James Griffin Stadium
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Griffin Stadium | |
Full name | James S. Griffin Stadium |
Nickname | "The Jimmy", "The Griff" |
Built | |
Opened | |
Capacity | 4,367 |
Home of | Central High School (Saint Paul, Minnesota) (football, soccer, track and field), Concordia University, St. Paul (football and soccer), Minnesota Thunder (USL). |
James Griffin Stadium is a 4,367-capacity stadium in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Although it is located on the grounds of Saint Paul Central High School, it has a professional sports tenant in the Minnesota Thunder. It is also home the Concordia University, St. Paul's Football and women's soccer team. It also is a venue for three high schools in the Saint Paul public school district who do not have a football stadium of their own; Arlington, Como Park, and Johnson being the three who use this facility.
The stadium, affectionately dubbed "The Jimmy" by Thunder supporters and "The Griff" by Concordia fans, was originally named Central Stadium. It was renamed in 1998 for James S. Griffin, the first black police captain in St. Paul, as well as an athlete and athletic official.
James Griffin Stadium has seen a significant number of changes in this decade to the stadium. Powerful halogen lights were installed in place of old light poles that were placed in front of the bleachers. The old lights were known to block some viewing angles from fans as well as television crews.
In 2003, the grass surface was removed from the field and replaced by artificial turf. This was a welcome move by many Central and Concordia athletes, as the grass surface was torn up by the high amount of football and soccer games in the fall.
In addition to sporting events, James Griffin Stadium has been the host site for the Rondo Days drill team competition numerous times.
Current Stadiums in the USL First Division |
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Silverbacks Park | Kezar Stadium | SAS Stadium | Blackbaud Stadium | Tropical Park Stadium | James Griffin Stadium | Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard | PGE Park | Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium | PAETEC Park | Qwest Field | Swangard Stadium | Virginia Beach Sportsplex |