New York City FC has announced that its September 23 match will be relocated to Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, a facility in East Hartford, CT.
The club is moving the September 23 contest against the Houston Dynamo from Yankee Stadium, because a New York Yankees home game against the Kansas City Royals had to be rescheduled for September 25 after it was rained out earlier this year. Given the time needed to convert the facility from soccer to baseball, New York City FC will now play the September 23 game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, home to UConn’s football program.
In a story on NYCFC’s website, club officials expressed their confidence that Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field can serve as a fine venue for the game:
For Sporting Director Claudio Reyna, it was the best option to replicate a NYCFC home game. Reyna told NYCFC.com: “Pratt & Whitney Stadium is a great venue for us due to its wonderful playing surface and facilities.
“Hartford is a great soccer city which has hosted many important international games – I played there in a couple of games for the National Team many years ago – and it was always a wonderful place to play with a fantastic atmosphere and environment.
“We’re looking forward to playing there and having our fans come out and support the team in Hartford.”
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field does have experience in soccer, including multiple turns at hosting both U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team games. The September 23 match will still begin at its originally scheduled time of 3:00 p.m. eastern.