Rentschler Field Concerts: The Pratt & Whitney Stadium Guide
Some tours are too big for an arena. In Connecticut, they play Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. It is mainly a football stadium. UConn Huskies football has played here since 2003. But Rentschler Field concerts are some of the largest shows the state ever sees. They are rare.
The name, explained
The stadium opened in 2003 as Rentschler Field. Since 2015 it has been called Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. The field is still Rentschler Field. The building is Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Most locals just call it the Rent. The State of Connecticut owns it. The Capital Region Development Authority oversees it. Oak View Group runs it.
How big is it?
For football, it seats about 40,000. For concerts, the stage goes at one end and the field fills with seats. Then it holds more than 50,000. Bruce Springsteen's opening shows in 2003 drew more than 51,000 in one night. No other venue in Connecticut comes close.
Its concert history
Stadium concerts here are rare. The big nights so far:
- Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: the stadium's opening concerts in 2003.
- The Rolling Stones (with Maroon 5) in 2005.
- The Police on their 2007 reunion tour.
- Chris Brown in 2025.
- Post Malone (with Jelly Roll) in June 2026.
This is not a venue with a monthly calendar. It lights up a few times a year, at most. When a show is announced, it is often one of the biggest CT concert tickets of the year.
Catch the next stadium show
Stadium tours sell out fast. Track the biggest Connecticut shows, plus 40+ venues statewide, in the free CT Concert Center app.
Download on theApp StoreParking & getting there
Parking is a strong point. There are about 10,600 spaces on site. That is rare, and it makes getting in and out much smoother. The address is 615 Silver Lane in East Hartford, right off I-84/I-91. Tailgating is allowed under the venue's rules. Still, give yourself extra time. A crowd of 40,000 takes a while to move.
The rest of the year
Most Hartford-area concerts happen elsewhere. For arena acts, see our guide to PeoplesBank Arena (the XL Center). For theaters, halls, and clubs, read live music in Hartford. Rentschler is also in our roundup of the biggest concert venues in Connecticut.
The next stadium tour will be in the CT Concert Center app. So will every other concert in the state.