Heart Health Park
Map
Former names
  • Cal Expo Multi-Use Sports Field Facility (planning/construction)
  • Bonney Field (2014–2017)
  • Papa Murphy's Park (2017–2021)
Address1600 Exposition Blvd
Sacramento, California, United States 95815-5104
LocationCal Expo
Coordinates38°35′28″N 121°26′17″W / 38.59111°N 121.43806°W / 38.59111; -121.43806
OwnerCal Expo
OperatorSpectra
Capacity11,569
Field size116 x 74 yards (106 x 68 meters)
Construction
Broke groundMarch 2014
OpenedJune 20, 2014
Construction cost$3 million
($3.71 million in 2022 dollars[1])
Tenants
Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) (2014–present)
Sacramento Express (PRO Rugby) (2016)

Heart Health Park is a sports venue located on the grounds of Cal Expo in Sacramento, California, United States. The soccer-specific stadium has a capacity of 11,569 and includes a full-sized (120 x 80 yard) soccer field. Heart Health Park is the current home of Sacramento Republic FC soccer team and former home of PRO Rugby team, Sacramento Express.

The field is located on the former site of the Cal Expo Amphitheatre,[2] and is bordered on the west and south by the Cal Expo monorail, and on the east by Raging Waters water park.

History

Construction of the stadium began in March 2014, following approval by the Cal Expo Board of Directors. Funding for the stadium came from an agreement between Ovations Food Services, Cal Expo, and the Republic FC. Original schedules put the grand opening for the Republic FC's June 7 match against Arizona United, but that date was postponed two weeks, with the grand opening falling instead on June 20, when the Republic FC played the reserve team of the Colorado Rapids in a match that ended in a victory for the Republic.[citation needed]

The name of the stadium was originally Cal Expo Multi-Use Sports Field Facility, but on April 21, 2014, Republic FC President Warren Smith announced a multi-year deal with Bonney Plumbing, Heating, Air and Rooter Service for the naming rights of the stadium and the name was changed to Bonney Field.[3]

On March 9, 2017, Republic FC announced that the facility would be renamed Papa Murphy's Park, in a multi-year naming rights agreement with Papa Murphy's.[4]

On May 5, 2021, the Sacramento Republic FC and Western Health Advantage agreed to a new naming rights deal that would change the name of the stadium to Heart Health Park.

Structure

Heart Health Park is open-ended, with the south endline lacking a grandstand but hosting the VIP section.[5] The north endline is home to the Tower Bridge Battalion, the SRFC supporters group.[6] The team benches and premium seating are located along the west sideline.[5]

Soccer

Heart Health Park is the home stadium for the Sacramento Republic FC soccer team of the USL.[7] The Republic hosted its first match at Heart Health Park on June 20, 2014.[7] In addition to USL Pro matches, Heart Health Park also hosted Republic friendly matches against visiting foreign teams, such as Mexican Premier Division team Club Atlas, Scottish Premiership team Rangers F.C., and Premier League team West Bromwich Albion F.C.[8]

Rugby Union

Heart Health Park was the home of the Sacramento Express that played in the PRO Rugby competition.[9]

Heart Health Park has hosted several international rugby matches:[10]

Date Home Result Away Competition Attendance
June 21, 2014  United States 38–35  Canada Pacific Nations Cup 7,804
July 24, 2015  Fiji 30–30  Samoa Pacific Nations Cup 5,500
 United States 23–18  Japan 8,300[11]
June 25, 2016  United States 25–0  Russia friendly N/A
February 8, 2018  United States 29–10  Canada Americas Rugby Championship 2,500

Expansion

After a successful inaugural season for the Republic FC, which consisted of 16 sell-outs in 17 matches and a USL Pro championship at Heart Health Park, Smith indicated plans to expand the stadium by 2,000 to 3,000 seats for the 2015 USL Pro season.[12] The expansion project, which forced a reschedule of the 2015 home opener, added approximately 1,300 sideline seats, 2,500 endline seats, and an expanded market area.[6]

References

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Spedden, Zach (August 1, 2016). "Bonney Field Could Become Music Venue". Soccer Stadium Digest. August Publications. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "First home match at Bonney Field moved to June 20"
  4. ^ "Republic Fc Announces Facility Naming Rights Partnership with Papa Murphy's for Their Facility and Home Pitch on the Grounds of Cal Expo". Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  5. ^ a b "Bonney Field Seating Map", Bonney Field.
  6. ^ a b "Crews Race to Finish Bonney Field Expansion", KCRA, April 8, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Bonney Field" Archived 2016-10-16 at the Wayback Machine, Sacramento Republic FC.
  8. ^ "Republic FC will play Liga MX team at Bonney Field on July 6", Sacramento Bee, June 11, 2014.
  9. ^ "It's official: Sacramento will get team in nation's first pro rugby league", Sacramento Business Journal, November 18, 2015.
  10. ^ "San Jose, Sacramento for PNC Home Matches", Rugby Today, February 19, 2015.
  11. ^ "PACIFIC NATIONS CUP , Pool B – Sacramento, 24 July 2015, 20:00 local, 03:00 GMT +1d". espnscrum. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Republic FC wins first USL Pro championship, will expand stadium", Sports Illustrated, October 1, 2014.

External links

Sacramento Republic FC
PRO Rugby
USL Championship venues
Categories