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Beyond raucous NFL games or teeming college matchups on name-brand fields, some of the country's most interesting, jaw-dropping and unique stadiums belong to the high school teams. From headline-making Texan behemoths to shoreline wonders, these high school football squads have managed to carve out some pretty intriguing homes for themselves.
Here are 10 of the nation’s best – sometimes for sheer size, sometimes for unique natural beauty, each impressive in its own way.
The biggest does, of course, have to make the list. The largest single-high school field in the country, Eagle Stadium is home to Allen High School and holds over 18,000 spectators. It initially opened in 2012 following its $60 million build, then closed for $10 million in repairs in 2014 before reopening the following year.
This home of the Stadium High School Tigers and Woodrow Wilson High School Rams sits right on the shore and looks out over Commencement Bay and the Puget Sound – not too shabby for some Friday night lights. Built back in 1910 with a capacity of 32,000, years of repairs and construction have reduced the capacity to 15,000.
It has also gotten its fair share of the national spotlight – Stadium Bowl has been home to speeches by Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, and was a prominent filming location for the 1999 hit film “10 Things I Hate About You.”
Nicknamed “Lady on the Hill,” this stadium is on every high school stadium list. Built in 1916, Jones Stadium is close to some of the biggest high school stadiums in the country with 12,000 seats, and is considered by many to be the birthplace of Texas Friday Night Lights, as the first night-time high school football game was hosted here in 1928. It’s home to the El Paso High School Tigers, whose school building looks out over the field.
Its name comes from Robert Randolph Jones, who served as an assistant principal and principal at the school during the 20s, 30s, and 40s.
This Ohio behemoth is among the older stadiums on the list. It opened in 1938 as Tiger Stadium before being renamed for alum and Hall of Fame NFL coach Paul Brown in 1977. It’s home to Washington High School, and officially holds 16,000 spectators – but that number can inch up to 19,000 with extra seating. It’s currently undergoing a large renovation, set to be finished next year, complete with 24,000-square-foot locker rooms and brand-new sports medicine facilities.
Not many high schools can say their football field is cut into stone. Known colloquially as “The Rock,” Smiley Ratliff Field was formed when rock was blasted out of a mountain to make room for it. It was the home of Hurley High School since 1980, but recently took its final bow in its current form when Hurley closed in May as part of a school district consolidation. The field’s future is yet unknown.
That’s quite the view. Situated next to one of America’s most iconic landmarks, this home of George Washington High School holds about 3,000 fans and has become one of the most talked-about and visited high school football fields in the country. Many famous school alumni saw this view every day in the classroom, from poet Maya Angelou to actor Danny Glover, and NFL Hall of Famer Ollie Matson often played on this field during his time there.
Three high schools share this mammoth stadium in Pennsylvania: William Allen, Louis E. Dieruff, and Allentown Central Catholic. It holds over 15,000 fans and was renamed for J. Birney Crum, an Allentown, Penn. multisport high school star in 1982. It first opened in 1948.
The Canton McKinley Bulldogs share this stadium with the annual Hall of Fame NFL game – not bad housemates to have. The seating is a bit flexible: it fits over 15,000 for high school games, but can seat over 22,000 for the Hall of Fame game. It originally opened in 1939, but got a $139 million renovation from 2015 to 2017.
Hawaii boasts some of the most beautiful views in the country, and its high school football fields are no exception. Looking out over the Pacific Ocean, Lahainaluna High School’s home is pretty new as far as stadiums go, opening in 2015 as the school’s first athletics stadium. It’s made a big difference, offering new opportunities for their athletics programs that previously had to travel across the island for facilities.
Monument Valley High School plays here to the backdrop of their scenic namesake, Monument Valley, a park full of red-rock formations and stretching desert landscape. If the area looks familiar, you may have seen it at the movies: the park itself has been a popular filming destination for films like Easy Rider and Forrest Gump.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 high school football stadiums fans should add to the bucket list
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Here are 10 of the nation’s best – sometimes for sheer size, sometimes for unique natural beauty, each impressive in its own way.
Eagle Stadium (Allen, TX)
The biggest does, of course, have to make the list. The largest single-high school field in the country, Eagle Stadium is home to Allen High School and holds over 18,000 spectators. It initially opened in 2012 following its $60 million build, then closed for $10 million in repairs in 2014 before reopening the following year.
Stadium Bowl (Tacoma, WA)
This home of the Stadium High School Tigers and Woodrow Wilson High School Rams sits right on the shore and looks out over Commencement Bay and the Puget Sound – not too shabby for some Friday night lights. Built back in 1910 with a capacity of 32,000, years of repairs and construction have reduced the capacity to 15,000.
It has also gotten its fair share of the national spotlight – Stadium Bowl has been home to speeches by Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, and was a prominent filming location for the 1999 hit film “10 Things I Hate About You.”
R. R. Jones Stadium (El Paso, TX)
Nicknamed “Lady on the Hill,” this stadium is on every high school stadium list. Built in 1916, Jones Stadium is close to some of the biggest high school stadiums in the country with 12,000 seats, and is considered by many to be the birthplace of Texas Friday Night Lights, as the first night-time high school football game was hosted here in 1928. It’s home to the El Paso High School Tigers, whose school building looks out over the field.
Its name comes from Robert Randolph Jones, who served as an assistant principal and principal at the school during the 20s, 30s, and 40s.
Paul Brown Tiger Stadium (Massillon, OH)
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This Ohio behemoth is among the older stadiums on the list. It opened in 1938 as Tiger Stadium before being renamed for alum and Hall of Fame NFL coach Paul Brown in 1977. It’s home to Washington High School, and officially holds 16,000 spectators – but that number can inch up to 19,000 with extra seating. It’s currently undergoing a large renovation, set to be finished next year, complete with 24,000-square-foot locker rooms and brand-new sports medicine facilities.
Smiley Ratliff Field (Hurley, VA)
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Not many high schools can say their football field is cut into stone. Known colloquially as “The Rock,” Smiley Ratliff Field was formed when rock was blasted out of a mountain to make room for it. It was the home of Hurley High School since 1980, but recently took its final bow in its current form when Hurley closed in May as part of a school district consolidation. The field’s future is yet unknown.
Washington High School Stadium (San Francisco, CA)
That’s quite the view. Situated next to one of America’s most iconic landmarks, this home of George Washington High School holds about 3,000 fans and has become one of the most talked-about and visited high school football fields in the country. Many famous school alumni saw this view every day in the classroom, from poet Maya Angelou to actor Danny Glover, and NFL Hall of Famer Ollie Matson often played on this field during his time there.
J. Birney Crum Stadium (Allentown, PA)
Allentown’s J. Birney Crum Stadium is an experience.
Geat your 2-night package to the #DCI2024 Eastern Classic todayhttps://t.co/tW2rLVJ7vIpic.twitter.com/kDLkdUF5TU
— Drum Corps International (@DCI) October 9, 2023
Three high schools share this mammoth stadium in Pennsylvania: William Allen, Louis E. Dieruff, and Allentown Central Catholic. It holds over 15,000 fans and was renamed for J. Birney Crum, an Allentown, Penn. multisport high school star in 1982. It first opened in 1948.
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton, OH)
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The Canton McKinley Bulldogs share this stadium with the annual Hall of Fame NFL game – not bad housemates to have. The seating is a bit flexible: it fits over 15,000 for high school games, but can seat over 22,000 for the Hall of Fame game. It originally opened in 1939, but got a $139 million renovation from 2015 to 2017.
Sue D. Cooley Stadium (Lahaina, HI)
Hawaii boasts some of the most beautiful views in the country, and its high school football fields are no exception. Looking out over the Pacific Ocean, Lahainaluna High School’s home is pretty new as far as stadiums go, opening in 2015 as the school’s first athletics stadium. It’s made a big difference, offering new opportunities for their athletics programs that previously had to travel across the island for facilities.
Mustang Stadium (Kayenta, AZ)
Monument Valley High School plays here to the backdrop of their scenic namesake, Monument Valley, a park full of red-rock formations and stretching desert landscape. If the area looks familiar, you may have seen it at the movies: the park itself has been a popular filming destination for films like Easy Rider and Forrest Gump.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 high school football stadiums fans should add to the bucket list
Continue reading...
