select matches for New York Red Bulls U-23, the MLS franchise's affiliate club in USL League Two.
The New York Red Bulls U-23 is an American soccer team based in Harrison, New Jersey. Founded in 2009, the team plays in USL League Two, a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. It is part of the official Development Academy of Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls.
FC Motown is an American soccer club based in Morristown, New Jersey. Founded in 2012, the team currently fields teams in both the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and USL League Two. In 2020, the team joined the newly formed Northeast Elite Soccer League (NESL) and formed a U23 team that competed in the EDP 23U league.
New York Red Bulls II is an American professional soccer team based in Montclair, New Jersey. They are the reserve team of the New York Red Bulls and play in MLS Next Pro, the third tier in the American soccer pyramid.
Kyle Zajec is an American soccer player who most recently played as a midfielder.
Devon Chesterton "Speedy" Williams is a Jamaican professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Colorado Springs Switchbacks and the Jamaica national team.
Stefano Paolo Bonomo is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward.
The 2016 USL season was the sixth season of the United Soccer League and the twenty-second season of USSF sanctioned Division III play organized by the United Soccer Leagues.
The Hudson River Derby, also known as the New York derby, is the name given to the soccer local derby between the two teams based in the New York metropolitan area, New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. First played in 2015, the rivalry between the two started almost as soon as the announcement was made of the formation of NYCFC in 2013.
Derrick Burckley Etienne Jr. is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United FC. Born in the United States, he plays for the Haiti national team.
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Junior Flemmings is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a winger and forward for Serbian Superliga club Voždovac, on loan from Toulouse, and the Jamaica national team.
Justin Bilyeu is an American former soccer player.
Florian Valot is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Loudoun United FC.
Kevin O'Toole is an American professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club New York City FC.
Andrew Tinari is an American soccer player who currently plays for Lansdowne Yonkers in the Eastern Premier Soccer League.
Benjamin Mines is an American soccer player who currently plays for Miami FC in the USL Championship.
Kyle Barri Duncan is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right-back for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls.
Jared Presson Stroud is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club D.C. United.
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Michael Knapp is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder.
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