Hartford Athletic announces schedule, will play 16 at home

Hartford Athletic will play a 32-game regular season starting April 30 at NewYork Red Bulls II, the team announced Tuesday.

Athletic, a member of the United Soccer League Championship, will open its home slate on May 15 against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Dillon Stadium in Hartford. Theteamwill compete in the USL’s Atlantic Division, which consists of NewYork, Pittsburgh, Loudoun FC, Miami FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Charleston Battery and Charlotte Independence.

Hartford will play each division foe four times — twice at home and twice on the road. In addition to division play, Hartford will play three inter-conference games: home vs. Real Monarchs SLC (May 29), at Colorado Switchbacks FC (Aug. 7) and home against New Mexico United (Oct. 6). Hartford will also host two-time USL Champion Louisville City FCof the Central

Division on Sept. 7.

Hartford will play 16 games at home in total. All games will be aired on ESPN networks or on WTNH.

Hartford is in the midst of its preseason training andwill play a Blue andGreenintrasquad scrimmage on Wednesday. First-year headcoach Harry Watling will look to return Hartford, now in its third year of existence, to the playoffs. Athletic finished first in the USL’s Group F last season and lost at home to Saint Louis FC in the first round of the playoffs.

Hartford has not yet determined a plan for allowing fans this season, though the club said it is working with state and city officials to determine a safe plan to allow spectators. Fans were allowed to attend home games in 2020, with Dillon Stadium’s capacity capped at 25 percent for the regular season and 40 percent for its playoff game.