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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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
380 comments Add your comment
BChitwood
August 17th, 2009
2:43 pm
Commerce High School football field. Years of tradition; 2 state championships won on the field; and a tremendous sense of tradition! Go Tigers!
Go Dogs
August 17th, 2009
2:45 pm
Take a look at the new stadium at Decatur High School in Decatur, GA. Its brand new and state of the art. Its beautiful, best I have ever been to.
Dejay
August 17th, 2009
2:50 pm
Having been a football official for over 20 years, I’ve seen many high school stadiums in this state. So let’s restart this argument by having a few qualifiers….
If your school’s stadium has a track surrounding the field, it DOESN’T qualify. The additional 20-30 yards separating the stands from the action makes all the difference in the world; you might as well not have anyone in the stadium because no matter how hard the fans try, you’ll hardly hear any noise they make on the field. Trust me on this one. Besides, we’re looking for the best high school FOOTBALL stadium, not the best multi-purpose facility.
The next one is a biggie. If your school’s stadium is also the home of TEN OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS IN YOUR COUNTY/DISTRICT, IT DOES NOT QUALIFY. So fans of the APS, Dekalb County, and Clayton County squads can feel free at this time to hit the back button and peruse other sites on the internet because Lakewood, Grady, Tara, North Dekalb, Adams, 12 Oaks, Panthersville, Avondale, and Hallford (Dekalb Memorial) Stadiums should never, EVER be included in this discussion. Regional/Shared stadium are absolutely HORRIBLE setups for home-field advantage because you can never mold the place into the image of your school and its community. Those places always have an antiseptic, cookie-cutter feel to them because they are all-inclusive to every school in its county or district. You don’t get the school colors, the logos, the championship banners, and all the other intricate things which makes one stadium different from the one six miles away. In fact, if you were visiting a place like Adams Stadium for the first time, you wouldn’t know who the home team was unless the PA announcer told you. Sure, Lakewood and Hallford looks great on camera when a packed house is there to see Stephenson and Mays is getting it on but happens to it when perennial doormats like South Atlanta and Cross Keys is playing there in front of 150 fans on a Saturday afternoon?
Now that we’ve eliminated all the ‘pretenders’ who’s left? Mind you, we’re looking for best high school FOOTBALL stadiums in the state, not track and field ones. So we need photos here, not just the story of when your school won the region thirty years ago in front of 400,000 strong at (insert stadium here)…..
T Bill
August 17th, 2009
2:50 pm
Lowndes joint is a dump. They will never get all the ‘baccer juice off the seats on the visitors side.
GA DAWG
August 17th, 2009
2:51 pm
The Granite Bowl in Elberton is by far the best high school stadium around. There is nothing like a Friday night in Elberton in the Granite Bowl with hundreds of fans cheering on their Blue Devils. That stadium is the best I’ve ever gone to play in.
Paddy
August 17th, 2009
2:51 pm
After seeing pictures of the Granite Bowl and the Valdosta HS stadium, it would be hard to keep them out of the top 5.
Dawg95
August 17th, 2009
2:52 pm
I played for the Elbert County Blue Devils. Nothing like the Granite Bowl anywhere. It’s quite an experience. In recent years though, they expanded the jail that is right behind the field and the big fences and razorwire are very visible from the stadium. They should build a big wall to hide that or something imo.
DunwoodyDawg
August 17th, 2009
2:55 pm
The Granite Bowl, Northcutt Stadium just a plain scary place to play, and Cleveland Stadium are my tops. And for Big Dawg, “Bobby Dodd” touche LOL!!
Keith
August 17th, 2009
2:57 pm
I haven’t been to some of the biggies like Valdosta, but out of the ones that I have been to or coached at, mostly in North Metro, I would say that Milton HS Stadium is very nice. Which do you like better?
Roswell
Wheeler
Alpharetta
Chattahoochee
Walton
South Forsyth
West Forsyth
Etowah
McEachern (which I have seen many like)
Pope
Centenial
Northview
HanDAWG
August 17th, 2009
3:04 pm
Marietta High’s Northcutt Stadium
J. Young
August 17th, 2009
3:06 pm
Finklea-Robinson in Americus GA. Fantastic view, no bad seat in the house. History of winning and community pride over the years. Fantastic bowl end for people to sit also.
shankit
August 17th, 2009
3:09 pm
Kevin
Being from Valdosta, I think Cleveland Field is the best, but
I agree Memorial Stadium in Columbus is tops.
It holds many memories for old Wildcat fans.
Wildcats win two Peanut Bowl victories (national championships)
in the 50’s against Milt Plum and Springfield Massachusetts and a private school
from Tennessee, plus all the games we played against Jordan,
Columbus High, Baker. Lots of memories.
Nobody mentioned the old stadium in Macon, lots of memories there
against Willingham and the ol’ Lanier Poets (See Isaac “Jackson” run)
PMC
August 17th, 2009
3:10 pm
Northcutt is cool just for the old school in town historical community feel of it.
Fieldturf is great for the maintence aspect and it always looks nice, but for whatever reason I just prefer natural grass.
Duston
August 17th, 2009
3:10 pm
Has to be Cantrell Stadium at McEachern. Nothing like that Indian helping the defense!!!
shankit
August 17th, 2009
3:13 pm
T Bill
“Lowndes is a dump???”
Must have gotten your arse whipped here
a few times.
Jack
August 17th, 2009
3:14 pm
Collins Hill- Made from the concrete of Olympic Stadium that was removed for the Turner Field configuration. All they had to pay was the shipping cost.
Okefenokee Dawg
August 17th, 2009
3:20 pm
Not from there, but the best I’ve seenis Memorial Stadium in Waycross. And, I think I’ve seen most of them south of Macon. Far superior to the two in Valdosta.
The BIG Boss Man
August 17th, 2009
3:23 pm
I agree 100 percent with Dejay’s comments … especially the one about “football” stadiums that have a track around the field.
Having seen more than 300 high school games all over Georgia during the past 25 years, here are the stadiums that really stand out to me:
Cairo – West Thomas Stadium
Claxton – The Pecan Grove
Dublin – The Shamrock Bowl
Elbert County – The Granite Bowl
Tift County – Brodie Field
Toombs County – Booster Stadium (aka The Pit)
Valdosta – Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
Ware County – Memorial Stadium
Most of you may be surprised by the inclusion of Claxton, which hasn’t fielded a good team in a long time, but its stadium is unique. There are/were bleachers on both sides of the field and in one end zone, and the stadium is surrounded by pecan trees, which act as a type of “dome” that really amplifies the sound of cheering fans. Just a great, intimate environment for small-town football.
The stadiums at Camden County and Lowndes have all of the amenities, and, obviously, they host some great football, but they just don’t enough “personality” to make my list of “best” stadiums.
Eastcobbmomm
August 17th, 2009
3:23 pm
Raider Valley, Walton H.S. Go Raiders!!!
H.T.
August 17th, 2009
3:26 pm
The Reservation, Toccoa, GA, home of the Stephens County Indians. WAR PARTY
mike
August 17th, 2009
3:43 pm
Big Orange Jungle- Lilburn, GA!
Pat
August 17th, 2009
3:43 pm
Milton High School has the greatest football field, even though its rather new. Its just like the small college fields! Great track, field is beautiful and the giant scoreboard and everything around it is exceptional!
GA Boy
August 17th, 2009
3:45 pm
“The House of Pain” home of the Washington County Golden Hawks is a great place to watch a game on friday nights.
UGAGRAD02
August 17th, 2009
3:46 pm
Any stadium that doesn’t have a track around it!!!! Tommy Baker Field @ Cherokee, and Northcutt Stadium are two of nicer tradional stadiums in the metro Atlanta area.
HC Mom
August 17th, 2009
3:48 pm
Ola HS has a great Stadium!
chstrojans09
August 17th, 2009
3:51 pm
Grisham Stadium.. Home of the Carrollton Trojans! No doubt the best football stadium in the state!
Villa Rica DAWG
August 17th, 2009
3:51 pm
Walter Cantrell Stadium at McEachern High School in Powder Springs. Home of the Indians.
Carolyn Wilder
August 17th, 2009
3:52 pm
I don’t know about ATL, but the best football stadium in GA is in Elbert County. The Granite Bowl. It is old but just like Fenway,it has loads of personality. Since Elbert county advertises itself as the Granite Capitol, it is very appropriate.
Jimmy
August 17th, 2009
3:52 pm
Callaway Stadium in LaGrange. Home of the Troup Tigers, LaGrange Grangers and Callaway Cavaliers. Also used by the LaGrange College Panthers. Built by the Callaway Foundation and opened in 1958. Still looks brand new, especially since FieldTurf was added about three years ago. Beautiful stadium to watch a high school or small college game. Mike Daniel said it best, “coming to you tonight from between the mills”. Callaway Stadium is located between Elm City Mill and Hillside Mill, which are owned by the Milliken Co. Great landscaping and sight lines from inside and also from outside on Dallis St.
Bill from Dublin
August 17th, 2009
3:59 pm
Although I really love Memorial Stadium in Waycross, the Shamrock Bowl in Dublin has to be in your top 5 if you’ve ever been there!
If you haven’t been there, do yourself a favor and come watch some high school football like it is supposed to be watched!
Otto
August 17th, 2009
4:45 pm
McEachern
Bev Ex-Irish
August 17th, 2009
4:55 pm
Although I have not been to some of the larger school stadiums, I will agree that a track around the field takes away from the aesthestics as well as the noise level from the fans to the players and the players (hits, etc.) to the fans. The Shamrock Bowl in Dublin, GA is as nice a field as any I’ve seen!
Legend of Len Barker
August 17th, 2009
4:59 pm
Old Sid Strickland Stadium (Pearson)
Lanny Roberts Stadium (Ocilla) – the one on the golf course
Pelham – stadium name unknown
Red Devil Fan
August 17th, 2009
5:18 pm
Warren P Sewell Field at Bowdon High (big home field advantage for the Red Devils). Home of 2 state championship teams. Fans sit right on top of the action. Not a bad seat in the house.
charlene
August 17th, 2009
5:37 pm
Has to be Irwin County’s Indian Field brand new state of the art facilities! Looks awesome!
BigBlueCaddy
August 17th, 2009
5:45 pm
Northcutt Stadium is one of the top venues in the State. The Blue Devils have been playing in this stadium since its dedication in 1940. It was built as part of the Civil Conservation Corps in the late ’30s. The old stone wall that surrounds the stadium is built from stone collected from near-by farms. Unlike more recent stadiums, there is no track around the field so you are very much on top of the action. Very intimate. On brisk fall nights, neighbors at the south end have a bonfire, and often sit atop the wall. Recently the locker rooms were renovated and there are more improvements to come once budgets are available. There’s been a lot of history made at Northcutt, and a wonderful football program dating back to 1913, one of the state’s most enduring programs.
MPDawg
August 17th, 2009
5:56 pm
Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field in Forsyth. Home of the Mary Persons Bulldogs. There is no track around the field so fans can get an up close view of the game.
Tiger Fan
August 17th, 2009
6:12 pm
Swainsboro has a new surface and a nice facility. Photos can be seen on the website http://www.swainsborotigerathletics.com
redneck hillbilly
August 17th, 2009
7:00 pm
booby dodd a high school team plays there.
Jimbo
August 17th, 2009
7:02 pm
Y’all are slap nuts. The coolest stadium on the planet HAS to be Pickens county. Sitting there looking out at the mountains, it’s the best. Maybe if the AJC still had any readers left north of Dawsonville, someone would have already mentioned this.
69 Dawg
August 17th, 2009
7:05 pm
City Park Stadium in Gainesville. The Red Elephants have the nicest, highest quality field and surroundings in Georgia. Rich in tradition and of the highes beauty and quality. City Park can’t be beat for a Friday night football game.
Gator
August 17th, 2009
7:07 pm
Definitely NOT any of the DeKalb County stadiums!
Dave
August 17th, 2009
7:19 pm
Memorial Stadium in Waycross.
wildcat fan
August 17th, 2009
7:24 pm
Chris Gilman Stadium In Kingsland Ga, Home of 2008 AAAAA state Champs. The Camden County Wildcats.
bbcsickdawg
August 17th, 2009
7:24 pm
bobby gruhn field gainesville red elephants
Jim morrison
August 17th, 2009
7:24 pm
Lambert High School, Forsyth CO or Hyder Bazemore (Cleveland Field) Valdosta, GA.
Keno
August 17th, 2009
7:38 pm
#1 Valdosta, Cleveland Field at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
#2 McEachern
#3 Parkview, Big Orange Jungle
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT
August 17th, 2009
7:55 pm
Starrs Mill
Josh
August 17th, 2009
8:05 pm
THE GRANITE BOWL… I went to a rival high school. We hated everything about Elbert County. But, I have to say there is absolutely nothing like the Granite Bowl. I don’t care how new your stadium is etc. the Granite Bowl is the most unique place you can watch a game. The razor wire of the jail house fence is behind the away fans. i mean come on.
Go West
August 17th, 2009
8:11 pm
Georgia’s are nice but……There’s only one state with decent high school football or stadiums – TEXAS, the number 1 state for high school football.