The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Euclid excited to host Mentor-St. Edward
The beautiful home of the Euclid football team is now on the OHSAA’s radar.
The OHSAA announced Nov. 11 that Euclid Community Stadium will host the Division I, Region 1 championship game between topseeded Mentor and seventhseeded St. Edward. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 16.
The news brought a smile to Euclid athletic director Pat Higley. This is the first full year the new horseshoeshaped stadium was in use, so being granted a game the magnitude of the Division I, Region 1 championship game is a big deal to the school, Higley said.
“Finally. Finally, Finally,” Higley said in an excited tone. “It’s been a long time coming. It’s an exciting time of us and for our community.”
Higley said representatives from the OHSAA came to Euclid a handful of weeks ago to view the new facilities and discuss the potential for hosting a neutral-site playoff game this season.
Euclid’s football team was ousted from the playoffs last week via a loss to St. Edward. So when the opportunity arose for a Week 13 game, Higley and his staff were happy to oblige.
“Really, we are at an ideal location,” he said, pointing out Euclid’s proximity to Interstate 90. “We have the parking, the field — everything you’d want for an OHSAA playoff game. Area schedule
“We wouldn’t be in this position without the voters of Euclid who in 2016 said they wanted this. This is why we built the stadium first - it’s an avenue of revenue and instant credibility.”
Euclid Community Stadium seats around 6,700, Higley said. The school is looking into moving temporary bleachers at the north end of the stadium that would seat 300 at each corner for the bands from each school.
Higley said another perk to hosting a playoff game is the financial boom the community’s food establishments will get with fans coming in from out of town.
Because of road construction near the school, Higley said the best way to get to Euclid Community Stadium — either from the east (for Mentor fans) or west (for St. Edward fans) is to exit at Babbitt Road, go north to E. 239th St. then turn on to Tracy Ave.