New Perry Meridian football stadium being contemplated
The idea of Perry Meridian High School getting their own competitive football stadium rather than sharing one with SHS is being explored by administrators of the township, and looks as if it would benefit both Perry Meridian and SHS.
Whether or not this idea will ever be made into a reality is unknown, but there seems to be conversation going on about it.
“There’s a stronger chance now in accomplishing this task than the eight years that I’ve been here,” Perry Township superintendent Dr. Thomas Little said.
For a project like this to ever come to fruition, there would need to be some moral support for it somewhere. Little ensured that such support is out there.
“We’re receiving strong community support for something like this,” Little said.
These statements support the idea that discussion about Perry Meridian getting a stadium is going on among the staff members of the township.
Little also ensured that Perry Meridian does have the land required to carry on with a project like this.
“There is enough space there to develop a competition field,” Little said.
The concept of Perry Meridian getting a football stadium does seem to bring with it some positives for their school.
Even shying away from the idea that Perry Meridian would no longer have to split a stadium with SHS, they would also save gas money.
“Perry Meridian would no longer have to get on a bus and drive across the district to get to their own home game,” SHS athletic director Pete Hubert said.
Hubert also thinks that if Perry Meridian were to get a stadium, it would not only benefit their football team but also inject a shot of positive moral amongst the rest of the students there.
“Something like that at the beginning of the school year sets the tone for the school year, and gets the kids excited,” Hubert said.
Speaking of student benefits, even SHS students would seemingly gain from Perry Meridian getting their own separate field, particularly the football players.
Perry Meridian getting a stadium would mean that SHS would no longer have to share one with their in Township rival.
“I’d actually be really happy with it,” SHS senior football player Justin Herring said. “Because I think as Southport, as a rival, we deserve it since we have beat them since the last 5 years.”
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David Miller • Aug 20, 2015 at 6:13 am
I would love to see to a Perry football stadium , but wasn’t it just a couple of years ago Perry Township was out of money and thinking of combining the two schools together. I think if it’s not coming out of public funds , and getting 100% private backing I’m all for it. I would rather see the public funds go towards maintaining the structures that exist . Also maybe upgrades for the safety of the students.
Nick Beard • Aug 18, 2015 at 4:10 pm
I think that it would help keep good players from leaving if are stadium was on campus and up to par with other 6A Programs. This community needs this more then ever. Our youth is our future let’s get them proud and out on the fields wether it’s band, soccer, football and lacrosse.
Lori Carpenter • Aug 18, 2015 at 3:20 pm
I am not in favor of this occurring, The stadium at Southport sits empty half of the time during football season. I do not see a problem with Perry Meridian using the stadium the half of the time it is empty. It doesn’t hurt the players to share a stadium Building a new stadium might decrease the fact that the Perry Meridian team would not have to travel the short distance to the stadium. However, the cost of the new stadium and maintaining the stadium would be far greater than the cost that is incurred to transport teams to the stadium. As a taxpayer, I have been hit with an increase in my property taxes twice in the past few years. Building a new stadium would surely require another tax referendum that would increase my taxes even more. Perry Township can not continue to ask the taxpayers to pay more and more just because something isn’t as convenient as they would like.