Seeing people talk about state bowl game site. Where's the place you love to watch from? I love The Corral. But, Dunleavy Field in Sonora is awesome.. Concrete seats. Built in the side of a mountain. The smell of the ribs cooking. Everyone sits on same side on different ends. The players enter down to the field the stadium seats.. Classic. Went to Campolindo they sit on one side too. Funnest place. One of their fans had me laughing so hard my sides ached! One kid was going off for Oakdale. He kept saying can anyone stop #2 . Hey the ball is going to #2. For god sake can someone actually tackle #2,This was going on all night! They were great host's!
Best stadium to watch HS football?
- Thread starter Rocknrolus 95361
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I think an underrated venue is Washington HS in SF the best view of the Golden Gate in the background with the stands right on the field it’s pretty amazing
Del Oro in loomis and Placer in Auburn are really good small town atmosphere stadiums. Those places can be electric on a Friday night.
isn’t it nice to be back in the stands!
isn’t it nice to be back in the stands!
Folsom on a Friday night in the autumn. The blue turf with with lights at night, combined with some of the biggest crowds in HSFB in CA is amazing.
Go Folsom!
Go Folsom!
Nice to see Crete get a shout out!
Been to both! DLS at Del Oro. On another forum I met fans if the schools. Placer was there for track back in the bronze age! But the one football game the weather was awful! But Champ and wife hooked us up with a tailgate. And Placer has that one side seating too!. Once again why I love small town HS football! And yes it's great to be at games. Seeing your friends and and sometimes parents and grandparents at the game!
Can we all agree that NO stadium is even close to ideal until the temperature at kick off is below 58 degrees? Just saying.
I get you! Oakdale v Sonora game was traditional last game if year. Those concrete seats get cold up in them hills! Now it first game! Not the same!
Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton. The school was founded in the late 19th century. The campus is replete with ancient oak trees and other foliage. The place is like a huge park set in a quiet corner of what has become Silicon Valley. There is even a nuns' graveyard not far from the football field which is a splendid little affair that's perfect for a small school (600 students). No lights. Only one night game a year permitted by the town. Portable lights are brought in for that contest.
After attending the Folsom against Pittsburg game I have to say that I was not overly impressed. Beautiful campus and a great student section. But the stadium feels spread and as if it is in the middle of nowhere. I still think Pittsburg High School and Memorial Stadium in Napa are the best in NorCal. I think the Folsom folks will be impressed next year when they visit Pitt.
Another vote for Washington-SF especially with the 58 degrees factor and the fog creeping in over the Golden Gate. No lights though or tri-tip bbq.
Not to be pessimistic or anything but it's tough to believe any Bay Area venue being better than some of the SJS ones like Folsom, Del Oro, Auburn.
St. Francis, Valley Christian, Kezar Stadium (SHC home) are great venues. Serra's PA announcer alone is worth the trip to Brady Family Stadium. Napa's Stadium (shared by Vintage and Napa) is also a very nice venue.
Washington High also gets my vote!
https://www.maxpreps.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=ad5c15d8-f6f3-4f13-8b27-d79fc7f4c9f8&page=9
Washington High also gets my vote!
https://www.maxpreps.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=ad5c15d8-f6f3-4f13-8b27-d79fc7f4c9f8&page=9
I may be by myself on this but Folsom as a venue is way overrated. I can't stand the PA announcer doing play by play as well.
In the SFL: Del Oro, Rocklin and Oakridge all better venues imo. Nevada Union, Grant, Oakdale, West Park and Napa/Vintage are also pretty cool.
In the SFL: Del Oro, Rocklin and Oakridge all better venues imo. Nevada Union, Grant, Oakdale, West Park and Napa/Vintage are also pretty cool.
Recently visited Valley Christian for the first time. Cool stadium on top of a hill with 360 views of San Jose. I imagine it can get pretty nasty with wind/rain with nothing around to block it. Unique rounded press box and the team walks out from underneath through the middle of the bleachers. Pretty cool.
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Best stadium in the CCS is Salinas High and it's not really even close.
I think most people agree that the best stadiums are those without a track and the city of Salinas has two: Salinas High and Rabobank Stadium, which would probably be #2 on my list.
I've seen pictures of Napa and I'd love to see a game there someday.
I think most people agree that the best stadiums are those without a track and the city of Salinas has two: Salinas High and Rabobank Stadium, which would probably be #2 on my list.
I've seen pictures of Napa and I'd love to see a game there someday.
Yes VC is a really nice spot to watch a game
Folsom is nice…. But it does lack that environment that other schools have. It’s a bit of a concrete jungle. Oak ridge is a much more lively place because it’s more intimate. Honestly most of the new schools have crappy cookie cutter fields.
I know it’s not HS but many of the old Santa Rosa schools played at SRJC Bailey field and that is a great setting with the big oak tree near the end zone. One of the nicest JC around.
Best Venues I've been too:
Napa
Valley Christian
Paradise
Best Atmospheres:
Del Oro
Oakdale
Pittsburg
Napa
Valley Christian
Paradise
Best Atmospheres:
Del Oro
Oakdale
Pittsburg
I think Oak Ridge, BR, NU and Colfax are hometown intimate atmospheres...Folsom is nice but very open like others have said...it kind of reminds me of the open atmosphere of SRVH or MV high in Danville....
outside of CA...guthrie ok...historic town (1st capital of OK)...stadium is brick in a bowl like environment with concrete seats...very middle america football atmosphere...walk right out of the stadium to local restaurants, shops, etc.
outside of CA...guthrie ok...historic town (1st capital of OK)...stadium is brick in a bowl like environment with concrete seats...very middle america football atmosphere...walk right out of the stadium to local restaurants, shops, etc.
More Sacramento games should be played at Sac City. Great venue, tons of parking and plenty of local watering holes to wait at during a day of football.
Imo, too many local stadiums look the exact same. Really no difference in stadiums between most of newer sacramento schools from 2005-2019. Antelope, Folsom, Indy, M.T. are all cookie cutter. Some decent layouts for facilities and practice fields. Imo, Antelope has a sweet practice area above the stadium. Indy's layout kinda stinks as for as functionality. MT and Indy are similar in that the practice fields are a taxi ride away from the locker rooms.
In CCS- Not necessarily in order
Aptos High - Trevin Dilfer Football Field is nestled in a beautiful area. New modern field, with track and plenty of bleachers. Went there for first time and took a drive before the game and some great shots of the bay. A great barbecue smoke house restaurant near the school. For being on the Monterey Bay they get pretty good weather.
Salinas High - The Pit - great atmosphere and bleachers close to the field of play and nice tunnel for teams to enter the field. Last time there two seasons ago at Palma v Salinas game the bleacher wood benches needed to be fixed and a little run down where I was seated, but definitely a venue to experience in a big game.
Salinas Rabobank Field - Palma and North Salinas home stadium. Modern spread out and nice field. Would be great venue for a State Bowl game as far as size of the venue and nice screen for replays. Great tri-tip sandwich.
Sacred Heart Prep - Beautiful pristine school. Reminds me of an IVY league college. Field is nice but the scenery better.
Pacific Grove HS - Beautiful field and area with tall trees around the field. Only draw back is the fog. Remember playing a game there and the fog was so thick it basically stopped any passing game and was tough to see the RB taking a handoff. On a nice day is very nice field.
St Francis HS Ron Calcagno Field is a great venue. Beautiful school and nice bleachers.
St Ignatius HS San Francisco - always like the field right in the middle of the houses. Although parking is really tough but a fun city venue.
Los Gatos Helm Field (with the new turf) - beautiful area and decent bleacher space on both sides. I used to hate the long grass but new turf field is nice.
Saratoga HS is also nice. Nice area and field.
From an experience PoV and being very distinctly different and close to the action and old style field The Pit is a must see.
Many other sections I like, but got to say I enjoyed games at Sutter HS in the Northern Section. Loved the barbecue and the whole city was there and the ceremony with the Horses and the flag was great. Nice fans there as well. Also liked Oakdale HS - nice field and fans.
I've been to so many fields- have a list for NCS and SJS but too many to name.
Aptos High - Trevin Dilfer Football Field is nestled in a beautiful area. New modern field, with track and plenty of bleachers. Went there for first time and took a drive before the game and some great shots of the bay. A great barbecue smoke house restaurant near the school. For being on the Monterey Bay they get pretty good weather.
Salinas High - The Pit - great atmosphere and bleachers close to the field of play and nice tunnel for teams to enter the field. Last time there two seasons ago at Palma v Salinas game the bleacher wood benches needed to be fixed and a little run down where I was seated, but definitely a venue to experience in a big game.
Salinas Rabobank Field - Palma and North Salinas home stadium. Modern spread out and nice field. Would be great venue for a State Bowl game as far as size of the venue and nice screen for replays. Great tri-tip sandwich.
Sacred Heart Prep - Beautiful pristine school. Reminds me of an IVY league college. Field is nice but the scenery better.
Pacific Grove HS - Beautiful field and area with tall trees around the field. Only draw back is the fog. Remember playing a game there and the fog was so thick it basically stopped any passing game and was tough to see the RB taking a handoff. On a nice day is very nice field.
St Francis HS Ron Calcagno Field is a great venue. Beautiful school and nice bleachers.
St Ignatius HS San Francisco - always like the field right in the middle of the houses. Although parking is really tough but a fun city venue.
Los Gatos Helm Field (with the new turf) - beautiful area and decent bleacher space on both sides. I used to hate the long grass but new turf field is nice.
Saratoga HS is also nice. Nice area and field.
From an experience PoV and being very distinctly different and close to the action and old style field The Pit is a must see.
Many other sections I like, but got to say I enjoyed games at Sutter HS in the Northern Section. Loved the barbecue and the whole city was there and the ceremony with the Horses and the flag was great. Nice fans there as well. Also liked Oakdale HS - nice field and fans.
I've been to so many fields- have a list for NCS and SJS but too many to name.
Elk Grove (excluding the herd)is like one long strip mall. Boring. But that is just the way they build them now. If your hoop junkie like me you know the new gyms are the worse. Floors built on concrete. No bounce. The old style floors like sac high can’t be replaced.
Got to like the Hilltop field at VC,. Parking is a bear but there is a shuttle. One time I walked from parking i could find below the hill on the backside of the stadium and thought I could walk up from the back side of the field and up the hill. There was a cyclone barbed wire fence and the gate was closed. I ended up scaling the fence and when I got to the stands to meet my wife and son whom I dropped off at the top of the hill from the entrance (but no parking), I was asked why I had cuts and was bleeding on my forehead and hands. Needless to say the next time I went to a game at the top of the hill, I parked in the stadium parking lot about a half mile away and took the shuttle service. The view of San Jose lights is extraordinary at night from the bleachers.
When this topic has come up numerous times in the past I’ve said essentially the same thing as you. There’s a cold, empty feeling to Prairie City Stadium. It just doesn’t have a cozy, intimate feel to it. And the parking options make the experience even worse.
I have seen some truly fantastic games at the venue, specifically the 2009 Playoff games between Folsom-Del Oro and Rocklin-Grant Union. But it doesn’t rank very high on my list of favorite or top venues in NorCal. Outside of Folsom students, players, coaches, parents and residents I doubt many would mention it among their list.
Fans that aren’t old enough to have experienced it really missed out attending games at Hooper Stadium during Nevada Union’s hey day.
Despite NU’s steep decline the past decade, it still remains a fantastic venue to take in a game. @smashmouthrick and I attended the 2018 Section title game between Colfax and Bear River which ended up being a classic OT thriller. I last attended a game there in 2019 with my wife and 2 nieces who all loved it. Shout out to the Cowboy Bacon Burger!
Del Oro’s Golden Eagle Stadium is also a fantastic venue with about as good an atmosphere as you can get at a HS football game.
I attended last night’s Rocklin-Whitney game and with the game starting before darkness set it was reminded how much I enjoy the cozy intimate feel of Thunder Stadium as it sits beneath the hills. The design of the stands on the home side is also nice with plenty of room for the non-interest kids to hang out and party with their friends w/o interrupting anyone’s view. It really has a nice social experience to it.
Grant Union has always been a favorite, mostly due to the fans and band but I’m not sure how the experience is when they aren’t very good.
Oak Ridge became much better over the years, especially once they finally replaced the awful field.
I attended games at Colfax and Paradise (before the fires) several years back and both were very, very nice. Colfax had a Hooper Stadium-esque feel with the background of trees and Paradise had the classic small town vibe with the town shutting down and fans camped around the perimeter of the stadium to watch for free.
I haven’t yet been to West Park but it’s on my ‘to do’ list for this season and I’m looking forward to it.
These aren’t super nice stadiums to visits or anything, but I did have a fondness for attending games at San Juan’s MacArthur Field and El Camino’s Abbot Field back in their hey day. They were both the center of the SAC area football universe up until the early 90’s with the schools both being relevant at D1/D2 and with so many different games being played there from Thursday through Saturday every week.
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That’s a great story and sums up your passion for football!
I had a little different experience at Aptos. While i agree it is a great setting, I left 102 weather in Sacramento in early Sept in shorts and a t shirt, thinking nothing of it, only to arrive in a frigid cold foggy Aptos. Felt like sitting at Candlestick park 🥶
I can’t really share much of a take on HS football fields, having been to about 1% of the number of gyms I’ve been to…
But, just out of curiosity, how old is the current stadium at St. Francis?
I remember going to a DLS game at St. Francis years ago and remember the old stadium to be just dripping with Friday Night Lights atmosphere!
Gigantic old oak tree beyond the end zone, big old stands (kinda rickety), bbq smoke and aroma floating over the field…
But, just out of curiosity, how old is the current stadium at St. Francis?
I remember going to a DLS game at St. Francis years ago and remember the old stadium to be just dripping with Friday Night Lights atmosphere!
Gigantic old oak tree beyond the end zone, big old stands (kinda rickety), bbq smoke and aroma floating over the field…
