An almost year-long rebuild of Hartford’s historic Dillon Stadium is nearing the finish line as the Capital City’s new pro soccer club begins play there this weekend.
Construction crews have been working around the clock to prepare the stadium for its reopening on Saturday as the Hartford Athletic of the United Soccer League (USL) face off against the Indy Eleven at 5 p.m.
The Athletic, currently last in USL’s Eastern Conference at 2-14-2, averaged nearly 6,000 fans over seven games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, where it’s had to play due to construction delays at Dillon that officials have blamed on unforeseen instructure issues at the 84-year-old stadium.
Team officials on Tuesday said they expect a sellout crowd of 5,500 fans for the home opener at Dillon, which in recent years has been home to the Sports and Medical Sciences Academy, and Buckley, Hartford Public and Weaver high school athletics.
Broadcasting partner WTNH News 8 will air Saturday’s game on its sister station, WCTX MyTV9. It will also broadcast on subscription service ESPN+.
Parking lots surrounding Dillon will open at 2 p.m. for tailgating, and a “Pregame Party” sponsored by Thomas Hooker Brewing Co., which has a taproom in nearby Colt Gateway, begins at 3 p.m. between the Colt and Insurity buildings on Huyshope Ave. Dillon will open at 3:30 p.m. following a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by city and other local officials.
Although Dillon will be ready for play Saturday, a “few items” will need to be completed after the first match, a team spokesman told the Hartford Business Journal. The Athletic plans to play its final 10 final home games at Dillon.
The $14 million stadium rebuild was mostly funded by taxpayer dollars, including $10 million from the State Bond Commission, $2.3 million for the team’s ownership group — The Hartford Sports Group — and $1.2 million from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
