Morrone Stadium

Morrone Stadium was built in 1969, and was at the time known as "Connecticut Soccer Stadium". Before that, UConn soccer was largely unknown and unpopular. However, at the urging of newly hired soccer and lacrosse coach Joe Morrone (whose name the stadium now bears), a new stadium was built for the team.[http://www.dailycampus.com/2.7439/if-you-build-it-they-will-come-1.1053327 If You Build it, They Will Come - Daily Campus, September 30, 2008. Accessed August 25, 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929032900/http://www.dailycampus.com/2.7439/if-you-build-it-they-will-come-1.1053327 |date=September 29, 2011 }} The stadium has had a capacity as high as 8,574 but it was restructured in 1994 and again in 2002 to seat 5,564. In 2008, it was again restructured to seat 4,407. In 2009, Morrone Stadium was expanded slightly to 4,500.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/2010-media-guide.html |title=UConn Huskies 2010 Media Guide for Men's Soccer, access May 22 2011 |access-date=2011-05-22 |archive-date=2017-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722092106/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/2010-media-guide.html |url-status=dead }} As of the 2015 season the current capacity is 5,100.http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/conn/sports/m-soccer/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/Quick.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626223559/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/conn/sports/m-soccer/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/Quick.pdf |date=2016-06-26 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} In 1997, the board of trustees voted to change the name of the stadium to honor Morrone, who had just retired after coaching soccer for 28 years at UConn.

The stadium was officially renamed in 1999 to "Joseph J. Morrone Stadium".{{Cite web |url=http://www.wcmfund.org/winners/1999/1999.htm |title=:: Walt Chyzowych Memorial Fund :: |access-date=2010-12-03 |archive-date=2011-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719093623/http://www.wcmfund.org/winners/1999/1999.htm |url-status=dead }} In 2008, the Division of Athletics proposed to build a new basketball practice facility on the site of Morrone,[http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_mens_basketball/2008/08/practice-facility-update.html Hartford Courant - Practice Facility Update] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120711232311/http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_mens_basketball/2008/08/practice-facility-update.html |date=2012-07-11 }} but that was later changed and it will now be built where the vacant Memorial Stadium now is.[http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_mens_basketball/2010/09/more-incremental-progress-on-u.html Hartford Courant - More Incremental Progress on UConn Facility] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120712084228/http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_mens_basketball/2010/09/more-incremental-progress-on-u.html |date=2012-07-12 }}

Morrone Stadium was the original home of the women's lacrosse team as well, when it was founded in 1997. However, the team began to play some, and eventually all, of its games at the Sherman Family-Sports Complex. The last lacrosse game at Morrone was in 2009 against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, which was the first time the team played there in three years.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/conn/sports/w-lacros/auto_pdf/2009-mg |title=UConn Huskies 2009 Women's Lacrosse Media Guide |access-date=2010-12-03 |archive-date=2016-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413131049/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/conn/sports/w-lacros/auto_pdf/2009-mg |url-status=dead }}

On October 13, 2014 it was announced the former UConn men’s soccer student-athlete Tony Rizza ’87 (BUS) has pledged a total of $8 million to transform the soccer complex and build a new soccer stadium on the Storrs campus.{{Cite web|url=http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2014/10/uconn-alum-pledges-5-million-match-for-soccer-complex/|title=UConn Alum Pledges Total of $8 Million for Soccer Complex|date=13 October 2014}} The new facility will be built on the site of the current Joseph J. Morrone Stadium and will bear the same name. In February 2017, UConn announced a proposed plan for a new stadium with the potential to break ground in the spring of 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-huskies/hc-uconn-new-athletic-facilities-0210-20170209-story.html |title=With Feasibility Study And Ticket Surcharge, UConn Moving Forward On Plans For New Stadiums - Hartford Courant |publisher=Courant.com |date=2017-02-10 |accessdate=2017-05-06}}

The listed capacity of Morrone Stadium is 5,100. There is one electronic scoreboard behind the south goal, which is capability of displaying the time, score and shots for both teams, as well as limited messages. The natural grass surface measures 120 x 75 yards. Long metal bleachers line both sides of the field, and there is also a small set of bleachers behind the south goal.

There is also unofficially standing room behind the north goal, although this is typically only used by students in the "Goal Patrol", UConn soccer's student supporters group. The Goal Patrol is known for being one of the nation's loudest and most passionate student sections, and, as of 2007, was also the largest with 540 members.[https://archive.today/20120721073245/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=462926&root=ncaa&cc=5901 Deamon Deacons on A Mission (Section "Huskies Rising")] Thanks in large part to these loyal fans, Soccer America Magazine voted Morrone Stadium the fifth-best atmosphere among all college soccer stadiums in the country in 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page2059.htm |title=Twelve of the Most Exciting Places to Watch a College Soccer Match, CollegeSoccerNews.com |access-date=2011-08-08 |archive-date=2011-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804211229/http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page2059.htm |url-status=dead }} Large crowds continue to attend UConn men's and women's games there, making it one of the toughest places for visiting teams to play.

Like many of the University of Connecticut Athletic Facilities, Morrone Stadium is located on Stadium Road, right next to Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum, which is home to the women's ice hockey team. It is also across the street from J.O. Christian Field, home of the baseball team. The softball field is nearby, as is the Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center and the Sherman Family Sports Complex. Gampel Pavilion, home to the men's and women's basketball teams and the women's volleyball team is located around the corner as well.

On September 26, 1999 6,070 fans attended the women's soccer game against the Syracuse Orangemen. At the time, this was a record for attendance at a regular season women's college soccer game. Additionally, Morrone Stadium has hosted various soccer tournaments. On November 11 and 13, 2005, Morrone Stadium hosted the 2005 Big East Soccer Tournament semifinals and finals. The regular-season co-champion Huskies defeated the South Florida Bulls 1-0.[http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-soccer/archive/conn-m-soccer-2005-results.html "2005 Men's Soccer Schedule"] UConnHuskies.com, accessed May 13, 2011 It also hosted the semifinals and final of the 2006 Big East Women's Tournament,[http://bigeast.org/Championships/20062007.aspx "Big East Championship Schedule 2006-07] BigEast.org, accessed May 13, 2011 the 2007 Big East Men'sTournament,[http://bigeast.org/Championships/20072008.aspx "Big East Championship Schedule 2007-08] BigEast.org, accessed May 13, 2011 and the 2009 Women's Big East Tournament.[http://bigeast.org/Championships/20092010.aspx "Big East Championship Schedule 2009-10] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707083936/http://www.bigeast.org/Championships/20092010.aspx |date=2010-07-07 }} BigEast.org, accessed May 13, 2011

On February 9, 2011, the Big East Conference announced Morrone Stadium would again host the final two rounds of the Women's conference tournament in 2012, its first tournament in three years.[http://bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/220245/BIG-EAST-Announces-Olympic-Sport-Championship-Sites-For-2011-12-and-2012-13-Seasons.aspx "Big East Announces Olympic Sport Championship Sites for 2011-12 and 2012-13] BigEast.org, February 9, 2011, accessed May 13, 2011 However, as a result of logistical issues related to postponements caused by Hurricane Sandy, the tournament was moved to Rentschler Field in East Hartford.{{cite news|title=BIG EAST Women's Soccer Championship Moves to Rentschler Field|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/110112aaa.html}} The stadium would later host the semifinals and final of the 2014 American Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament, where the Tulsa Golden Hurricane defeated USF 6-5 on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw.{{cite web|title=2014 MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP - TheAmerican.org|url=http://theamerican.org/sports/2014/8/1/MSOC_0801143046.aspx?path=msoc}} Morrone has also hosted several games of the opening rounds of the Big East, American Athletic Conference, and NCAA Tournaments for both sexes, although those are typically played at the site of the higher seed.

Note: Attendance goes back to the 2007 Season.

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