Auburn Enlarged City Schools had the energy of a college football game for the grand re-opening of Holland Stadium. The Maroons’ homecoming game against Cicero-North Syracuse was the opening game on Auburn’s newly renovated turf field. The $2.8 million stadium was celebrated in a number of ways. Earlier in the week, the football team read to kindergarteners at Herman Avenue Elementary before heading to the turf field for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The team continued the tradition of walking two-by-two down the steps leading to the field and bursting through a homecoming sign held by the cheerleading team. Fans raved about the student section and socialized by the concession stands atop “the hill,” one of the remaining parts of the 79-year-old stadium.
Construction began in April 2017 on what superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo called the “best stadium in NY State.” He said the stadium is a culmination of research, meetings, and the work of hundreds of community members.
“This is for the kids and for the community, something we’ve waited for a long time to have,” Pirozzolo said. “It is just great to see it become a reality and that our kids will have equity amongst other teams in our league. We’re the last team in our league to have a turf field.”
Renovations also include new goalposts, benches, a handicap path, surrounding fence and a repainted “A” leading to the improved stadium staircase. Over 4,000 fans showed up to the 5,000-capacity stadium for the homecoming game. There is certainly a sense of pride in Auburn that will likely follow them into the rest of the season.