Spartan stadium

[BigBlueNation]

Was just thinking that Spartan stadium has such a great history and is a good place to watch football games but it is not in the greatest shape nowadays. Notre Dame is the only school that plays there and I know the upkeep has to be expensive. I would like to see maybe some or all the teams in scioto county play a least one game there combine the gate and split it with the teams and the stadium to help with the upkeep of the stadium. There is some great rivalries in the area like West and Burg, Valley and Minford and Portsmouth and Ironton, those 6 teams all play on week 10 have a triple header on a saturday that would be awesome for the stadium and the community. Maybe even contact the Detroit Lions since Portsmouth is the birth place of that franchise and have some of their players come and hold a camp for the kids in the area every summer. Maybe even have some jr high, freshman or jv double or triple headers thoughout the season. Scioto county needs something like this, there is nothing in the county that gets communities together as much as high school football. What is everybodies thoughts on this.

[wipala]

Here in the Phoenix area we have a similar deal, not because of a stadium but there is a weekend at the start of the year where they play 4, yes 4, games on a Saturday the week before the rest of the teams start and they play it in the stadium where the Cardinals, the Fiesta Bowl and every four years the BCS game is played. It is kinda like the Herbstreet deal but 4 of the teams HAVE to be from Arizona,,they get a good draw and the places around the stadium get a good flow of traffic..Here me Stadium Lunch,,Good idea luvbigcats,,but good luck getting the schools to go along with it..the idea just makes too much sense for them to understand!!!

[Jesco White]

I like the idea a lot!!!

[28Buck]

maybe have it during River Days add a little festival atmosphere? Of course that entails non-conference foes. Minford-Wellston is always a good contest who has Burg,West,Valley and Portsmouth played during those weeks?

[Jesco White]

maybe have it during River Days add a little festival atmosphere? Of course that entails non-conference foes. Minford-Wellston is always a good contest who has Burg,West,Valley and Portsmouth played during those weeks?

Portsmouth and West play each other that weekend, while Burg and Valley have played Oak Hill and Rock Hill respectively. The Portsmouth-West game doesn't need any help drawing a big gate, meanwhile the Burg and Valley games wouldn't draw much.

[KVDW]

Maybe even contact the Detroit Lions since Portsmouth is the birth place of that franchise and have some of their players come and hold a camp for the kids

maybe even get some of these millionaire fatcats to donate some of their millions and use as a tax write-offs.

[WE ARE ND]

All of it sounds good to me!!!!

[28Buck]

Maybe even contact the Detroit Lions since Portsmouth is the birth place of that franchise and have some of their players come and hold a camp for the kids

maybe even get some of these millionaire fatcats to donate some of their millions and use as a tax write-offs.

riiiight

[gunit]

Sounds like a good idea, but I doubt if high school kids want to play in that stadium.

[ManitouDan]

why would HS'ers NOT want to play at Spartan ? I think it's a great place.

[noles_fan]

I've heard worse ideas. The only problem I see is that with the limited number of home games some schools will not want to lose any of the gate money. It could turn into a big deal if it ever got started.

[yabbadabbadoo]

why would HS'ers NOT want to play at Spartan ? I think it's a great place.

Because of the size. The players I've talked to that have played there said that there might as well not be any fans in the seats because they can't hear them cheering.

I never liked watching a game there just because of how far the fans are away from the field. It is amazing how many older fans you see with binoculars. It might have history but just not fan friendly.

[induct chuck]

why would HS'ers NOT want to play at Spartan ? I think it's a great place.

Because of the size. The players I've talked to that have played there said that there might as well not be any fans in the seats because they can't hear them cheering.

I never liked watching a game there just because of how far the fans are away from the field. It is amazing how many older fans you see with binoculars. It might have history but just not fan friendly.

This is a valid point, especially when ND is playing in a game that might draw a small gate. However, for anyone who has been out on the field, playing in big games like what is being proposed, noise wouldn't be an issue. The only thing that I think would need to happen for these games to work out would be having the visitors locker rooms fixed up and maybe the away stands. I love the idea.

[tl895]

why would HS'ers NOT want to play at Spartan ? I think it's a great place.

Because of the size. The players I've talked to that have played there said that there might as well not be any fans in the seats because they can't hear them cheering.

I never liked watching a game there just because of how far the fans are away from the field. It is amazing how many older fans you see with binoculars. It might have history but just not fan friendly.

never had a problem hearing us in that place if the fan base would show the same excitment ours has for 30+ years maybe the programs would have been more successful just saying...

[Crab's Brother]

It might seem like a good idea, but the way school budgets are these days, schools cannot afford a "half gate". At most schools, football pays the bills for the rest of the sports programs. This might cause some serious financial strain.

[gunit]

If schools do this for Spartan will the same follow suit for all the other old stadiums in Scioto County?? Will there be a night of football at East or Green to help them with stadium upkeep?

Schools would never go for an idea like this unless some business' got together and sweetened the pot for the participating teams.

[Pol pot]

Nothing like playing, coaching or officiating in the old Stadium. My favorite place for all three! That being said, the old girl is quickly deteriorating and needs tons of cash and infrastructure.

[maniac66]

have a Jamboree game or hold a two day event there for games.
And promote the history of the stadium bring in teams to play local teams you would never see other wise.
Lots of options for it and it needs to be saved and took care of for it's history alone.
I know Portsmouth is like alot of other area communities the money just isn't there any more but some things need saved and this stadium is one of them.

[sprinter14]

Where can I buy advance tickets? I hate standing in long lines.

Seriously though, I'd be in for it. If done right with sponsor $$ involved, I would think teams could come out ahead. Keep in mind, they would have less expenses for the night than they would operating their home stadium, so it could be feasible for some teams.

[Raiderball]

If schools do this for Spartan will the same follow suit for all the other old stadiums in Scioto County?? Will there be a night of football at East or Green to help them with stadium upkeep?

Schools would never go for an idea like this unless some business' got together and sweetened the pot for the participating teams.

^^^This