MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field
{{Short description|Soccer Park}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = MSU Soccer Park
| nickname = The Mini Fortress
| logo_image = Montclair st athletics wmark.png
| logo_size = 100
| image = MSU Soccer Park.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = The stadium in 2016
| fullname = MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field
| former_names =
| type = Soccer-specific stadium
| currentuse = Soccer
| location = 1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, New Jersey 07043
| coordinates = {{Coord|40.860694|-74.200555|type:landmark_region:US-NC|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground =
| built =
| opened = {{start date and age|1998}}
| renovated =
| expanded = 2016, 2018
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Montclair State University
| operator = Montclair State University
| surface = FieldTurf
| scoreboard =
| cost =
| architect =
| project_manager =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| main_contractors =
| capacity = 5,000
| suites =
| record_attendance =
| dimensions = {{convert|120|x|75|yd|m|abbr=on}}
| acreage =
| 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)
FC Motown (NPSL/USL2)
(2022–present, part-time)
Gotham FC (NWSL) (2020–2021)
| website = {{URL|https://montclairathletics.com/facilities/msu-soccer-park/3| montclairathletics.com/msu-soccer-park}}
}}
MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field is a soccer-specific stadium on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. The stadium serves as home to the Montclair Red Hawks men's[https://montclairathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule 2024 men's soccer schedule] at montclairathletics.com and women's[https://montclairathletics.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule 2024 women's soccer schedule] at montclairathletics.com soccer teams, although it has also been a frecquent venue for professional soccer teams.
History
Built on the site of a former baseball field, MSU Soccer Park opened in 1998{{cite web|url=http://montclairathletics.com/facilities/?id=3|title=Montclair State Athletics|publisher=Montclair State University|access-date=July 17, 2017}} as the home of the Montclair State Red Hawks men's and women's soccer teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.montclairathletics.com/documents/2012/2/3/MSULogoHistory.pdf?id=254|title=Evolution of the Montclair State Athletics Logo|date=February 3, 2012|access-date=August 10, 2017}}
From 2007 to 2013, Montclair State was the training site for the Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls{{cite web|url=http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=8566|title=NEW TRAINING DIGS Red Bulls to practice at Montclair State|publisher=Bigapplesoccer.com|date=February 1, 2007|access-date=July 17, 2017}} 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. Lights were installed in 2012 allowing for night matches to be played.{{cite web|url=http://montclairathletics.com/facilities/|title=Facilities|publisher=Montclair State University|access-date=August 4, 2017}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2016/05/10/new-york-red-bulls-ii-make-montclair-state-university-home-remainder-2016-usl|title=New York Red Bulls II Make Montclair State University Home; Remainder of 2016 USL Schedule to be played at Red Bull Arena|publisher=New York Red Bulls|date=May 10, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2017}} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/~/media/files/governance/2016/2016-17-bylaw-book-v1.pdf?la=en |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-11-30 |archive-date=2016-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130190355/http://www.ussoccer.com/~/media/files/governance/2016/2016-17-bylaw-book-v1.pdf?la=en |url-status=dead }} MSU Soccer Park's capacity was expanded to 3,000 seats for the 2017 season{{cite web|url=http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=44621|title=A LITTLE BACKGROUND Some details on Montclair State refit for Red Bulls II|publisher=Bigapplesoccer.com|date=May 18, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214634/http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=44621|archive-date=August 4, 2017|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2018/01/19/nyrb-ii-announce-2018-usl-schedule|title=NYRB II Announce 2018 USL Schedule|publisher=New York Red Bulls|date=January 19, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2018}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2016/12/19/mls-commissioner-don-garber-becomes-nyrb-ii-s-first-season-ticket-holder-0|title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber Becomes NYRB II's First Season Ticket Holder|publisher=New York Red Bulls|date=December 19, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2017}} 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.
In 2020, Gotham FC played two matches at MSU Soccer Park on October 3 and October 10 as part of the National Women's Soccer League Fall Series. This abbreviated season series was held following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which cancelled the regular season. Gotham FC had to play at MSU instead of Red Bull Arena due to scheduling conflicts with the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC sharing that facility at the time.{{cite web|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2020/09/01/nwsl-announces-fall-series-schedule-spirit-sbfc-to-kick-off/|title=NWSL announces full Fall Series schedule; Spirit, SBFC to kick off|website=equalizersoccer.com|date=September 1, 2020|accessdate=July 2, 2024}}
In 2022, FC Motown became part time tenants of MSU Soccer Park with their National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and USL League Two teams playing part of their regular season schedules at the facility.{{cite web|url=https://fcmotownsoccer.com/teams/first-team/|title=First Team|publisher=FC Motown|accessdate=July 2, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://fcmotownsoccer.com/teams/usl2/|title=USL2|publisher=FC Motown USL2|accessdate=July 2, 2024}} Their NPSL team has also hosted several U.S. Open Cup matches at the park. On August 6, 2022, FC Motown won the 2022 National Premier Soccer League Championship, their first title in club history, by defeating Crossfire Redmond 4–3.
Notable matches
- Winning teams in bold
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{official website}}
- [http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/2/ New York Red Bulls II]
{{Montclair State University}}
{{New York Red Bulls}}
{{NewYorksportsvenues}}
{{National Women's Soccer League stadiums}}
Category:1998 establishments in New Jersey
Category:Montclair, New Jersey
Category:New York Red Bulls II
Category:Soccer venues in New Jersey
Category:USL Championship stadiums