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.
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.
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,:: Carolina RailHawks FC :: 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.:: New England Revolution :: 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.:: Crystal Palace F.C. USA :: 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.
The WPS Boston Breakers played a home match in Veterans Stadium against the Atlanta Beat in 2010.
Notable matches DateTeamsMatch TypeAttendanceNotes August 12, 1973 1-0 International Friendly 10,000 July 13, 1988 0-2 International Friendly 10,213 June 17, 1989 2-1 1990 FIFA World Cup Qualification 10,516 August 30, 1991 0-1 International Friendly 5,563 August 16, 1992 2-4 International Friendly 1,547 August 6, 1994 3-2 International Friendly - July 30, 1995 9-0 1995 US Cup 3,782 May 15, 1996 5-0 1996 US Cup - May 26, 1996 2-1 International Friendly 8,526 May 31, 1997 4-0 1997 US Cup 6,562 June 26, 2001 Connecticut Wolves 3–2 Tampa Bay Mutiny 2001 U.S. Open CupSecond Round 4,362 September 4, 2007 New England Revolution 1–0 Carolina Railhawks 2007 U.S. Open CupSemifinal 4,203 July 1, 2008 New England Revolution 3–0 Richmond Kickers 2008 U.S. Open CupThird Round 3,950 June 30, 2009 New England Revolution 1–2 Harrisburg City Islanders 2009 U.S. Open CupThird Round 3,100 May 29, 2010 2-0 International Friendly 4,000 August 21, 2010 Boston Breakers 2–3 Atlanta Beat Women's Professional Soccer 4,071
References