By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Coordinator
The season may have come to an end for the Hornets, but Bruce Field is still busy — and bringing thousands of people to Athens for football playoff season.
“Anytime we can bring people into our community, it is absolutely positive for the economy,” said Athens Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Lange Svehlak. “You hope even if they’re only here one time, they fall in love with your community and decide to come back at some point. You never know what can happen when they get a good impression. With the new ballfields and the renovated Bruce Field and the upcoming AHS gym, it’s going to keep growing.”
Five playoff games had already been scheduled in Athens as of this writing, with more expected to follow. That’s quite a change. The last two years, there were no playoff games at Bruce Field, and prior to that, according to Essary, AISD averaged one game a week for the three weeks of football playoffs.
“These games really help local businesses, which means more money from sales taxes for the community,” said Athens ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Paul Essary. “We average anywhere from 2,500 visitors for the smaller schools’ games to 6,000 for the larger ones. Many of those people eat and get gas here.”
Each playoff game also brings $3,100 to the district. Whatever is left after AISD staff is paid goes into the district’s general fund to benefit all students.
This past Thursday night, 3A Division 2 schools Mildred and Buffalo met at the Hornets’ newly renovated stadium. Friday night, the 5A schools Longview Pine Tree and North Forney went head to head in Athens. The day after Thanksgiving at 2:30 p.m., 4A Division 2 football powerhouse Celina will play the winner of the Atlanta/Jasper game. That same evening at 7:30, the winner of the Garrison/Elysian Fields game faces the winner of the Marlin/Clifton game in 3A Division 2 playoffs. Then the next day at 7:30, 2A Division 1 Rivercrest will play the winner of the Alto/Lovelady game. More games will likely be scheduled, said Essary.
“We never hosted Thursday or Saturday games before, or two games on the same day. Two games on the same day wasn’t even possible before this,” said Essary, referring to the new field house at Bruce Field, which has four player locker rooms. During the regular season, they accommodate the district’s boys and girls soccer teams, freshman/JV football, and varsity football.
“The only negative feedback we’ve gotten from schools who have been here or plan to be is about our old, small press box,” said Essary. “There’s just not enough room to accommodate everyone when it comes to the larger playoff games. But other than that, word has spread about the quality of our facility.”