Forward Madison will play its 10 home games this season at Hart Park in Wauwatosa as USL League One is on course to return to play on July 18.
Hart Park is located in downtown Wauwatosa, within the Village business district, and has plenty of outdoor dining and drink options for fans within walking distance of the stadium. Forward Madison FC will not be allowed to host games at Breese Stevens Field due to public health restrictions in Dane County that do not allow for full-contact sports, meaning the team is simply not permitted to host matches in Dane County.
“Breese Stevens Field is our home and will be for many years to come. However, in order to fulfill our obligations to USL League One and participate this season, it is necessary to temporarily make a home somewhere else,” Forward Madison FC COO and owner Conor Caloia said in a statement. “We would like to thank the City of Wauwatosa for welcoming us for the 2020 season. We are excited to be bringing professional soccer to Hart Park.”
Forward Madison remains committed to hosting events that are responsible and taking the utmost precautions to keep its fans, players and staff safe, the organization said in a statement and fan and stadium safety protocols are outlined in the club’s COVID-19 Readiness Plan and include mandatory face masks in the facility, a socially distanced seat map and significantly reduced capacity. The club’s plan has been approved by the City of Wauwatosa’s Health Department.
“In times in which events need to function differently for public health reasons, we’re proud to be welcoming a professional soccer team to Wauwatosa’s Hart Park stadium and encouraged by the multiple public health measures they’re taking. Fans and visitors to Wauwatosa can look forward to these fast-paced, energetic games while being safe in our community,” Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride said.
