He played three games in the NFL, with the Washington Redskins, in 2014. The Ensphere, which can seat around 9,000 for basketball games, opened in 1991 at a cost of $11 million. Trevardo Williams moved from Jamaica to the United States at 9 years old and became a football star at Bridgeport High School before going on to star at the University of Connecticut, where he was an All-Big East selection in 2012. There is a 40-foot high net in each end zone to catch attempted field goals and extra points. Born in the town when it was still unincorporated and raised in the mountains around the high school and the stadium, he said his recruitment boiled down to his father telling the University of Kentucky to "give us the paperwork and we'll sign it." Dunlavy often is mentioned as one of the most unique places to see a game but it's also one of the best. Gouveia won a state championship at Wai'anae High, won a national championship at BYU in 1984 and won a pair of Super Bowl titles with the Washington Redskins in 1987 and 1991. "Biggest High School Football Stadiums". Allen ISD's $62 million stadium. 7 prospect in the Register's rankings will compete in two events at Drake Relays this . Both then played six seasons in the NFL. The stadium has been a staple of the community since it opened. The stadium has been nicknamed "Eagle's Nest" in honor of its new mascot, a soaring eagle. 08, 2015, 2:00 a.m. NFL: Baltimore Colts (1973-78), Pittsburgh Steelers (1978), New York Giants (1979), Detroit Lions (1980-82). In 1991, Gouveia had an interception in each of Washington's three postseason games, including the Super Bowl, despite having just two interceptions in his career before the playoffs that year. 473811N 1223127W. High schools: Salesianum School, Delaware Military Academy, St. Elizabeth High School, Howard High School of Technology, Saint Mark's High School, NFL: Cincinnati Bengals (2012-14), Houston Texans (2016). What's really cool is Knafelc stuck around in Green Bay after his 11-year NFL career as the PA announcer at Lambeau Stadium from 1964 until 2004. In just its fifth year of play, the Inter-Lakes High School football team won a New Hampshire Division VI state championship. The skinny: The $70 million, 110,000-square-foot John McKay Center opened at USC in 2012 and houses meeting rooms, a locker room for football . We wanted to put it on the list because we couldn't leave out California, where they play some of the best high school football in the country, and especially not the home of one of the most dominant programs in the nation. He played one season in the NFL before playing three seasons in the Canadian Football League, three seasons in the USFL, then one more season in the NFL during the players' strike of 1987. Top HS Football Stadiums in North Carolina. There isn't a school with a better mascot than the Burlington High Seahorses, and when you make your way to this bucolic football field, you'll be well-served to remember "Seahorse Pride" is really a thing. For one thing, you know you're in a stadium that's probably pretty old. The city of Gloucester, Massachusetts, was made famous by the 2001 film "The Perfect Storm" and also boasts one of the singular views of any high school football stadium in the country, where fans can watch fishing boats sail out of the harbor and into the Atlantic Ocean. There are nicer football stadiums in Texas, where the best high school football in the country is played, but there just aren't any bigger ones than Mesquite's Memorial Stadium. Raider Stadium. Join in AL.com's summer-long quest. NFL: Baltimore Ravens (2021), New England Patriots (2021), Chicago Bears (2021-present). NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-2009), Indianapolis Colts (2010). These are the best High School Football Stadiums. The most notable events that take place at the Ben Hill Griffin include the Gator Growl, high school football, college bowl games, and numerous . No stadium in the United States can say it was home to more future NFL talent than Miami's Traz-Powell Stadium a virtual who's who of pro football talent cutting their teeth here. High School Sports; Which Alabama high school football stadium is the best? Big Horn High's Josh Thompson hasn't graduated from high school and can already call himself one of the greatest players in his school's history. Spiegelberg Stadium (North Medford, South Medford) Built in 1935, Spiegelberg is one of Oregon's most historic high school football venues. The most legendary long-distance runner in American history was Marshfield High's Steve Prefontaine, who set national records while in high school before committing to run for the University of Oregon and head coach Bill Bowerman. 3. The stadium is right below one of the two high schools that play there (Stadium High School) and has been there since the school was built in 1910, overlooking Puget Sound. He won two national championships at USC and came one bravura performance by Texas quarterback Vince Young from winning a third consecutive national title. It's a virtual who's who of pro football talent cutting their teeth here. 18 overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Con's- Away side is below average. But the . While the stadium food here is undoubtedly great, you're probably doing it wrong if you don't go sample some of the local seafood after watching the six-time state champions play. Jelsma Stadium is better known as The Rock thanks to the 30-foot high sandstone wall behind one of the end zones and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The really great touch here was an LED-lighting system that is something to behold. Ratliff Stadium has a capacity of 19,302 and has been dubbed the Epicenter of Texas High School Football by most people in the football community. The stadium was condemned and closed in 1952 before it was refurbished and reopened with its current seating capacity in 1954. 18 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 1994, Washington played 11 seasons in the NFL. Andy earned a scholarship from the University of Alabama, where he was a star in all three sports before leaving school early to play professional baseball. Year opened: 1937 (closed in 1973, reopened in 2011), NFL: Philadelphia Eagles (2010-13), Indianapolis Colts (2014-15), Buffalo Bills (2016-17). That name has got to go hopefully sooner than later. It takes a moment right when you walk up to grab the dynamics of the structure in total a place where the first Friday night football games were played in Texas. The great thing about Inter-Lakes High School's stadium is the sheer beauty of New Hampshire. The Steele High School Knights, who play at Lehnhoff Stadium in the San Antonio suburb of Schertz, Texas, are the only top-five team in the state playing in a stadium more than 20 years. Ramey's pro football odyssey was something to behold. Hey, soccer teams use football stadiums, too. Note: Not all states are represented since capacity information isn't readily available for every high school football stadium. The wall does more than just look pretty. If you've never been to New Hampshire, you should go. Patrick wasn't selected in the supplemental draft and ended up having to scrap for roster spots. If you do a double-take when you first see Bentonville High's Tiger Stadium, that's perfectly fine. The 6-foot-5, 247-pound defensive end stayed loyal to his home state and turned down offers from a gaggle of Big Ten and Big 12 schools to sign with the University of Iowa in 2021. High school: Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk High School, Lutheran High Northeast. One of the smaller stadiums on this list, Big Horn High School's stadium has been home to six state champions over the years. South Panola High owns the third-longest winning streak in high school football history 89 games from 2003 to 2008. Man, don't miss the sunset. Seymour. TEXAS FOOTBALL: Take a look inside of Katy's $70 million high school football stadium Topping the list once again was Katy High School's Gary Joseph with $136,374, which represents a. Tomball ISD Stadium is one of the newest high school football stadiums in Texas that debuted in 2021. He was twice named Special Teams Player of the Year, was an All-Pac-10 selection as a senior in 2008 and was the Rose Bowl Defensive MVP in 2009. This stadium was renamed for legendary running back and Pueblo, Colorado, native Dutch Clark "The Flying Dutchman" in 1980. Opponents have said the noise the Wildcats make when they bang their helmets on the way out can be pretty intimidating. They've won six of the school's seven state championships in the last decade, including three consecutive from 2018 to 2020. There's nothing fancy about how Panther Stadium was built, but on a Friday night in the fall, it becomes a place where the home-field advantage can stand up to any team in the Midwest. He coached Lawrence High for 28 years and won three state championships, in 1973, 1983 and 1984. The community does all it can to support its local stadium and local teams as well. He played eight seasons in the NFL and was a Pro Bowler with the Washington Redskins in 1962. We also dare you to look at the Ensphere and not immediately cue up the 1996 Pauly Shore film "Bio-Dome," which is also set in Arizona. Mitchell Stadium was named "America's Best High School Football Stadium" in 2019 by USA Today via online voting. He played four seasons in the majors for the New York Giants. Madison County didn't spare any expense when it built a state-of-the-art, $8.8 million stadium for Madison High School as part of a $27 million bond issue that was approved in 2017. He eventually found success in baseball, where he was an All-American. The most recent gridiron star was former University of Alabama defensive lineman Raekwon Davis, who is in his second season with the Miami Dolphins and helped lead the Crimson Tide to a college football national championship in 2020. 24 overall by the New York Giants in the 1971 NFL draft but only played three seasons after his career was cut short by injuries to his leg and foot. In 2019, the stadium got a $2 million upgrade that included smashing the bleachers on the north side of the stadium and replacing it with a grassy hillside. Biggest High School Football Stadiums By Tony Adame, updated on February 3, 2023 Twitter / usatodayhss High school football is played in all corners of the United States. A state championship team. Away side actually has 2 decks, 35 total rows, and row 35 is about as high as row 45 on the home side. That was one year before Bentonville High expanded to grades 9-12 and is now home to almost 3,000 students. The stadium was saved by a $16 million gift from the Abessinio family in 2019 and underwent some pretty slick renovations. NFL: Minnesota Vikings (1994-97), Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-2003), Jacksonville Jaguars (2004), Kansas City Chiefs (2005). College: Marshall/Georgia Military College/Tennessee-Chattanooga. It would be hard to beat the mid-to-late 1980s as the best time to watch football at J. Birney Crum. High school: Baldwin High School, Hana High School, Kihei Charter School, King Kekaulike High School, Lahainaluna High School, Lanai High School, Maui High School, Moloka'i High School, St. Anthony High School. That all starts with Fertitta Field and its accompanying, 40,000-square-foot training facility The Fertitta Athletic Center that was built for $9.5 million and completed in 2012. Tracey Eaton represents one of the more amazing statistical anomalies you'll ever come across. Mason was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens and bounced around on three different practice squads over his rookie season. Kaluka Maiava was a star at Baldwin High and became the first player from Maui to ever play college football for USC. In this case, it's "The Red Army" for Quince Orchard High. Mark Chapman was a two-time all-conference wide receiver for Monument Valley High in 2015 and 2016. Varsity games are played on Saturday afternoons because the stadium doesn't have lights, and the stadium itself is surrounded by a forest on three sides and Lake Ellyn Park behind the visiting bleachers. Life is crazy, isn't it? And Meridian High School's Ray Stadium in Meridian, Mississippi, is a great example of what we're talking about. Eagle Stadium (Allen, Texas) Operator Allen ISD Capacity 18,000 Record attendance 21,766 (2012 vs. Southlake Carroll) Acreage 72 Construction What school has the biggest football stadium? If you make it here for a game, try to catch Bismarck vs. Century. Its namesake, the Omaha Public Schools superintendent from 1946 to 1962, used his power to prevent black teachers and principals from securing jobs in Omaha during his tenure. "I would never want black people in a position of power, where white children would be educated," Burke once said. That begins with the great teams at Hampton High led by legendary coach Mike Smith, who won back-to-back national titles in 1997 and 1998. 20% OFF Manscaped + Free Shipping code FIVEPOINTS at http://bit.ly/2RIgQmk The WORST HIGH. Weston Dressler was a dynamo on the football field at just 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds first at Bismarck High, then at the University of North Dakota then for a decade in the Canadian Football League. Some people have so much talent it just makes you sort of jealous. He set the state record with most interceptions in a season (18), game (5) and led his school to the state championship. "The Answer" was just fine playing basketball. High schools: Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana High School, Century High School, Cesar E. Chavez High School, Saddleback High School, Valley High School. High School: Little Rock Central High School. Gastineau was one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL in the 1980s, leading the league in sacks twice and making five All-Pro teams. And sunset? 25,200: 13: Tomball ISD Stadium is one of the newest high school football stadiums in Texas that debuted in 2021. Lawrence High eventually named its stadium after Pete Cooper, who also led the Bulldogs to a state runner-up finish a stunning seven more times. There aren't a lot of football players on any level who can say they won like former Webb City High star Grant Wistrom. It's so good that the University of Utah approached the Madison County School District in hopes of incorporating the same lighting system at their stadium. . first player ever ejected from the Super Bowl. Arkansas. The man who BREC Memorial Stadium's signature bowl game was once named after, Grantland Rice, is thought of by some as the greatest sportswriter of all time. Sure, what Tom Brady is doing playing into his 40s is remarkable. Franks played five years in the NFL and is currently the defensive backs coach for the New Jersey Generals in the USFL. It's a piece of architecture that now blends seamlessly with downtown Butte and seems like a perfect fit for the town. Voters approved a $16 million bond in 2010 that ended up providing new artificial turf, new lighting and fixed the bleachers at the football stadium. 18 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 1994 and played 11 seasons in the NFL, with his best years coming with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Caleb Williams was one of the breakout stars of the 2021 college football season, getting an opportunity after Heisman Trophy candidate Spencer Rattler was benched in the sixth game of the season against Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Sperry stuck around in the NFL for five seasons, playing for four different teams. Lawrence High has actually played in the state championship game every decade since winning its first title in 1973. Jones was a four-year starter for the Sooners and played six seasons in the NFL. After being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus AP All-American in 2011, Still played four seasons in the NFL. Wentz's best year as a starter was in 2017, when he was an NFL All-Pro but he got injured in the 14th game of the season. And if you do make it here, try to catch Bismarck vs. Century. 9. Nationally, high school football participation has declined 9.1 percent over the past 10 years. Ryan Cheney/Cheney Photography The stadium required $8.8 million of the $27 million. Don Hansen busted heads playing linebacker for Reitz High, where he won a state championship in 1961 before going on to play for the University of Illinois, where he won a Rose Bowl championship in 1964. Manual has won six state championships in its history but none since 1966. He was an All-Big Ten player at the University of Nebraska and won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles as a rookie in 2017. High schools: Miami Northwestern High School, Booker T. Washington High School. At Northern Iowa, Washington was a two-time Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996 and a two-time NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) All-American. Greenway Avenue Stadium was named Fort Hill Stadium until 1987, and by 1998, they'd upgraded to FieldTurf in order to host scrimmages for the Washington Football Team. Focused on leaving a legacy in the Miami community as Super LIV came to the city in early 2020, Nike decided it would spend $2 million to renovate Traz-Powell Stadium ahead of the big game something the community needed dearly. The third Texan stadium on this list, Berry Center Stadium seats over 11,000 fans and covers about 65 acres. David has been one of the NFL's dominant linebackers over the last decade. Irvin was selected No. Gloucester High School is also one of the oldest on this list the school was officially a four-year high school in 1857. The best of those was the 1997 national title team, and the best player on that team was Mike Doss. 1 place at Lincoln of Stockton but it isn't as intimate. Both went on to star at in-state colleges Tracey at Portland State and Scott at Oregon State, where he also played basketball. The variety in size of those stadiums ranges from the very small to the very, very big. As I have state for years, Reitz Bowl is hands down the best HS Football venue in the state of Indiana. ^ "Stadiums with Capacity Greater Than 16,500". Berry Center Stadium, TX. Contact Us. Bowie was a two-time all-state pick for West Branch High and set the school record with a 93-yard fumble return for a touchdown as a junior. 19 overall in the 1979 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams and moved to linebacker. Don Hansen doled out punishment as a linebacker for Reitz High, leading them to the 1961 state championship, before playing alongside Dick Butkus at the University of Illinois, where the duo led the Illini to a Rose Bowl win over Washington following the 1963 season. Prentice finished his college career with some of the most vaunted NCAA records of all time career rushing touchdowns (73), career touchdowns (78), career points and consecutive carries without a fumble. It opened its doors in 1886 and maintains an enrollment of almost 2,000. One great part of the renovation was the West Monroe home stands were finally moved to the west side of the stadium. Arrests one month apart in Dallas in 2017 and another arrest in March 2018 after it was revealed he broke his ex-girlfriend's jaw with a punch led to his release from the Seahawks. In 2019, he was named one of the 100 greatest players in Chicago Bears history. There are larger stadiums in Texas,. In South Carolina, they'll know you're talking about Dorman High's football stadium if you call it by any of its nicknames as well Taj Mahal, The Palace or The University of Dorman. This is a stadium that continually ends up mentioned when we talk about the best high school football venues in the country. Wherever you're sitting at this stadium, you're going to be looking out at the Chugach National Forest, featuring a vast expanse of trees you have to see to believe. . That changed in a big way when the school's first football stadium opened in 2009 on Nicollet Island a small chunk of land in the middle of Minneapolis in the middle of the Mississippi River. Washington-Grizzly Stadium (Missoula, Mont.) Patrick Wilkinson was the first Gulf Shores High player to sign a scholarship with a Division I school. The student apartments at NMJC are also named after him. NFL: Washington Redskins (1986-94, 1999), Philadelphia Eagles (1995), San Diego Chargers (1996-98), Las Vegas Outlaws (2001). Murray was a three-time All-Big 12 selection for the Sooners before playing in the NFL for seven seasons, making three Pro Bowls and leading the NFL in rushing in 2014, when he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Year and made his lone All-Pro squad. I will finally get a chance to work there this fall. By creating an account you are able to follow friends and experts you trust and see the places they've recommended. 22. He's been named NFL All-Pro three times and won a Super Bowl in 2021. As a senior in 2016, Chapman led his team with 35 receptions for 592 receiving yards and a whopping 13 touchdowns as Monument Valley went 10-1 and 5-0 in conference play. Built as part of the Works Progress Administration in the mid-1930s, Mitchell Stadium also serves as the home field for a team in another state Virginia's Graham High School, which is the only high school in the nation that plays home games in a different state. And while football is great and all, no Washington football player could ever live up to the school's most famous alum the late poet Maya Angelou. Gronkowski, a surefire Hall of Famer, has won four Super Bowls three with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The largest stadium used by a professional team falls at number 15 on the list. After head coach Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma to become the coach at USC, Williams entered the transfer portal. Roebuck High's Ryan Sims was a star defensive tackle at the University of North Carolina alongside future NFL player Julius Peppers before the Kansas City Chiefs selected Sims No. The football stadium is right there on campus and named for the school's first principal, Raymond Torii. McKenzie. The last state championship game was held at the site in 1995, a 14-7 win by Southwest DeKalb High School behind future NFL quarterback Quincy Carter. Pictures of High School Football Stadiums in the state of Washington. Trinity High School is a AAA school district in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) (PA Iinterscholastic Athletic Association District 7). Pro soccer: Greenville Triumph (2019), Real Monarchs (2020), New Amsterdam FC (2021). Mike Solwold won two state championships at Arrowhead High and was named Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year in 1996. Rob Gronkwoski played his final season of high school football at Woodland Hills High before going on to star at the University of Arizona and becoming one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. When the stadium was built in 1930, it had a capacity of just 22,000. Derby High School's Panther Stadium is located smack dab in the middle of the bedroom community located just outside of Wichita. Bokyin probably would've played much longer in the NFL had he been able to stay out of trouble. 311 Allison Avenue. It's not hard to see why it became run down. After Butte High School went 0-9 during his senior season, Anderson walked on at the University of Montana and eventually became a three-time All-Big Sky Conference safety. "This is probably better than what we could have imagined, without a doubt.". The 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive tackle and Arkansas commit has the talent that could land him on an NFL roster one day. A football stadium does not have the same intimacy as a basketball gym, but there are a few that come to mind in Central Indiana. Washington. In a 10,000-seat stadium. The 17-time state champions at Belfry High enter the field from a state-of-the-art fieldhouse behind one end zone, and games are almost always sellouts. He led the league in scoring four times and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Fans can take in the sprawling skyline of Minneapolis as they watch games. Allen I.S.D. Valdosta High School and NCAA Division II powerhouse Valdosta State share Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, but it's Valdosta High that has won more games than any other school in U.S. history. Dressler, who was named the North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year in 2003, set 19 receiving records at North Dakota before being named CFL Rookie of the Year in 2008 and winning a Grey Cup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2013. Ledger shot to fame in the film "10 Things I Hate About You" thanks in large part to his mostly improvised rendition of Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" on the steps of the Stadium Bowl. Brady was never better than in the state championship game. NFL Network, New York Jets, National Football League Draft, ESPN, Iowa State Cyclones football | 9.5K views, 160 likes, 50 loves, 120 comments, 49 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from New York Jets:. Deshea Townsend was a star quarterback for South Panola High alongside future Alabama teammate and NFL linebacker Dwayne Rudd, leading the team to a 15-0 record and the state championship in 1993. Few players in Nebraska high school football history can hold a candle to what Norfolk Catholic High's Aaron Hughes did in 1991. Allen set records in the 1994 state championship game loss to Service High for passing yards (237) and longest touchdown pass (69 yards). While it's an inexact science, we did have a few rules only one stadium per state and only stadiums that were created primarily with high school football in mind. "As each phase goes along, you start to realize 'Man, this is real,'" Union head coach Kirk Fridrich told The Tulsa World. Below, you'll find a searchable and sortable table of every stadium used in Texas high school football heading into the 2022 season. Smith starred as a freshman at Texas Tech, but injuries throughout his career dropped him to the fifth round of the 1987 NFL draft, where he was selected by the Washington Redskins. The stadium serves as the neutral field for high school football playoffs in Texas. 1. 2 overall in the 2016 NFL draft. DeMarco Murray was a three-sport star at Bishop Gorman High in football, basketball and track. Smith got the only start of his rookie year in Super Bowl XXII. Playing Class A in Iowa, the state's smallest classification, West Branch High School has created a huge tradition and legacy thanks to its home-field advantage at the Little Rose Bowl. Added to the crown jewel was a grand entrance on the west side, upper and lower decks on the home side, nine luxury suites, a refurbished visiting side, along with a weight room and new state-of-the-art turf. The Iowa commit and No. Oldham died in 2005 after he suffered a massive heart attack while riding his bike. That means under Cooper, Lawrence played in the state championship game 10 times. Union-Tuttle Stadium's upgrade was part of a large $126.8 million bond issue passed in 2019. This was a happy accident. NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers (2013-17), Jacksonville Jaguars (2018). McCaffrey, who also led Central Catholic to two state basketball titles, was an All-American wide receiver at Stanford in 1990 before embarking on a 14-year NFL career in which he won three Super Bowls and made an NFL All-Pro team and Pro Bowl team in 1998. The stadium is right below one of the two high schools that play there Stadium High School and has been there since the school was built in 1910. If you'd like to know about what kind of show they're running here, we'll reference the stadium's 3,000 box seats and chairback seats available to boosters, which bring in a reported $300,000 each year. As Webb City started winning state championships at a stunning clip 15 titles since 1989 the stadium grew along with it. Jones Stadium looks like what H.P. Harry A. Burke Stadium should consider a name change as should the high school. Stadium High School was originally conceived as a luxury hotel - but through a series of fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on who you are) events - the city of Tacoma bought the shell of the building and completed it in 1906. 1996 - The Washington Football Team wins their last game at . Friday Night Lights was based here for a reason. That's essentially what Andrew Whitworth is doing. Anderson spent two seasons on the practice squad for the Minnesota Vikings before making the roster for the Philadelphia Eagles. In Texas, high-school football is a very, very big deal. It has a huge outdoor Stadium next to it facing the bay. Benson donated $11 million dollars to expand the stadium from 15,000 to 22,400 seats in 2015. It was the only significant moment of Smith's NFL career.