Toronto FC Inks Deal To Play 'Home' Matches In Connecticut

EAST HARTFORD, CT — Major League Soccer's Toronto FC will be playing home games in Connecticut.

Gov. Ned Lamont Friday announced that his administration, working in collaboration with Spectra Venue Management services, has reached an agreement with Toronto FC to use Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field for its home games.

The MLS season is resuming after a "bubble" tournament in Florida and a limited amount of fans is being allowed at matches, so far. The announcement did not specifically address fans at Rentschler matches.

The club's first home game in East Hartford is scheduled for Sept. 27, when Toronto FC hosts the Columbus Crew SC. Major League Soccer is in the process of finalizing travel protocols for the remainder of the regular season, and additional matches are anticipated to be announced soon, Lamont said.

"Pratt & Whitney Stadium is an ideal location for professional soccer and I am excited that we've reached an agreement with Toronto FC to have the club play their home games here," Lamont said. "Our state is filled with thousands of MLS fans who no doubt will be excited by this news. I thank Toronto FC's management team for working with my administration to finalize this agreement, and we look forward to having the Reds in Connecticut."

It's also an economic boost, officials said.

"Our state has worked incredibly hard to get our economy moving during this pandemic, and seeing a professional sports franchise like Toronto FC select the Hartford region as its home sure is validation that our strategy has worked," Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman said. "We are proud to be the temporary home for our newfound Canadian partner."

It was a good fit, team officials said.

"While we continue to work with government officials on our travel protocols, it is important to the club to have our own home away from home during this next phase," Toronto FC President Bill Manning said. "The State of Connecticut opened their arms for us and my compliments to David Lehman and Governor Lamont for their leadership here. Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field is a great venue. They've hosted a number of international games and we’re excited to play there."

Rentschler field is very similar to Toronto's BMO field.

"We felt that it was important to have a surrogate home field that had similarities to BMO Field, in dimension, surface characteristics, and field quality," Toronto FC General Manager Ali Curtis said. "Also, from a competitive standpoint, a priority was to have our own home field. While playing at BMO Field is always our preferred and ideal option, we think the East Hartford location is the best available option for this next phase."

Rentschler Field, the home to the University of Connecticut's football team, has hosted a number of United States Men's and Women's national team games through the years along with international friendlies.

The pitch is Kentucky bluegrass with dimensions of 115-by-75 yards.