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Restoring Rayen tradition
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
Daveon Harris says the East High School football team will show the community what it can do once Rayen Stadium is rebuilt.
“We’ll be glad to show you all what we can do on this field,” the junior said Friday during a groundbreaking ceremony for the stadium on the city’s North Side.
Izaiah Beacham, also a junior, looks forward to playing on a home field, too.
“We’ll have so many memories on this field,” he said.
City high school football players haven’t played on a home field since 1993. The plan is for the next game — East vs. Ursuline — to be played there at 2 p.m. Aug. 25.
The $3 million project plan is to renovate the dilapidated Rayen Stadium to its former glory and for it to be ready for the upcoming football season. The stadium was built in 1924.
The cost is estimated at $3 million and includes synthetic turf, lighting, locker rooms, concession area, public restrooms, press box, storage and parking area and updated seating to accommodate 7,000 fans.
About $1.7 million has been raised so far; $1 million was designated for the project by the city school board from money generated through the sale of bonds as part of the Ohio School Facilities Commission project to rebuild school buildings. That money can be used only for capital improvements.
Ed Matey, district athletic director, said the stadium renovation plan started about three years ago at the suggestion of Wendy Webb, former superintendent.
Superintendent Connie Hathorn, who started with the district in late 2010, said he attended a pep rally at East earlier this year for the school’s homecoming.
“They had to go to Warren to play,” he said. “That’s not right.”
Without a home stadium, East played 10 games away last season.
Jim Tressel, former head football coach at both Youngstown State and Ohio State, and the Rev. Dr. Lewis Macklin of Holy Trinity Baptist Church are co-chairmen of the stadium project committee.
“This is all about you and the young people that are going to come after you,” Tressel told the players, cheerleaders and band members at the ceremony. “Maybe we’ll host a playoff game here soon.”
Rayen graduate Richard Atkinson, a school board member and chairman of the board’s sports committee, said that when he was a student, the stadium would be filled every Friday night.
“The dream is for it to be like that again,” he said.
To make a pledge, call 330-740-8773, or send donations to Youngstown City School District, Rayen Stadium Renovation Fund, P.O. Box 550, Youngstown, OH 44501-0550. Information is available at www.rayenstadium.org and the Facebook page called It’s Time for a Comeback at Rayen Stadium.