Discover the state-of-the-art facility serving residents of Wilmington and beyond. Abessinio Stadium provides a convenient space for thrilling high school competitions, life-skill-building youth leagues, and welcoming gatherings for the entire community.
As a school that has always prioritized serving our city, Salesianum’s unique public/private stadium partnership with the City of Wilmington allows us to continue supporting the community for many generations to come.
Thanks to the Incredible Generosity of the Abessinio Family
The Abessinio Stadium was built thanks to the incredible generosity of Rocco and Mary Frances Abessinio, who announced a historic $16 million gift for the new stadium and its endowment in 2018.
The facility includes two grandstands, office space for the Delaware State Parks officials, a modern press box, a suite that overlooks the field, and two terraces. A building at the south end of the property houses a concession stand and team store, a physical therapy business, and visiting team locker rooms.
The stadium is also equipped with an artificial turf field, a state-of-the-art eight-lane track, team locker rooms, VIP suite, video scoreboard, concessions, and other resources to meet athletic and special event needs. With a seated capacity of 4,000, and space to host over 5,000 with standing room, Abessinio Stadium is an excellent venue for a variety of important events.
Abessinio Stadium's 400-meter track is constructed with Beynon Sports’ IAAF Certified BSS 300 track surfacing. Known across the track industry for its resilience and speed, the BSS 300 is the same surface installed at high-profile track and field venues such as Texas A&M University and over 200 other esteemed NCAA and high school facilities around the world.
The track also includes an advanced FinishLynx track timing system, providing the capability to host and officiate championship-caliber meets. In 2021, it was awarded the ASBA Outstanding Track & Field Facility of the Year.
Located within the track, the stadium’s synthetic turf field is permanently lined for football, soccer, and boys' lacrosse. It can also be be seasonally lined for field hockey and girls’ lacrosse.
Abessinio Stadium’s field was designed and constructed to promote world-class athletic performance and protect players. The field system includes an advanced resilient underlayment engineered to significantly reduce the risk of head impact injuries.
The Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists Suite sits atop the stadium overlooking the track and field on one side, and Brandywine Park, the City of Wilmington, and I-95 on the other. It is perfect for special guests at major athletic events or as a unique meeting location.
On most days, the track is open to the public for personal use. All other areas of the stadium must be reserved. To reserve the facility, submit your request by scheduling it here.
The stadium offers reserved accessible seating for events and multiple accessible parking spaces. All levels are accessible via an elevator and wheelchair ramp.
Outside food and beverages are only allowed for certain events. Alcohol is not permitted. For the comfort and safety of our guests, coolers and large bags are not permitted inside the stadium.
The statue shows former football coach Dominic "Dim" Montero '38. Salesianum’s coach from 1956 to 1965, he held a record of 70-10-3 and won many accolades, including National Catholic Coach of the Year in 1964.
Rocco Abessinio, who provided a majority of funding for the statue, was one of Montero’s players during his first season.
Salesianum School educates and develops the whole person based on the teaching of Saint Francis de Sales, whose spirituality can be summarized in “Live Jesus.” As an independent Catholic secondary school founded by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in 1903, Salesianum challenges young men through dynamic college preparatory and extracurricular programs to live as Salesian Gentlemen devoted to faith, community, and service.