“The Springfield High School Stadium will continue to host all home Wildcat football games as we enter into the 2020-21 fall season,” district director of communications Cherie Moore said. “Evans Stadium remains under construction at this time, but will be the site for Wildcat Junior High games as in past years.”
The press box has been removed due to extensive deterioration caused by hidden water damage.
Additionally, the visitors’ bleachers on the north side of the field are going to be removed because of deterioration on the footers of the substructure.
Moore said that is anticipated to be done within the next two weeks.
Credit: Bill Lackey
Credit: Bill Lackey
Last year an architectural firm recommended no one use the press box because of a structural failure, and the decision was ultimately made to move the games to the north side.
“The repairs at Evans have been needed for some time,” said Springfield director of athletics Mike Dellapina, “and we look forward to hosting our middle school football games at Evans during the 2020 fall season.”
A Works Project Administration project completed in 1936, Evans Stadium was the home of the South High School team before North and South were recombined in 2008 in a new school on E. Home Road.
Both stadiums received a new turf field in 2017, and SHS Stadium has been the site of all other SHS athletics events besides football.
In the past, moving football games to the new high school had been discussed and met with opposition from members of the school board and the community.
After losing their 2019 home opener to Fairfield, the Wildcats won their last five games at Springfield High School Stadium, including a 23-0 win over Marysville in the first round of the playoffs.
Coach Maurice Douglass’ team advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in school history and lost to Cincinnati Elder 31-24.
Practice for the 2020 season is scheduled to begin Aug. 1 for all teams in the state.
Dellapina said the tracks at both stadiums should be reopened to walkers “in the near future.”
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