James M. Shuart Stadium
Former names | Hofstra Stadium (1963–2002) |
---|---|
Location | Soccer (1994–2008) |
The James M. Shuart Stadium is an 11,929-seat
Background
Shuart Stadium has held numerous sports and events over the years, including football, lacrosse, and soccer. It has welcomed many teams from different leagues throughout several decades.
Lacrosse
In 1971, the stadium hosted the inaugural
The New York Lizards used the facility as their home field for part of the 2001 season and the full 2002 season. During their first year, they became the inaugural Major League Lacrosse champions. The team returned in 2009 and called the stadium their official home until 2020. After the 2020 season the MLL merged with the Premier Lacrosse League bringing an end to the New York Lizards franchise.
In 2021 the stadium hosted 5 Premier Lacrosse League games over 4 July weekend. Making the stadium a tour site for future PLL events. PLL hosted a weekend of games in 2022 and is the 2023 Semifinals site on September 10.
Soccer
The
Shuart Stadium was also the venue for the Long Island Rough Riders of professional soccer's A-League.
Football
For nearly five decades, the stadium was home to
On November 4, 2009, the
Both the Long Island All-Star Football Game and the Fun City Bowl, featuring the New York City Police and Fire Department teams, have been held at the site.
Other events
The facility was used for three nights every October for the annual Newsday Marching Band Festival where selected Long Island high schools performed in an exhibition-style competition. Since 2014, the event has been held elsewhere.
Various Long Island high school and New York state championship games for different sports are also held at the site.
Design
Originally built in 1962 and opened in 1963, the stadium has received a number of upgrades. In 1968 a new artificial playing surface was installed, making the stadium the third college facility in the nation to receive one. A major expansion was completed in the fall of 1996. The capacity had been raised from 7,000 to approximately 13,000, while the Howdy Myers Pavilion and new scoreboards in both end zones were constructed. In 2007, the artificial turf was replaced with FieldTurf which was again replaced in late 2012. Then in 2009 new scoreboards were installed in the north and south end zones. More recently, in 2013, the facility was renovated and reconfigured to its current capacity of 11,929. In late 2013, new lights designed by Musco Lighting replaced the original lights in the stadium that dated back to 1963.[7]
References
- ^ Big Apple Soccer. "Hofstra's Capacity". Big Apple Soccer.
- ^ Hofstra University. "Hofstra University names James M. Shuart Stadium" (PDF). Hofstra University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-17.
- ^ Hofstra Athletic Communications. "James M. Shuart Stadium". Hofstra University. Archived from the original on 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2013-09-26.
- ^ "Hofstra University Pride Athletics - ATH: James C. Metzger Hall Dedicated Prior To Tuesday's Game". Hofstra University. 7 April 2015.
- ^ "Hofstra University Pride Athletics - The Fried Center for Student-Athlete Development". Hofstra University.
- ^ Syracuse, Princeton, Cornell, and Maryland coming to Hofstra for NCAA lacrosse, Hofstra University, May 2009.
- ^ "New Lights Installed At James M. Shuart Stadium - News - Hofstra University, New York". 29 October 2013.