Rafferty Stadium

Rafferty Stadium is a 3,500-seat lacrosse stadium on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is home to the Fairfield Stags men's and women's lacrosse teams. The facility opened officially on February 2, 2015. The stadium is named in recognition of the principal leadership gift from university alumnus Larry Rafferty. The field of the stadium in named Conway Field in acknowledgment of a gift from Tim Conway, another alumnus.

Rafferty Stadium

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Aerial view of the stadium
Full name	Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium
Address	1073 North Benson Road Fairfield, Connecticut United States
Owner	Fairfield University
Type	Stadium
Capacity	3,500
Surface	FieldTurf
Scoreboard	Daktronics
Current use	Lacrosse
Construction
Broke ground	2014[1]
Built	2014
Opened	February 2, 2015; 10 years ago (February 2, 2015)
Construction cost	$16 million
Architect	CannonDesign
Tenants
Fairfield Stags (NCAA) Connecticut Hammerheads (MLL) (2020) Fairfield College Preparatory School
Website
fairfieldstags.com/rafferty-stadium

Facility overview

Rafferty Stadium features a Daktronics HD video board and state-of-the-art sound and lights. Conway Field is a FieldTurf playing surface. The stadium also includes a terrace level with a fully enclosed press box that features a media suite, two VIP suites and a production suite to support the video capabilities of the scoreboard, television broadcasts and web streaming. On the ground level are two team rooms, food, beverage and apparel concessions, restrooms, a box office and entry plaza.

The Rafferty Stadium President's Suite is home to an original painting by renowned American sports artist Stephen Holland.^[2]

Notable events

• On March 21, 2015, Fairfield University President Jeffrey P. von Arx S.J. officially dedicated and blessed Rafferty Stadium and Conway Field while the women's lacrosse team defeated the Manhattan Jaspers and the men's lacrosse team defeated the then nationally ranked Villanova Wildcats.^[3]
• In April 2015, the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) played its 2015 Men's Lacrosse Championship at Rafferty Stadium after the Fairfield Stags won the CAA regular season title during its inaugural season in the league.^[4]
• In September 2024, Fairfield University installed a new Daktronics scoreboard.

Professional Lacrosse

• In August 2016, three former Stags competed in the first-ever professional sporting event at Rafferty Stadium. Men's lacrosse standouts Greg Downing ‘07, Mike Bocklet ‘07 and former Stag Matt Bocklet of the Denver Outlaws defeated the New York Lizards, 20–17, in a Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Semi-final game. ^[5]
• In January 2020, the newly formerd Connecticut Hammerheads of the MLL announced that Rafferty Stadium would be their home venue. ^[6]
• The Premier Lacrosse League is slated to host week 7 of its 2022 season at Rafferty Stadium on July 23-24, 2022.^[7]
• The PLL announced their return to Raffery Stadium for week 5 of its 2023 season on July 14-15, 2023.^[8]

Date	Games	League	Attendance	Ref.
August 13, 2016	Denver Outlaws 20–17 New York Lizards	MLL Semifinals	6,423
July 23, 2022	Redwoods 16–15 Atlas	PLL	TBD
	Whipsnakes 14–12 Chaos
July 24, 2022	Cannons 12–17 Archers
	Chrome 10–11 Waterdogs
July 14, 2023	Waterdogs - Whipsnakes	PLL	TBD
	Archers - Redwoods
July 15, 2023	Chrome - Cannons
	Atlas - Chaos