Rentschler Field (credit: uconnhuskies.com)

Since opening prior to the 2003 University of Connecticut football season, Rentschler Field, in East Hartford, has become Connecticut’s sports and entertainment stadium. It’s owned by the State of Connecticut and managed by Bushnell Management Services. The 40,000-seat stadium has served as the home of the UConn Huskies football team since it’s opening and has most recently seen the Huskies go all the way to a Bowl Championship Series game.

Besides being an ideal college football venue, it has a press-box for conferences and banquets, it has served as a concert venue for the likes of The Rolling Stones, a soccer venue for English Premier League teams and the USA men’s soccer team and during Tropical Storm Irene (2011), it was used as a relief center to distribute goods. There’s more than meets the eye. Take a look…

Getting there

From North
Take I-91 South toward Hartford to Exit 35A Route 291 South to I-84 West. Follow I-84 West to Exit 58, Roberts Street / Silver Lane. On the exit ramp, turn left and continue over I-84 and straight through the Silver Lane intersection into the Rentschler Field Main Gate.

From South
Take I-91 North toward Hartford to Exit 25, Route 3N. Merge left onto Route 3 North. Merge into left lane. Exit Route 3 North onto Route 2 West. Follow Route 2 West to Exit 5A Main Street. Merge onto Main Street and continue straight through the Brewer Street intersection Continue on Main Street and turn right into the Rentschler Field Willow Street Gate.

Blue & Gold season parking passes continue on route 2W to Exit 4. At bottom of ramp turn right onto east river drive and continue straight through the main street intersection onto silver lane to the Rentschler Field MAIN Gate or EAST Gate.

From Southwest
Take either I-84 East or I-91 North. Follow directions above from the South. From Route 15 North. Take Exit 91 – Silver Lane toward Roberts Street. Bear Right onto Silver Lane to the Rentschler Field Main Gate or East Gate.

From East
Via I-384:
Take Route 6 West or Route 44 West to I-384 West. Follow I-384 West toward Manchester. Take Exit 1, Spencer Street. Turn left at end of exit ramp onto Spencer Street. Follow Spencer Street onto Silver Lane in East Hartford. Follow Silver Lane to Rentschler Field East Gate.

Via I-84:
Take I-84 West toward Hartford to Exit 58, Roberts Street / Silver Lane. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Roberts Street and follow to Silver Lane. Merge into one lane and continue straight through Silver Lane intersection into the Rentschler Field Main Gate.

From Southeast
Take Route 2 West toward Hartford. Take Exit 5A, Main Street. Merge onto Main Street and continue straight through the Brewer Street intersection. Continue on Main Street to the Rentschler Field Willow Street Gate.

Blue & Gold season parking passes continue on route 2W to Exit 4. At bottom of ramp turn right onto east river drive and continue straight through the main street intersection onto silver lane to the Rentschler Field MAIN Gate or EAST Gate.

From West
Take I-84 East toward Hartford. Follow I-84 East to Exit 58, Roberts Street / Silver Lane. On the exit ramp, keep to the right and continue straight through the Silver Lane intersection into the Rentschler Field Main Gate.

Parking
Parking for football parking and general event parking varies in location and price. Gameday football parking is $15 for cars, $25 for RVs and $30 for buses. For more on UConn football parking, go to UConn Football Parking. For general event parking, visit: General Event Parking.

Jordan Todman (Jessica Hill/AP Photo)

Tickets

At The Rent, individual tickets, group sales and/or luxury box tickets can be purchase either online or at the Rentschler Field Box Office, located on the southwest side of the stadium at Gate B. Tickets for events held at Rentschler Field may be purchased in advance at the Bushnell Theatre Box Office during normal Box Office hours. The Bushnell Theatre Box Office operates Monday to Friday, 12 to 5 p.m. The Rentschler Field Box Office sells tickets exclusively for the stadium on event days only and is not a Ticketmaster outlet. There are no refunds or exchanges on tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets for events online through Ticketmaster, visit Rentschler Field Ticketing Information.

Will Call: The Will Call windows are located at Gate B, right near the game day box office. Will Call windows open three hours prior to kickoff and remain open through intermission (for football games). If you are picking up tickets purchased in advance, you must present a photo ID and credit card on which the tickets were purchased. There is no third party Will Call or alternate pickup accepted at the Rentschler Field Box Office.

Seating

Rentschler Field seats upwards of 40,000 people for UConn football and other sporting events. Hundreds more can fit for concerts when the field is used for additional seating. Here’s an Interactive Seating Chart.

UConn Marching Band member (File: Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

Food/Souvenirs

Like at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, the Rentschler Field concessions are managed by the Sodexo Company. The outside perimeter concourse level of the stadium has 17 concession stands located around it. Sixteen of those concession stands will have complete food preparation and vending availability while the other four are only equipped for vending. Aside from the typical food like pretzels, candy, hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream and more, Rentschler also offers a grille that serves sausage and peppers, chicken sandwiches, curly fries and pizza. Unlike in Storrs, alcohol is served inside the stadium. To purchase, one must first receive a bracelet by using a ID showing they are of age. For every item on the menu, check out Rentschler Field Concessions.

Additionally, as far as other concession areas, Rentschler Field has a variety of other options. The club level includes two bars, a concession stand, and a preparation area for the approximately 300 guests in that area. There are two novelty/merchandise stands located on the outside perimeter concourse level of the north side of the stadium.

Hotels

Area Hotels & Lodging

Hartford Hotels & Lodging