Rugby New York will play in a brand new stadium for the 2023 Major League Rugby season and beyond. The defending champions make the move from New Jersey to Mount Vernon’s Memorial Field.
Located in Westchester County, the new facility is just minutes 3 miles west of where the team played their first ever exhibition match at Iona University’s Mazzella Field. Their second match was played 6 miles west at Gaelic Park in the The Bronx.
Since then New York has played at Coney Island’s MCU Park (now Maimonides Park), Cochrane Stadium in Jersey City, Belson Stadium in Queens, and most recently JFK Stadium in Hoboken. The 2022 Championship Final was played at Harrison’s Red Bull Arena.
Originally built in the 1930’s, Memorial Field was in a state of disrepair when it was permanently closed in 2010 and its stands were finally demolished in 2019. The newly-rebuilt stadium at the site features a synthetic turf surface and a seating capacity of 3,900, double that of JFK Stadium.
New York are set to play their first match at their new home on February 26 against the Toronto Arrows. The organization notes that the venue is accessible by train from Manhattan via Grand Central Station, and will offer a full complement of food and beverages on game days.