After eight months of construction and one year after its official proposal, Southern Lehigh’s new stadium finally made its public debut in a home football game on August 25, 2023. Featuring a new synthetic turf field, a scoreboard, an improved press box, and larger bleachers, the stadium has reinvigorated sports culture at Southern Lehigh.
“I think it’s tremendous that [the stadium] is available and lined for all the sports, so you can maximize the number of students who get to use it,” said English teacher Mr. Jeff Hershey, who announces all home football games. “It’s really a facility that looks like it should be at a college, so it’s great that students get to use it.”
Ideas for renovations and improvements to the stadium have floated around the community for several years. However, the school board only approved a proposal including the new stadium’s schematics in October 2022. Construction began at the start of 2023 and concluded this August. Apart from removing a pipe under the track, which cost an additional $53,500, there were no major issues during construction.
Southern Lehigh football fans and frequent student section members initially criticized a temporary strong odor in the stadium due to certain chemicals used in construction. However, the stadium has received widespread praise for the new turf field, scoreboard, press box, and expanded bleachers.
“[The stadium] looks really nice and new and the excitement at games is a lot better,” senior Elizabeth Vezenov said.
Mr. Hershey was also receptive to the renovations, explicitly highlighting the larger press box and addition of video equipment.
“I love the press box, there’s a lot more room [and] it’s a lot sturdier. I like using all the new equipment there,” Mr. Hershey said. “Certainly, the turf field seems like a good investment since you don’t have to maintain it all the time, and it looks better, for sure.”
The football team has enjoyed an immensely successful season on the turf, and currently sits at a 6–0 record as of October 1, 2023. Despite their victories, some players still feel that the fresh turf isn’t perfect for play.
“[The turf is] too new right now,” senior wide receiver Jack Inglis said. “It’s very slippery, and from a football perspective I would rather play on grass.”
The field hockey team has also excelled during their first season in the new stadium, amassing a 12–2 record as of October 2, 2023. Players feel that the turf has created more fluidity in their game than the grass field.
“Playing on turf versus grass is a different game because the ball moves so differently,” senior right winger Emily Stock said. “We can improve our stick skills, the ball moves a lot faster, [and] the energy is fluid.”
The girls’ soccer team, sitting at a 9–5 record as of October 2, 2023, has proved similarly stellar during their first season in the new stadium. Players have commented favorably on the electric atmosphere and the positive effects of switching from grass to turf.
“I think [the stadium] really helps the team atmosphere, because it feels more professional and the energy is always better in a stadium,” senior and goalkeeper Meghan Conron said. “The turf field is also a lot bigger than our grass field and allows for more movement.”
