Columbia Soccer Stadium

The Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium is a 3,500 seat soccer-specific stadium located in Inwood, on the northernmost tip of the island of Manhattan, New York City, within the Baker Athletic Complex. The stadium is named in honor of Rocco B. Commisso, former co-captain of Columbia's 1970 varsity soccer team and current owner and Chairman of the New York Cosmos and ACF Fiorentina.[1][2]

Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium
LocationBaker Athletic Complex
533 W 218th St.
New York, NY 10034
Coordinates40°52′20.3982″N 73°54′49.9284″W
Public transitNew York City Subway: at 215th Street
at Inwood–207th Street
OperatorColumbia University
Capacity3,500
Field size120 x 75
SurfaceFieldTurf
Construction
Broke ground1985
Opened1985
Construction cost$1 million
Tenants
Columbia Lions (NCAA) (1985–present)
Old Blue RFC (1985–present)
New York Red Bulls II (USLC) (2015)
New York Cosmos B (NPSL) (2017–2019)

History

Opened in 1985,[3] it is home to the Columbia Lions men's and women's soccer teams of Columbia University and Old Blue RFC of USA Rugby Club 7s and American Rugby Premiership.

In September 1997, the stadium[4] hosted a semi-final match of the 1997 U.S. Open Cup between the MetroStars and the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer.[5] From May to July 2015, the stadium was the part-time home of the New York Red Bulls II of the United Soccer League Championship[6][7] where they played only one home match.[8]

In 2016, a new FieldTurf surface was installed at the stadium. In 2017, the University opened the "Bubble at Baker", a heated seasonal air-supported structure. The Bubble encloses the soccer field and provides 92,000 sq ft (8,500 m2) of winter practice space for Columbia's sports teams. The Bubble will be inflated each winter from December through March.[9] The stadium is adjacent to Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium and the Campbell Sports Center.

Transformation to COVID field hospital

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center turned Robert K. Kraft Field and Columbia Soccer Stadium into a 288-bed field hospital.[10][11] The field hospital is named for decorated US Navy SEAL Ryan F. Larkin (1987–2017), who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kate Kemplin, head nurse of the operation, described Larkin as "exactly the kind of person who would have set up a tent to treat patients, if he were alive today."[12] The care center will be staffed primarily with former US military personnel in conjunction with NewYork-Presbyterian’s frontline staff.[12]

References
  1. "Commisso takes over Cosmos, who likely will play within NYC". Toronto Metro News. January 10, 2017. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  2. "Rocco Commisso, Cosmos Owner, Buys Italy's Fiorentina". The_New_York_Times. June 6, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  3. "Columbia to Build Soccer Stadium". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 27, 1985. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  4. "**Directions to Baker Field - Columbia University Soccer Stadium**". columbia.edu. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  5. "MetroStars in Cup Test". New York Times. September 2, 1997. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  6. "New York Red Bulls II finalize deal to play games at Columbia University". New York Red Bulls. March 30, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  7. "New York Red Bulls II to Move All Home Games to Red Bull Arena". New York Red Bulls. July 7, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  8. "Columbia, Kaput: Red Bulls II move all home games to Red Bull Arena". empireofsoccer.com. July 7, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  9. "COLUMBIA OPENS NEW INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITY, BUBBLE AT BAKER". Columbia University Athletics. February 3, 2017. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  10. Barone, Vincent (April 10, 2020). "Columbia University converting soccer stadium into coronavirus field hospital". New York Post. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  11. Postmaster (April 11, 2020). "The Baker BunkerBaker, el búnker". Manhattan Times News. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  12. "Mobilizing to Treat COVID-19 Patients: A Field Hospital is Born". NewYork-Presbyterian. April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
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