Brooksie
Well-known member
Good morning all.
Several years ago, my best friend and I started what I called The Friday Night Express. Since all of our kids were finished with high school, we decided to just pick "a game" every week somewhere in Northeast Ohio and attend. It really became something to look forward to each season as we weren't being locked into watching our own schools same 7 or 8 opponents every season. We have seen some real duds of games and we have seen some thrilling finishes. Can't have one without the other.
Along the way, I have seen a number of really cool facilities our youngsters play in. I don't want to limit this to just NE Ohio, but I would like to hear what everyone's favorite places to see a game are. If you want to say why, that's cool too. I will start with a few of mine.
Griffin Stadium - Buchtel: I grew up back in the '60s on the west side of Akron. My brother and I would walk the half a dozen blocks to Buchtel for a Saturday afternoon game. There was a kind, older gentleman working the ticket gate who would see us, and when the time was right - he would let us into the game to watch for free. We both still love HS FB, and that man's discretion was a key reason why. We both looked up at the players then and thought they were the size of monsters. Great memories!
Green Street Stadium - SVSM: This is my current "home" stadium, but this facility is tied heavily into my family's history. My dad was V51. As a adolescent and high schooler, he was on the work crew that built the original stadium. A lot of my family's relatives were too. So there always is that special connection with family no longer with us when I go to Green Street. My daughter was a percussionist in the Marching Band in her high school years. Anyone who is or was a parent of a band member knows you become married to the concession stand during your child's time there. I met some lifelong friends through that.
Now when I go to the renovated and rebuilt stadium, it is even better. Once the sun sets, the panorama of the downtown Akron buildings is breathtaking. Make you appreciate how that stadium was shoehorned into a landlocked piece of real estate.
Alumni Stadium - Uniontown Lake: I have been here half a dozen times. I always liked how the natural landscape of a bowl was used for the seating. It insulates the players from the surroundings. I do remember watching a playoff game out here one year and being the coldest I have ever been. I could not stop my teeth from chattering.
Wildcat Stadium - Mogadore: If I had a top 3 list, this facility would definitely be included. When I read John Grisham's book "Bleachers" the mental image I had in my head was Mogadore. The entire Mogadore community embraces the Wildcat program. It seems like the entire town rolls the sidewalks up and comes to the stadium on Friday nights. Special.
JAG Field - Garretsville Garfield: Been here a couple of times. Again, I really dig the rural smaller school experience. JAG Field rises above Route 88, and its lights pierce the night sky. Let's just say the seating can be "intimate". But if memory serves me correctly, the concession stand serves "G Men Nachos" which are the absolute bomb - best I ever tasted.
There are many more - but I want to hear for the Yappi community. Have at it.
Several years ago, my best friend and I started what I called The Friday Night Express. Since all of our kids were finished with high school, we decided to just pick "a game" every week somewhere in Northeast Ohio and attend. It really became something to look forward to each season as we weren't being locked into watching our own schools same 7 or 8 opponents every season. We have seen some real duds of games and we have seen some thrilling finishes. Can't have one without the other.
Along the way, I have seen a number of really cool facilities our youngsters play in. I don't want to limit this to just NE Ohio, but I would like to hear what everyone's favorite places to see a game are. If you want to say why, that's cool too. I will start with a few of mine.
Griffin Stadium - Buchtel: I grew up back in the '60s on the west side of Akron. My brother and I would walk the half a dozen blocks to Buchtel for a Saturday afternoon game. There was a kind, older gentleman working the ticket gate who would see us, and when the time was right - he would let us into the game to watch for free. We both still love HS FB, and that man's discretion was a key reason why. We both looked up at the players then and thought they were the size of monsters. Great memories!
Green Street Stadium - SVSM: This is my current "home" stadium, but this facility is tied heavily into my family's history. My dad was V51. As a adolescent and high schooler, he was on the work crew that built the original stadium. A lot of my family's relatives were too. So there always is that special connection with family no longer with us when I go to Green Street. My daughter was a percussionist in the Marching Band in her high school years. Anyone who is or was a parent of a band member knows you become married to the concession stand during your child's time there. I met some lifelong friends through that.
Now when I go to the renovated and rebuilt stadium, it is even better. Once the sun sets, the panorama of the downtown Akron buildings is breathtaking. Make you appreciate how that stadium was shoehorned into a landlocked piece of real estate.
Alumni Stadium - Uniontown Lake: I have been here half a dozen times. I always liked how the natural landscape of a bowl was used for the seating. It insulates the players from the surroundings. I do remember watching a playoff game out here one year and being the coldest I have ever been. I could not stop my teeth from chattering.
Wildcat Stadium - Mogadore: If I had a top 3 list, this facility would definitely be included. When I read John Grisham's book "Bleachers" the mental image I had in my head was Mogadore. The entire Mogadore community embraces the Wildcat program. It seems like the entire town rolls the sidewalks up and comes to the stadium on Friday nights. Special.
JAG Field - Garretsville Garfield: Been here a couple of times. Again, I really dig the rural smaller school experience. JAG Field rises above Route 88, and its lights pierce the night sky. Let's just say the seating can be "intimate". But if memory serves me correctly, the concession stand serves "G Men Nachos" which are the absolute bomb - best I ever tasted.
There are many more - but I want to hear for the Yappi community. Have at it.
