New Stadiums/ Renovations

[Illini Guru]

I believe Fenton in Bensenville is undergoing some sort of renovation with the installation if field turf etc. They started last fall.I also thought I heard that the football field at West Leyden in Northlake where the Leyden Eagles play their football games was going to have field turf installed. They created a field turf surface at East Leyden in Franklin Park for soccer which looks really nice. .

Leyden will be undergoing a complete renovation of its football stadium at its West campus in Northlake, but for the '25-'26 school year. Included is the installation of field turf (finally), new bleachers, press box and scoreboard. The scoreboard will not allow for video as it against Board policy to run advertising, which would have been necessary to justify the cost. Last year the stadium received a new track & concessions/locker room building on the north end of the stadium.

 

[MIKEFTB]

Leyden will be undergoing a complete renovation of its football stadium at its West campus in Northlake, but for the '25-'26 school year. Included is the installation of field turf (finally), new bleachers, press box and scoreboard. The scoreboard will not allow for video as it against Board policy to run advertising, which would have been necessary to justify the cost. Last year the stadium received a new track & concessions/locker room building on the north end of the stadium.

Awesome! I know they installed field turf at the East Leyden campus where the old football field was but it's used for soccer. Once the renovations are completed at West Leyden all of the WSC Gold schools will have field turf fields for football ..

 

[ignazio]

 

[corey90]

View embedded media

Nice field

 

[olderbytheminute]

I have no info on when all this was done ... it could have been done in previous years.
The past two days, travels have required me to drive north on Route 94 passing Old Orchard shopping mall and, more to the point, the adjacent Niles North High School.
I was stunned the first time I passed the school's football/soccer/baseball/softball athletic complex, and was totally rubber-necking as I passed it the second time.
Obviously, I couldn't stop on the expressway to take pictures, but hopefully one of Edgy's big supporters has access to the third floor of Niles North High School and can take pictures of the outdoor athletic complex.
It is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Stunningly amazing.
So impressive --- all artificial turf instead of regular grass on every field, including two football fields --- that I had to look up Niles North athletic history to see if the school is a powerhouse in some of the "minor" sports. I know they are an also-ran in football, but I had to find out for myself that they are not super-special in other outdoor team sports.
Anyway, whoever designed this athletic complex, that person should be working on the Bears' lakefront and/or Arlington Hts. plans.
It's that impressive.
Anyon driving north on Route 94 passing Niles North High to your right, relax a bit on the gas pedal and check it out for yourself. It's as impressive as I've seen and I've seen many in many many years of following high school sports in Illinois.
Gotta give the Niles North people credit for this effort.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

https://rtmec.com/portfolio/niles-north-high-school-turf-fields/

 

[olderbytheminute]

https://rtmec.com/portfolio/niles-north-high-school-turf-fields/

😀

 

[forlouann]

Wow !

 

[bgcordero]

i wish to play there its my senior year

 

[scrapper329]

Was at Sterling Friday it was a great stadium. Did a great job with the layout except visitors look into sun.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

JCA plans to build a stadium and other athletic facilities on the former Our Lady of Angels nursing home site.

 

[4Afan]

JCA plans to build a stadium and other athletic facilities on the former Our Lady of Angels nursing home site.

Joliet Catholic Academy Reveals Plans For Our Lady Of Angels Property

It is not uncommon to see high school football fields occupy land in or adjacent to residential neighborhoods in the region, Joliet noted.

patch.com

 

[johnndoe]

Was at Sterling Friday it was a great stadium. Did a great job with the layout except visitors look into sun.

Isn't this the case at the large majority of stadiums?

 

[USD24]

* Hanson Stadium

Hanson Stadium has new field turf they age also added what looks like additional bathrooms or locker rooms in the south end zone.

Many Catholic high schools called Hanson Stadium home for a long time.

Gordon Tech
Weber High School
St Patrick High School

I have fond memories of Hanson and those complaining it just added to the lore that was Hanson!!!

I still have scars from the rug burns I got from the Hanson Stadium turf 40 years ago.

 

[USD24]

Joliet Catholic Academy Reveals Plans For Our Lady Of Angels Property

It is not uncommon to see high school football fields occupy land in or adjacent to residential neighborhoods in the region, Joliet noted.

patch.com

I'll believe it when I see it!

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Any renderings?

 

[USD24]

Any renderings?

Havent seen any. The article indicates that the stadium will accommodate between 6-7k, with seating for 5,500. Will also include a new track and turf practice field as well as updating tennis courts and baseball and softball fields. Seems quite aggressive.

 

[JCHillmen]

Havent seen any. The article indicates that the stadium will accommodate between 6-7k, with seating for 5,500. Will also include a new track and turf practice field as well as updating tennis courts and baseball and softball fields. Seems quite aggressive.

In looking at the GPS and because they mentioned tennis courts, I assume they may be planning on knocking out the current tennis courts along Ingalls to make a walkway or parking lot heading to the new facility.

Agree that it is aggressive, especially if it includes overhauling existing baseball and softball facilities. I assume they have financial commitments to cover a percentage of this already, otherwise there is still a lot of work to be done to even get this off the ground.

And while the cost is large, there will be a savings of renting from the park district for football and both soccer programs. Also really would open up the possibility to host youth sports events and the ensuing revenue and potential recruitment benefits that brings about.

With the recent improvements and doubling down on wrestling as a critical sport for the school, it would be great to see a faciity upgrade like this launch a renewed commitment to track and soccer.

 

[nwfb99]

I still have scars from the rug burns I got from the Hanson Stadium turf 40 years ago.

House of Pain

 

[Dave Brody]

In looking at the GPS and because they mentioned tennis courts, I assume they may be planning on knocking out the current tennis courts along Ingalls to make a walkway or parking lot heading to the new facility.

Agree that it is aggressive, especially if it includes overhauling existing baseball and softball facilities. I assume they have financial commitments to cover a percentage of this already, otherwise there is still a lot of work to be done to even get this off the ground.

And while the cost is large, there will be a savings of renting from the park district for football and both soccer programs. Also really would open up the possibility to host youth sports events and the ensuing revenue and potential recruitment benefits that brings about.

With the recent improvements and doubling down on wrestling as a critical sport for the school, it would be great to see a faciity upgrade like this launch a renewed commitment to track and soccer.

Would be interesting to see. Also - how will Friday night tailgating be impacted??

 

[4Afan]

Any renderings?

Main reason I checked out the article. Who doesn't love a good rendering?

 

[pjjp]

I'll believe it when I see it!

Gonna require some major fund raising.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Main reason I checked out the article. Who doesn't love a good rendering?

That is the only reason I clicked on the thread!

 

[JolietWest89]

My parents live right by JCA and I want to see a traffic study. Ingalls Avenue is already bad.

 

[JolietWest89]

good news especially for my parents who live nearby.

New Football Stadium For Joliet Catholic Academy Meets City Hall Resistance

The petitioner Joliet Catholic Academy believes the multi-purpose athletic field will have a capacity between 6,000 and 7,000 people.

patch.com

 

[JCHillmen]

good news especially for my parents who live nearby.

New Football Stadium For Joliet Catholic Academy Meets City Hall Resistance

The petitioner Joliet Catholic Academy believes the multi-purpose athletic field will have a capacity between 6,000 and 7,000 people.

patch.com

I really don't understand the opposition. I get the NIMBY movement that have held up improvements at many suburban campuses over the years, but this one seems like a choice between an academic/athletic setting or getting rezoned to commercial (Dollar General) or residential (fairly low cost rentals).

As a nearby resident, that is an easy tradeoff. I will take the 4-6 nights a year of fairly heavy traffic over just about any other option. Unless the Franciscan sisters were to just nicely beautify the property into a park, I don't see many options better than a football field and tennis courts.

I am sure the school can satisfy any of the city's concerns on traffic as they have a lot of largely unused athletic space behind the adjacent shopping center that could easily be used for special event parking a few times a year in addition to the several hundred extra parking spaces this development would bring.

I have seen no plans or anything, but it seems like this issue being tabled today is just delaying the inevitable (if they have the requisite funding plan in place).

 

[Dave Brody]

I really don't understand the opposition. I get the NIMBY movement that have held up improvements at many suburban campuses over the years, but this one seems like a choice between an academic/athletic setting or getting rezoned to commercial (Dollar General) or residential (fairly low cost rentals).

As a nearby resident, that is an easy tradeoff. I will take the 4-6 nights a year of fairly heavy traffic over just about any other option. Unless the Franciscan sisters were to just nicely beautify the property into a park, I don't see many options better than a football field and tennis courts.

I am sure the school can satisfy any of the city's concerns on traffic as they have a lot of largely unused athletic space behind the adjacent shopping center that could easily be used for special event parking a few times a year in addition to the several hundred extra parking spaces this development would bring.

I have seen no plans or anything, but it seems like this issue being tabled today is just delaying the inevitable (if they have the requisite funding plan in place).

That’s a good point - considering the alternative of having the property rezoned for commercial would be worse. The traffic on game days is the least of the worries, it’s only temporary and shouldn’t be overblown.

If JC has the funds and they go for it - great. With or without the stadium, the trick of continuing to have a strong enrollment will always be a challenge.

 

[MC63]

Week 2 is still TBD. As it stands now there are 2 home games scheduled to be under the lights:

Week 3 vs St. Francis
Week 4 vs Brother Rice

Week 7 is the only other home game (Providence) but that is scheduled to be Saturday as of right now.

Your game against MC isn't under the lights? What a shame. You could charge $50 a ticket. METV would certainly cover it.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Your game against MC isn't under the lights? What a shame. You could charge $50 a ticket. METV would certainly cover it.

The post you replied to is from May of 2024.

 

[MC63]

The post you replied to is from May of 2024.

Oops

 

[pjjp]

good news especially for my parents who live nearby.

New Football Stadium For Joliet Catholic Academy Meets City Hall Resistance

The petitioner Joliet Catholic Academy believes the multi-purpose athletic field will have a capacity between 6,000 and 7,000 people.

patch.com

It’s just a delay. Cities do this all the time to pacify residents affected by a new development. If JCA has the financing and wants it done, it will happen.

 

[kpjasion]

I still have scars from the rug burns I got from the Hanson Stadium turf 40 years ago.

I still have a knee that sometimes goes out walking down stairs and surgery scars from Hanson Stadium turf 47 years ago.

 

[StL_Alum]

I still have a knee that sometimes goes out walking down stairs and surgery scars from Hanson Stadium turf 47 years ago.

Does Hanson still have those orange lights?

 

[nwfb99]

Does Hanson still have those orange lights?

No they replaced them with white lights years back

 

[LTHSALUM76]

It’s just a delay. Cities do this all the time to pacify residents affected by a new development. If JCA has the financing and wants it done, it will happen.

I agree. I think it will get done too and you are right on target to say cities do this all the time to pacify residents affected. Then after they do that, they go on with their plans.

I remember when the planned building of a Walmart was going on here in Lockport. A ton of residents in the nearby neighborhood went to the meetings and raised hell. They raised "safety issues" since the store was planned so close to the high school. I told them they were wasting their time and that store is going on that property. Well, the store has been there for years. I am not comparing a beautiful stadium to a Walmart. LOL. But this kind of thing happens all the time.