The ribbon is cut, the gates are open & events began Friday
By RICHIE HALL
In less than three weeks, the first Noblesville football game of the season will be played at the brand-new Beaver Stadium.
And Miller fans will be very impressed when they get a chance to see it.
Noblesville Schools officially dedicated the new stadium Friday morning. The facility features 50 percent more seating capacity, expanded and concession stands and restrooms, a new two-story press box, and those are just the highlights.
Beaver Stadium, located off Field Drive behind Noblesville High School, will be home to Miller football, band, track, and other activities and is the first new Noblesville stadium in over 50 years.
A breakfast preceded the dedication remarks and official ribbon cutting. Noblesville Schools superintendent Dr. Dan Hile, Noblesville High School principal Dr. Craig McCaffrey and Noblesville Deputy Mayor Matt Light spoke at the event. Noblesville High School senior Maddux Morrison sang the national anthem.
Hile thanked those in attendance and said “we look forward to many years ahead of making special memories at Beaver Stadium.” Former superintendent Beth Niedermeier and former assistant superintendent David Mundy were both in attendance as well.
“I can’t tell you how much this space means to our students, our athletic teams, coaches and our music directors,” said McCaffrey. “Creating adequate space for all of our programs, not just at this facility, but through the use of our old facility now for our club sports and other events, sends a strong message about the values and how much we hold our students dear.”
Once the ceremonies were complete, those in attendance were taken on tours of the new stadium, including the press box and the team locker rooms. While the Millers will still dress at their high school locker room, they now have another locker room near the field, which features team rooms and an athletic training center. In addition, the high school locker room is only a short walk to the new field.
Former Noblesville High School athletic director Tony Oilar points out the amenities of the press box at the new Beaver Stadium, which was officially dedicated on Friday. The press box is now two stories, with expanded seating for media, workers and coaches, and has state of the art technology. (Richie Hall)
Beaver Stadium replaces the old Beaver Materials Field that was located on Harrison Street. That stadium opened in 1969, as the Dale V. Swanson Athletic Field, with the first game played at that field on Sept. 19 of that year. Articles in the Noblesville Ledger mentioned rave reviews of the then-new field.
But that was almost 53 years ago. Back then, the population of Noblesville was 12 percent of what it is today, and around 800 students attended the high school. Today, Noblesville is the 11th biggest high school in Indiana with well over 3,000 students. The Millers needed a field that was able to accommodate the fast-growing community.
A new stadium build was found to be more cost effective than adding on to the existing facility. The district financed the approximately $14 million project through a bond (loan) with no referendum dollars, no increase to the tax rate, and no use of student or staff funding.
The new stadium could comfortably handle every single NHS student and then some, as the home bleachers total 4,507 seats. There will be designated areas for the Millers band, students and season ticket holders. The visiting bleachers total 1,465 seats.
“Having 50 percent more capacity to seat everyone is going to be amazing,” said Noblesville football coach Dave Sharpe, who was also in attendance. “So we’re very excited. Three weeks from today, we will be here with thousands and thousands of Miller fans watching us play Mount Vernon.
Noblesville’s game with the Marauders will kick off the high school football season on Aug. 19. The new stadium has already seen some activity, as it hosted track and field meets during the previous spring. And of course, the Millers football team has been using it for practice all summer.
“It’s kind of ironic, because is the grand opening,” said Sharpe. “For us, it doesn’t feel like it. It’s been a part of our lives for many, many months now. And it already feels like home.”
Beaver Materials purchased naming rights to the stadium in a deal valued at $250,000 over five years. Other stadium sponsors include McGavics Outdoor Power and the Gordon Family; they will each sponsor one of the concession stands. Body in Training is the sponsor of the new athletic training center.