Morrone Stadium
Encyclopedia
Morrone Stadium, officially known as Joseph J. Morrone Stadium is the on-campus soccer stadium at University of Connecticut
in Storrs, Connecticut
.
The 4,500-seat stadium was built in 1969. and has undergone many renovations. since The stadium hosts the school's men's and women's soccer programs.
now is.
As recently as 2006, the women's lacrosse
team split games between Morrone and the Sherman Family Sports Complex, also the home of the field hockey
and track & field programs. However, in 2007 the team moved to Sherman full time.
voted Morrone Staium the fifth-best atmosphere among all college soccer stadiums in the country in 2011. 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.
, which is home to the men's
and women's
ice hockey
teams. It is also across the street from J.O. Christian Field, home of the baseball
team. The softball field is nearby, as are the currently vacant Memorial Stadium 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.
1-0.. It also hosted the semifinals and final of the 2006 Big East Women's Tournament, the 2007 Big East Men'sTournament, and the 2009 Women's Big East Tournament. 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. Morrone has also hosted several games of the opening rounds of the Big East and NCAA Tournaments for both sexes, although those are typically played at the site of the higher seed.
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
in Storrs, Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
Storrs is a census-designated place and part of the town of Mansfield, Connecticut located in eastern Tolland County. The population was 10,996 at the 2000 census...
.
The 4,500-seat stadium was built in 1969. and has undergone many renovations. since The stadium hosts the school's men's and women's soccer programs.
History
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. 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. Finally, in 2009, Morrone Stadium was expanded slightly to its present capacity of 4,500. 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. In 2008, the Division of Athletics proposed to build a new basketball practice facility on the site of Morrone, but that was later changed and it will now be built where the vacant Memorial StadiumMemorial Stadium (Storrs)
Memorial Stadium is a stadium in Storrs, Connecticut. It was primarily used for American football, and was the home field of the University of Connecticut football team between 1953 and 2002, before the opening of Rentschler Field. The stadium holds 16,200 people and was built in 1953. It was...
now is.
As recently as 2006, the women's lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
team split games between Morrone and the Sherman Family Sports Complex, also the home of the field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
and track & field programs. However, in 2007 the team moved to Sherman full time.
Description
The listed capacity of Morrone Stadium is 4,500. 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 fan club, the Goal Patrol. 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.. Thanks in large part to these loyal fans, Soccer America MagazineSoccer America Magazine
Soccer America Magazine is a national American magazine devoted to soccer founded in the early 1970s and is still being published. Its primary focus is soccer in the United States, but it also covers the international game extensively. It was begun by publisher Clay Berling during a period of...
voted Morrone Staium the fifth-best atmosphere among all college soccer stadiums in the country in 2011. 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.
Location
Like many of the University of Connecticut Athletic Facilities, Morrone Stadium is located on Stadium Road, right next to Mark Edward Freitas Ice ForumMark Edward Freitas Ice Forum
Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum is a 2,000-seat hockey rink in Storrs, Connecticut. It is home to the University of Connecticut Huskies men's and women's college ice hockey teams. It opened on November 7, 1998, replacing the outdoor UConn Ice Arena, which was in use since the 1960s...
, which is home to the men's
Connecticut Huskies men's ice hockey
The Connecticut Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Connecticut. The Huskies are a member of Atlantic Hockey...
and women's
Connecticut Huskies women's ice hockey
The Connecticut Huskies women's ice hockey program represents the University of Connecticut. The Huskies compete in Hockey East.-History:The 1-0 shutout by Connecticut on November 13, 2010 ended New Hampshire’s 17-game unbeaten streak against the Huskies. The Huskies penalty kill was a perfect...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
teams. It is also across the street from J.O. Christian Field, home of the baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
team. The softball field is nearby, as are the currently vacant Memorial Stadium and the Sherman Family Sports Complex. Gampel Pavilion, home to the men's
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
and women's
Connecticut Huskies women's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represents the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut in NCAA women's basketball competition. Under head coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have won 7 NCAA Division I national championships, advanced to 12 Final Fours, and won over 30 Big...
basketball teams and the women's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
team is located around the corner as well.
Notable events and Games
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 11th and 13th, 2005, Morrone Stadium hosted the 2005 Big East Soccer Tournament semifinals and finals. The regular-season co-champion Huskies defeated the South Florida BullsSouth Florida Bulls
The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams for the University of South Florida. The university competes in NCAA Division I, USF is a member of the Big East Conference, and has been since 2005...
1-0.. It also hosted the semifinals and final of the 2006 Big East Women's Tournament, the 2007 Big East Men'sTournament, and the 2009 Women's Big East Tournament. 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. Morrone has also hosted several games of the opening rounds of the Big East and NCAA Tournaments for both sexes, although those are typically played at the site of the higher seed.