University of Connecticut Athletics
Steel "Topped Out" At Rentschler Field
2/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
East Hartford, CT (February 25, 2002) - Crews constructing the 40,000 seat Rentschler Field football stadium raised the final steel beam into place for the facility's suites and media tower at a "topping out" ceremony on Monday morning.
The beam carries the signatures of construction workers, project officials, players, coaches and administrators of University of Connecticut football, who signed it before a crane hoisted it to its final position 140-feet above ground. The tower will include media facilities, 38-suites and a 700-person indoor club level.
Rentschler Field, which will be the new home field of UConn football starting next year, is on schedule for completion in time for the inaugural game versus Rutgers August 30th, 2003.
"With the stadium project moving rapidly, the heavy construction at the Connecticut Convention Center site, G Fox and parking in Hartford, momentum is building," said Mike Mehigen of the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, which is involved in both the stadium and Adriaen's Landing projects.
Current stadium construction activity includes the erection of the steel framework for the suites and media tower on the south side of the stadium, using 900-tons of steel. The project has also poured a substantial portion of the lower stadium bowl seating, which will utilize an estimated 22,025-tons of concrete. Upper stadium foundations are already in place, and pre-cast members that will support the upper bowl seating courses are being delivered to the site.
In November of 2001, the University of Connecticut completed its second season as a Division I-A Football Independent. The Huskies will compete three more seasons as an independent and begin play in 2005 as a member of the BIG EAST Football Conference.
Governor John G. Rowland led the ceremonial groundbreaking at Rentschler Field in October 2000. The stadium is being built on the former Pratt & Whitney Airfield, which was donated to the project.
The stadium occupies 8.5-acres of the 75-acre site, which will offer parking for 4,100 vehicles.
The Rentschler Field stadium project is among a series of economic development projects underway in and around Hartford. These include, but are not limited to, the Six Pillars of Economic Development:
A. Connecticut Convention Center/Adriaen's Landing – Ongoing utility construction, building demolition and site preparation in advance of deep foundation pile driving this spring.
B. Downtown Parking - Morgan Street Garage (2,290 spaces) opened January 17th, 2002.
C. Riverfront - Phoenix Gateway pedestrian bridge opened May 25, 2001 and riverfront park expansion and boathouse underway.
D. Capital Community College (G. Fox building) – Under construction, on schedule to open Fall 2002.
E. Downtown Residential - Hartford Civic Center development agreement closed, Capital Properties developing Adriaen's Landing residential component, Trumbull Centre in design.
F. Neighborhood Residential - Under construction at multiple locations.
G. Jobs Funnel - 400+ Hartford residents prepared for construction jobs to date.
