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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380 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.