Fondly called The Rent, Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field is set 20 miles west of the main campus in Storrs. The stadium lives in East Hartford on the site of a former airfield. Wide open spaces around the stadium provide an outstanding setting for tailgating, which Husky fans devour. Off-campus stadiums are typically a deterrent to maximizing enthusiasm, but UConn is able to capitalize on the proximity to Hartford as both the city and stadium benefit from being neighbors.
Lines of trucks and trailers file in to surround the perimeter of The Rent. All the action starts under a community of tents where fans from all over the northeast make the pilgrimage to party. Pregame reaches its peak a few hours before kickoff during the Husky Walk where fans gather in large numbers to welcome the team as they arrive outside The Rent. Cheer squads, Jonathan the Husky, and the UConn band provide additional pep to this gameday tradition.
Mascots symbolize the spirit of a university, and UConn boasts a costumed and canine version both named Jonathan. Named after Connecticut’s first governor, Jonathan Trumbull, both mascots level up the atmosphere on gamedays in East Hartford. Permeating people with pride is their mission, and they exuberantly represent the passion of the Husky faithful.
Once inside The Rent, hoards of navy blue fill the stands prepped to bring the noise. Points on the board by the home team bring more than celebratory screaming. A clamorous sound tolls from behind the corner of the field. The historic Victory Bell has been a long time feature on the gridiron. After each score, it rings in celebration of each point accumulated. Members of the spirit squads sprint over to do the honor of sounding this UConn icon. It’s a tribute to the fervor for this beloved program.
Connecticut is a basketball school. No one doubts that. But, the enthusiastic fanbase is the same. They show up to tailgate. They show up to yell. As the state’s flagship university, its regional campuses unify beyond Storrs and a huge following blasts past the borders of the Constitution State. Husky football delivers a tremendous gameday and is worth the visit.
(JonathanTheHusky Instagram Page)
