Bazemore-Hyder Stadium

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
Image:DSC00005 small.jpg
Full name	Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
Location	Valdosta, Georgia
Built	1922
Opened	1922
Owner
Tenants	Valdosta High School, Valdosta State University
Capacity	11,249

Bazemore-Hyder Stadium is a stadium in Valdosta, Georgia. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Valdosta High School, the winningest high school football program in the nation. Valdosta State University also uses Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as a home field. The stadium holds 11,249 people and was opened in 1922. The original name of the stadium was Cleveland Field.

Cleveland Field is named after the late Dr. A.G. Cleveland who was Superintendent of the Valdosta City School System from 1919 until 1949. Although constructed in 1922, the field was not officially named until 1923.

He believed firmly in physical exercise and regularly cut the grass on the grounds of the old Valdosta High building before the days of power mowers. He was a strong support of all athletic teams during his 30 years as Superintendent.

In a resolution presented by the Valdosta Touchdown Club, the Board of Education officially named the stadium at Cleveland Field, Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on September 9th, 1996. Coaches Wright Bazemore (1941-1942,1946-1971) and Nick Hyder (1974-1995) combined for fifty years of service to our youth and community. Under their leadership, the Wildcats won six national titles, 21 of their 23 state titles and 282 Cleveland Field victories.

Bazemore-Hyder Stadium was the site of major renovations in 2004. Before these renovations, seating capacity was 10,349 fans. When the renovations were completed before the start of the 2004 fall season, the capacity increased to 11,249 which includes 7,749 reserved seats. As part of the renovations, the natural grass field was replaced with a synthetic field called Sprinturf.

v • d • e

College football venues in Georgia

Division I
FBS

ACC	Bobby Dodd Stadium (Georgia Tech)

SEC	Sanford Stadium (Georgia)

Division I
FCS

Southern	Paulson Stadium (Georgia Southern)

Independent	Ted Wright Stadium (Savannah State)

Division II

Gulf South	Bazemore-Hyder Stadium (Valdosta State) • Grisham Stadium (West Georgia)

SIAC	Albany Municipal Coliseum (Albany State) • Panther Stadium (Clark Atlanta) • Wildcat Stadium (Fort Valley St.) • B.T. Harvey Stadium (Morehouse)