SHI Stadium

SHI Stadium. It is the home venue for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football program of the Big Ten Conference. Originally opened as Rutgers Stadium, the facility underwent a major expansion in 2009 and received its current naming rights through a partnership with SHI International Corp. in 2019. The stadium is a central part of the Busch Campus of Rutgers University and serves as a major venue for collegiate athletics in the New York metropolitan area.

History

The stadium was constructed on the site of the former original Rutgers Stadium, which had served the university's football team since 1938. Groundbreaking occurred in 1993 under the leadership of university administrators and with support from the State of New Jersey. The new venue opened for the 1994 season, coinciding with a period of growth for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights athletic department. A significant $102 million expansion project was completed in 2009, adding an upper deck and luxury suites to increase capacity and modernize amenities, a project championed by then-Athletic Director Robert E. Mulcahy III. The naming rights agreement with SHI International Corp., a technology solutions provider founded by Thai Lee, was announced in 2019, marking one of the largest corporate partnerships in the university's history.

Facilities and features

The stadium's bowl design features a continuous upper deck on the west side, offering views of the Raritan River. The playing surface was converted from natural grass to FieldTurf in 2004. Premium seating options include the AT&T Founders Club and numerous suite levels. The Hale Center, a football-dedicated training and operations facility, is attached to the stadium's south end zone. The venue is equipped with a modern Daktronics video board and sound system, and its concourses feature concessions from local vendors like Jersey Mike's Subs. The stadium is accessible via New Jersey Transit rail service to the New Brunswick station and is near major highways like the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 18.

Notable events

Beyond hosting Rutgers Scarlet Knights football games, the stadium has been the site for numerous significant events. It served as a home field for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer during the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The venue has hosted several NCAA FCS playoff games, including contests featuring James Madison University and New Hampshire. It regularly hosts the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association high school football championship games. Major concerts have been held at the stadium, featuring artists such as Billy Joel and Kenny Chesney, and it was a venue for the 1997 U.S. Olympic Festival.

Tenants

The primary and original tenant is the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team. From 2014 to 2016, the stadium was the home field for the New York Glory of the United States Women's Football League. The Rutgers University marching band, the Marching Scarlet Knights, performs at all home football games. The stadium also hosts various university events, including commencement ceremonies for the School of Engineering and the Rutgers University–New Brunswick convocation.

See also

* HighPoint.com Stadium * MetLife Stadium * Prudential Center * Yurcak Field * History of Rutgers University

Category:Football venues in New Jersey Category:Rutgers University Category:Sports venues in Middlesex County, New Jersey