Best high school stadium
We had such a huge response in the nominations phase, and the nominees included many stadiums outside the metro Atlanta area. Since we like to leave some of the rules up to the readers, we decided we’d break the voting down into local and statewide facilities. Though we’ve confined our picks to the Atlanta area, we let you vote for both the local and the statewide stadium – and here are your winners.
YOUR PICKS (METRO ATLANTA)
Parkview's Big Orange Jungle
1) Parkview High School’s Big Orange Jungle
You said, “I went to a rival school and played in the Big Orange Jungle at Parkview and that place was pretty cool looking.”
2) McEachern High School’s Cantrell Stadium
3) Marietta High School’s Northcutt Stadium
4) Atlanta Public Schools’ Lakewood Stadium
YOUR PICKS (STATEWIDE)
Carrollton's Grisham Stadium
1) Carrollton High School’s Grisham Stadium
You said, “Has got to be Grisham Stadium-Maddox Track at Historic Trojan Field in Carrollton, Ga. That place is immaculate. Turf field, chair back-fold down seats, jumbotron, 2 story fieldhouse and 2 story press box.”
2) Ware County High School’s Memorial Stadium
3) Valdosta High School’s Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
4) Elbert County Comprehensive High School’s Granite Bowl
5) Dublin High School’s Shamrock Bowl
OUR PICKS
McEachern's Cantrell Stadium
1) McEachern High School’s Cantrell Stadium
Staff writer Larry Hartstein says, “Artificial turf, scenic backdrop, great atmosphere, rich tradition — what’s not to like?”
2) Brookwood Community Stadium
3) St. Pius’ George B. Maloof Stadium
5) Marietta’s Northcutt Stadium
And you might want to check out our list of Georgia’s best high school players in the AJC’s annual Super 11 or just take a look at the gallery of photos. Follow your favorite teams throughout the coming season on our high school sports page.
For a list of some of our state’s more interesting high school stadiums, or if you just want to find your way to one of them, take a look at our interactive map.
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377 comments Add your comment
AtlantaFan
August 17th, 2009
12:27 pm
Lakewood. No Doubt about it.
Rickster
August 17th, 2009
12:28 pm
I like the castle at Central Gwinnett HS. It looks dark & foreboding. Unfortunately, they never seem to be able to field a team that can take advantage of such an impressive structure.
VDawg
August 17th, 2009
12:28 pm
McConnell-Talbert stadium!! Warner Robins Georgia. Nothing else like it …….period.
Secret Weapon
August 17th, 2009
12:28 pm
Camden County Wildcats, who won the class 5AAAA State Champion last year have the best High School Stadium. Kinglsand, GA. The wildcat are the best ever!!! Will take it again this year.
ATLdawg
August 17th, 2009
12:29 pm
Impossible contest- too many great stadiums, too many great towns across this state.
Nathen
August 17th, 2009
12:32 pm
The Shamrock Bowl in Dublin has to be in the top 5 in the state. The field sits down in a bottom and there is no track around the field. You feel like you are right on top of the action. The Irish just got a new jumbo tron and a state of the art field house that sits atop over looking the field….If you have never been here on a Friday night, check it out.
FisheriesDawg
August 17th, 2009
12:32 pm
I don’t see any way you could select anything other than the Granite Bowl. Elbert County might not be what they were 8-10 years ago, but that stadium is much more unique than anything else in the state and can be incredibly loud when a large crowd is there. Put a powerful 5A team in that stadium and this isn’t even a question you have to ask because the answer is so automatic.
Eric
August 17th, 2009
12:33 pm
I went to a rival school and played in the Big Orange Jungle at Parkview and that place was pretty cool looking.
Waleska Dawg
August 17th, 2009
12:34 pm
Tommy Baker Field in Canton, Georgia
B-dubs
August 17th, 2009
12:34 pm
It has to be McEachern
Matt the Brave
August 17th, 2009
12:35 pm
Here’s a nomination for the hardest to pronounce: Thermopylae Stadium at North Springs High School (named for the famous battle where the Spartans held the Persians to the death). Most of the times it’s just called North Springs stadium, but it’s really named Thermopylae.
jmoss92
August 17th, 2009
12:36 pm
The Granite Bowl in Elberton, Georgia is easily the best high school football stadium in the state. I wish someone could post a pic to prove it.
PMC
August 17th, 2009
12:38 pm
The Concrete Palace in Valdosta is very nice. Brookwood did a good job for Falcons Training Camp.
Yo
August 17th, 2009
12:42 pm
Warner Robins is nice but the action is too far from the field because of the track. Any stadium with a track around it is automatically disqualified. Lowndes Martin Stadium (the concrete palace) is the best. Big. Close up action (no track). Good for watching the game on both Visitors and Home side. Valdosta (Death Valley) would be better but their visitors side is lacking.
Mr. Howell Mill
August 17th, 2009
12:44 pm
Grady Stadium handss down, from the visitors side you can see the Midtown skyline, truly a sight to see on crisp fall nights
Brad
August 17th, 2009
12:44 pm
McEachern High
Dawg Fan
August 17th, 2009
12:48 pm
The Granite Bowl in Elberton,GA. http://www.elbert.k12.ga.us/ecchs/granitebowl/granitebowl.html
VICK IN DA HOOD
August 17th, 2009
12:48 pm
McConnell-Talbert Staduim Warner Robins,GA Northside Eagle Pride !!
John
August 17th, 2009
12:49 pm
The Ten Best (in no particular order)
Grisham Stadium in Carrollton
Cleveland Field in Valdosta
Barron Stadium in Rome
McConnell-Tolbert Stadium in Warner Robins
Granite Bowl in Elberton
McEachern High School
Brodie Field in Tifton
Martin Stadium in Valdosta
Dalton High School
Shamrock Bowl in Dublin
I don’t automatically disqualify a stadium just because there is a track there.
Darrell Slaughter
August 17th, 2009
12:50 pm
TITLETOWN USA, Valdosta Wildcats , over 100 yrs of history, Plus the Valdosta Wildcats hall of fame, nothing like it
Jason
August 17th, 2009
12:53 pm
The Brickyard in Thomson, GA
elizabeth
August 17th, 2009
12:54 pm
It has to be the McEachern Stadium. Gorgeous campus and gigantic Indian.
Stingerman36
August 17th, 2009
12:56 pm
Tara Stadium but I am biased since I played there in the 1970’s!
Mac
August 17th, 2009
12:56 pm
Memorial Stadium in Waycross. Top shelf in every way. There are plenty of small colleges that would love to have that facility as their home field.
Stacy
August 17th, 2009
12:58 pm
Big Orange Jungle, Parkview
dellrott
August 17th, 2009
12:58 pm
Tiger Stadium, Commerce High School, Commerce GA. 2 state championships won on that field.
wolverine fan
August 17th, 2009
12:58 pm
Even though I am from Woodstock, I wouuls have to say Cherokee High. Old time feel for the game.
Jim Mora Jr.
August 17th, 2009
1:01 pm
Gotta nominate Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field, Forsyth, GA. Home of the Mary Persons Bulldogs.
Shern
August 17th, 2009
1:01 pm
Has got to be Grisham Stadium-Maddox Track at Historic Trojan Field in Carrollton, Ga. That place is immaculate. Turf field, chair back-fold down seats, jumbotron, 2 story fieldhouse and 2 story press box.
Stephen
August 17th, 2009
1:02 pm
Brookwood Community Stadium. It was paid for and built by the community, not by the government.
Shern
August 17th, 2009
1:03 pm
Not to mention 7 state championships, 20+ region championships, and one of the best bands you’ll see. The atmosphere is electric. The tailgating starts early.
kay
August 17th, 2009
1:04 pm
Valdosta’s Cleveland Field!
Laura
August 17th, 2009
1:12 pm
Has to be McEachern – big Indian, turf, huge stands & a nice jumbo-tron..not to mention the surrounding trees and beautiful college-like campus
IBleedRed&Black
August 17th, 2009
1:14 pm
I would have to say down south off 85 exit 47 in Newnan, Ga. Newnan High School not only have a nice stadium, but do you know the history behind it? Plus what an attraction. You have to see it to believe it! Just take a trip this season down to Newnan. It’s only 25-30 Mins south of Atl Airport. Hope to see ya!
Jerry
August 17th, 2009
1:15 pm
Enter your comments here
Bill Chappell stadium at Harmon Field, Dalton. NO track great football venue.
Parent
August 17th, 2009
1:17 pm
Stockbridge High Stadium- Oldie but a Goldie
Bill
August 17th, 2009
1:17 pm
With out a doubt you would have to include Grisham Stadium in Carrollton, GA. Also, even though it is not part of the question you need to come see the University of West Georgia’s BRAND NEW on Campus Stadium when it open September 5, 2009 at 7pm vs Lambuth. It is huge and NICE.
dave
August 17th, 2009
1:18 pm
North DeKalb Stadium on the Chamblee High School campus.
LawDawg
August 17th, 2009
1:19 pm
They have done a good job with the stadium and field at Starrs Mill High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. The checkerboard endzones look really cool.
Doug
August 17th, 2009
1:20 pm
New Archer HS Stadium. Really Nice (but I’m sure no one has seen it).
TylerWebb
August 17th, 2009
1:21 pm
Raider Valley, East Cobb.
Michael
August 17th, 2009
1:22 pm
Northcutt Stadium, Marietta. It isnt just like every other stadium where they have some nice concrete section on one side and some bleachers on the other. It is completely stone on both sides, and surrounded by stone walls that really inclose the field. It is unique because it isnt on a high school campus (anymore), as it has houses sitting at both ends of the endzone…the neighbors on the south side actually just sit up in their tree house to watch the game…or sit up on the stone wall…and of course do not have to pay.
I watched a youtube video some guy had of Northcutt from 1946, and the Stadium looks exactly the same. They used to play a thanksgiving classic there in the morning. We also have the big sky box now at the northeast corner, and the giant mural.
However, we would prolly get more points if the new Blue Devil mural did not look so dumb. The one I grew up with was a giant blue devil bursting through a brick wall…scared the pants off me, but gave Northcutt that really unique home feeling.
.....
August 17th, 2009
1:24 pm
Northcutt is a fanastic stadium
jw
August 17th, 2009
1:26 pm
Bill Chappell Stadium in Dalton – a good one -
Erik
August 17th, 2009
1:28 pm
Brookwood Community Stadium – nicest stadium in the state
FLDAWG
August 17th, 2009
1:29 pm
The Brickyard in Thomson GA
Ron
August 17th, 2009
1:29 pm
My kids don’t even go there, but McEachern is the best, by far, that I’ve seen.
Astro4Life
August 17th, 2009
1:29 pm
Lakewood, all day.
EW
August 17th, 2009
1:30 pm
Worthless debate. Do some actual legwork yourself and give us a top ten to debate. Where do I apply for a job, this paper is a joke.
EW
August 17th, 2009
1:30 pm
Or you can do what you did and have everyone just say their own team’s stadium.
PT
August 17th, 2009
1:30 pm
Garland Shoemake @ East Coweta is one of the best. Great atmosphere on Friday night
zulucanibal
August 17th, 2009
1:32 pm
Granite Bowl in Elberton, Georgia has to be one of the best nation wide…not just this state!!
JacketTracker
August 17th, 2009
1:33 pm
Phil Reeve Stadium in Calhoun. New AstroTurf a great improvement.
This is Jacket Country.
Angie
August 17th, 2009
1:33 pm
Home of the Fighting Irish the SHAMROCK BOWL!!
Alex H.
August 17th, 2009
1:34 pm
Halford Stadium (formally DeKalb Memorial Stadium). The new Decatur Stadium looks fantastic as well.
Kay Darnell
August 17th, 2009
1:36 pm
Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium, Rabun County High, Tiger GA. From the home team side of the field there is a wonderful view of the northeast Georgia mountains and if weather conditions are just right the sunsets are an artist’s delight.
CC
August 17th, 2009
1:37 pm
Northcutt Stadium is a dump – they haven’t done anything to improve that stadium in over 30 years. The visitors side is horrible.
McEachern has a nice facility
aztec
August 17th, 2009
1:38 pm
weslyean h.s. in norcross
aztec
August 17th, 2009
1:39 pm
im sure all DAWG fans would say bobby dodd stadium at ga tech
KJ
August 17th, 2009
1:39 pm
McEachern
DS
August 17th, 2009
1:39 pm
McEachern High, hands down. It is the nicest stadium in metro-Atlanta.
Kim Banks
August 17th, 2009
1:47 pm
Cheney Stadium
mike
August 17th, 2009
1:48 pm
Fahring Field (Collins Hill High School)- visiting bleachers seating is bigger than most home home seating in 5A. Locker room for visitors right underneath. Home side is goal line to goal line seating. Named after the late coach that started the program. Great community atmosphere.
BIG DAWG
August 17th, 2009
1:50 pm
Bobby Dodd.
I know a college team plays there, but it’s still a high school stadium.
ATL BUZZ
August 17th, 2009
1:50 pm
EAST HALL STADIUM – GAINESVILLE GA
GO VIKINGS!!!
ATL BUZZ
August 17th, 2009
1:52 pm
EAST HALL STADIUM – VAHLAHALLA – GAINESVILLE GA – HOME OF THE VIKINGS
The best around!!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
August 17th, 2009
1:52 pm
Without exception is is Cleveland Field. It is like going to Grant Field, it is unbelievable for a high school stadium. Second is the one in Dublin and third is the one in Elberton. Gainesville is similar. In metro Atlanta, I think Central Gwinnett is the best. The others like Parkeview and McEachern are no differn’t than any other big school like Martin Stadium at Lowndes or Lakewood.
CJ
August 17th, 2009
1:53 pm
Rickster,
I graduated from CGHS in 1991. The castle wasn’t there when I went to school and we either got our tails handed to us by Brookwood or Parkview. More so with Brookwood than the later of the 2.
shankit
August 17th, 2009
1:53 pm
Bazemore Hyder stadium at Cleveland Field.
22 State Championships
6 National Championships
Wildcat Museum
More history than any stadium in the country.
Sundawg
August 17th, 2009
1:54 pm
Memorial Stadium in Waycross, GA is without a doubt one of the best stadiums in GA.
Ramjet
August 17th, 2009
1:55 pm
Sanford Stadium.
I know a college team plays there, but the crowd still hasn’t graduated high school.
M-town
August 17th, 2009
1:55 pm
Northcutt was the first choice for the “Remember the Titans” movie, and would have been in the movie had the city not voted it down.
CJ
August 17th, 2009
1:56 pm
Just for curiosity’s sake….I went to Forest Park before moving to Central Gwinnett. Does Forest Park still use Tara Stadium???
Tennille
August 17th, 2009
1:56 pm
Grisham Stadium – Carrollton High School in Carrollton, GA … GO TROJANS!!!
Oglethorpe
August 17th, 2009
1:58 pm
The Granite Bowl in Elberton, Georgia. Played against them in high school. Has an old score board from Stanford Stadium, with the noise off of the granite bleachers it is very loud place to play.
Mstewar
August 17th, 2009
2:00 pm
Collins Hill High School – Fahring Field. GO EAGLES. The best in the state.
dano
August 17th, 2009
2:01 pm
Gainesville’s stadium is beautiful. Surrounded by mature Oak trees in a semi natural depression with natural grass…all right in the middle of town
AtlDawg
August 17th, 2009
2:03 pm
I would say that the Shamrock Bowl is for sure in the top 5 in the state. It sits down in the bowl, nice fieldhouse on the upper endzone and the town shuts down on a friday night for these games. During the state title game a few years ago,even the endzone was full of people,which i would say had between at least 20,000 people there, the tailgating before the game was even crazy. Hell those people even had planes with banners flying around, felt like a college game atmosphere…There are some great stadiums here in the metro area, but i really enjoyed my visit to the Shamrock Bowl….
Desiree
August 17th, 2009
2:05 pm
DEATH VALLEY – AVONDALE HIGH
eBuzz
August 17th, 2009
2:05 pm
Hughes Spalding Stadium at Marist. Looks like a high quality D-1AA stadium, is always full, and has Varsity hot dogs to boot.
TR
August 17th, 2009
2:09 pm
There is no other stadium that compares to Walter Cantrell stadium at McEachern High School.
Coach
August 17th, 2009
2:10 pm
Cherokee High School. Pops painted it all by himself with the help of very few people!!!!!! It looks better than when it was first built. Plus the Board of Education and administration helped with some other improvements.
Pretend like u don't know???
August 17th, 2009
2:12 pm
What high school stadium has a museum? Bazemore-Hyder Stadium aka Cleveland Field aka “Death Valley” Valdosta High
cambone43
August 17th, 2009
2:12 pm
Forsyth Central’s Dawg Pound. No doubt about it.
John
August 17th, 2009
2:12 pm
The North Georgia bias, or lack of knowledge about anything outside Metro-Atlanta, is obvious in this poll. Anyone who has been to Waycross, GA has seen the state’s finest high school football stadium. It is a school owned, not city owned stadium. This facility was once a minor league baseball stadium and the covered former “behind home plate” section is still a covered section and affords “weather friendly” seating for about 2,000 folks. The chairback seating in a large reserved seating area, and special seat placement in all home side seating is a special touch. With seating for 10,000, great parking, along with very good concession and restroom facilities make this absolutely the BEST HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM IN GEORGIA
TR
August 17th, 2009
2:18 pm
lol at you folks naming stadiums that share with colleges, used to be a minor league baseball stadium, owned by city of Atl, or any stadium in Gwinnett. Visit Mceachern’s and come back and change your answers.
Brad
August 17th, 2009
2:20 pm
Dalton High, Harmon Field!
Windell Parker
August 17th, 2009
2:26 pm
I’m from Valdosta but have lived in the metro area for 19 years. Have attended dozens and dozens of
games in many different stadiums. My first impression when I walk in one of them is: they call this
a football stadium. Two of the largest stadiums in the state are located in Valdosta, 1 for the
Wildcats and the other for the Lowndes Vikings. Valdosta completely rebuilt their stadium a few
years ago and it is a Masterpiece. There are many things to do and see there other than play
football, for instance, the walk of fame where players names are printed on bricks and form a walkway around photos and statues of former coaches, players and they have a museum. If you would like to see their stadium, go to http://www.valdostawildcats.com and click of one of the many
links that lead you to a picture review of everything, including a time-table of how the stadium was built. So, I beleive that Valdosta Bazemore-Hyder Field is No. 1 and Martin Field (Lowndes Vikings)
is No. 2. Just my opinion from all of the stadiums that I have visited in the state. Thank you.
Elberton GA Stadium
August 17th, 2009
2:28 pm
Pic of The Granite Bowl
http://www.footballfridaynight.com/collections/stadiums/GA/full/GraniteBowlMed.jpg
Tommy
August 17th, 2009
2:31 pm
House of Pain is Home of the WACO Hawks — Teams feel the PAIN when they play there — State Champs 94,96,97 — Takeo Spkies,Robert Edwards,Terrance Edwards,George Askew and the list goes on — Mention the House of Pain and teams cringe
benadawg
August 17th, 2009
2:31 pm
i am a chattooga graduate but to me the best playing field is Trions’ Sam R. Mccain stadium. the fans are right on top of the field.
Kevin
August 17th, 2009
2:34 pm
Memorial Stadium- Columbus GA – A beautiful stadium that seats between 25,000- 30,000. When you first see this beautiful stadium located in the middle of downtown Columbus you immediately see it has the look of the coliseum at Southern Cal. This stadium for a while played host to the Georgia vs Auburn games for a while back a long time ago. Carver high school plays their home games here but other schools also have some games scheduled here as well. (Jordan Vocational High School c/o 05)
Weve
August 17th, 2009
2:34 pm
Im not a fan of Valdosta, but anyone who doesn’t believe that valdosta wildcats dont have the best stadium has lost their mind. I can understand if you have never been to there stadium but if you have and you didn’t vote for it than you are wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!! There stadium is so nice, the two-time national champs of VSU would rather pay 10,000 a game to play there than build there own stadium. I have been all over the state since I coach and they have the best stadium by far.
Matt Smith
August 17th, 2009
2:36 pm
No doubt. Valdosta is the biggest and best. Title Town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt Smith
August 17th, 2009
2:37 pm
Valdosta = Title Town
The Big Show
August 17th, 2009
2:37 pm
The Bearcats Den home to the Bainbridge Bearcats. Holds 15,000 fans and has a big screen play by play score board.
Bacpacbill
August 17th, 2009
2:38 pm
Lucy C Laney High School,Augusta,Ga.
DT
August 17th, 2009
2:41 pm
The Jackets Nest in Thomasville,Ga.
Kevin
August 17th, 2009
2:42 pm
Memorial Stadium – Columbus Ga
http://www.columbusga.org/…/images/SC_MS01.jpg
http://www.worldstadiums.com/…/columbus_mc_clung.jpg
Old Dawg
August 17th, 2009
2:43 pm
The Granite Bowl, Elberton, GA. Ain’t nothing like it nowhere!