New athletic stadium debuts Sept. 13 with ceremony before football season-opener

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Heights High athletic stadium will take place on Sept. 13 before the opening football game against Glenville.

The newly constructed Cleveland Heights High School stadium will be officially opened to the community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration just prior to the first home football game of this season, on Saturday, Sept. 13.

“We are so excited to present this brand-new stadium to the community,” said Talisa L. Dixon, CH-UH superintendent. “Our residents approved Phase 1 of our Master Facilities Plan in 2013, and while a great deal of work is taking place within our school buildings, the new stadium and field may be the first visible change that some residents have seen. We’re thrilled that this first visible project has turned out so well, and this community will see an immediate benefit from it.”

The ceremony and celebration will begin at 2 p.m. on Sept. 13 with the opening of the Tiger Tailgate Area, where food trucks, concessions and face-painting will be open for business.

At 3 p.m., the ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on the field, with brief remarks from Dixon; Ron Register, board president; Zoraba Q Ross, new CHHS administrative principal; and Jeff Rotsky, head football coach. The ribbon will be cut by a group of student-athlete leaders, and then the marching band and cheerleaders will help to excite the crowd and attendees as the Heights Tigers football team battles the Glenville Tarblooders, starting at 4 p.m.

Fans will notice many improvements and upgrades from the old stadium. The new field is made of synthetic turf, which will allow the field to be enjoyed for far more than just football games, as is currently the case. Lacrosse, cheerleading and field hockey teams will be able to use the field, as will gym classes.

In response to concerns raised by several community members, the field uses Envirofill synthetic turf, which is a safer alternative to the more common base of tire-derived crumb rubber.

The stadium also features new grandstands and visiting stands, a new track, a new exterior fence and landscaping, a press box and restrooms. The new stadium increases capacity from the previous 1,000 seats to 2,500 seats, 500 of which will be on the visiting team’s side.

Angee Shaker

Angee Shaker is director of communications for Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District.

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Volume 7, Issue 9, Posted 11:17 AM, 08.19.2014