Thirlby Field
Thirlby Field, also known as Harry Running Stadium, is a 7,000-seat football stadium located in Traverse City, Michigan. It was built in 1934 on a site where football has been played since 1896. It is the home of the Traverse City Central Trojans, Traverse City West Titans and St. Francis Gladiators football teams.
History
Thirlby Field originally ran north and south along Pine Street when play began in 1896. The current configuration was originally built in 1934 and was one of the first lighted athletic fields in Northern Michigan. The stadium seated 5,000 until 1995 and is the only football stadium in Traverse City. Seating was enlarged to approx 7,000. Some notable games over the years have seen standing room crowds of 3 deep at the famous white fence of 10,000 to 12,000 fans. Some of the most memorable high school football games have been played here through the years. Traverse City had always been a force in football across the state beginning with the teams in the early part of the 20th century. Having always been a team on top of the standings for years; In the wild 1920's and 1930's TC was challenged by Dearborn as not being the best team in the state. At the end of one specific season the gridiron team from Traverse stated "...they would play anyone any place any time and beat them...", ..and they did so. TC met Dearborn at Alma College field and TC beat them soundly. In the recent history, the 40-year tenure (1950–1991) of Coaching legend Jim Ooley and his teams contributed to some of the most memorable games played at Thirlby Field. Touted as a "golden era" of high school football in Michigan; the "Trojans" of Traverse City High School were one of the powerhouses in the state and the country. Winning a number of state championships and deciding who would be in the hunt as champion at Thirlby or on the road year in and year out. It was always a packed standing room only stadium when the Trojans played the likes of Muskegon, Muskegon Catholic Central, Alpena, Birmingham Brother Rice, Grand Rapids Central, Grand Rapids Catholic, Bay City, Midland..etc...Thirlby Field also became home to the Traverse City St. Francis Gladiators beginning in the 1950s. They too have contributed to some of the most memorable games in class D and class C football in the state, and most recently being on a play-off contender and a run of state championships.
In the beginning
The sport of football being played on this land goes back to 1896, when Traverse City High played its first contests. Mr. Thirlby, a local farmer gave the land to the Traverse City Schools for athletic contests. In the early years it was known as Thirlby's farm fields, or 12th Street Athletic Field. From the onset crowds came far and wide to see the big games of the north. The visiting teams would come by train right to the field. Beginning in the 1960s during the "big" games upwards of 10,000 to 12,000 fans have crowded in with three deep at the white rail fence to witness some of the finest high school football games in the state.
The sport of football being played on this land goes back to 1896, when Traverse City High played its first contests. Mr. Thirlby, a local farmer gave the land to the Traverse City Schools for athletic contests. In the early years it was known as Thirlby's farm fields, or 12th Street Athletic Field. From the onset crowds came far and wide to see the big games of the north. The visiting teams would come by train right to the field. Beginning in the 1960s during the "big" games upwards of 11,000 to 13,000 fans have crowded in with three deep at the white rail fence to witness some of the finest high school football games in the state. It was expanded to its current capacity in 1995, and has received additional renovations since then. Just two years later, in 1997, Traverse City High School split into two high schools and Traverse City West began playing at Thirlby Field. Improvements to the stadium including the addition of locker rooms, public bathrooms, and an elevator to the press-box were made in 2009. A fresh and more appealing design was widely supported before this current incarnation.
How the modern Facility had its beginnings...In 1993 a small and dedicated group of former football players of Traverse City High School got together and planned, designed and tried to execute a completely new facility for the 13th and Pine Street location. Harry Running left a few hundred thousand dollars specifically for Thrilby Field renovations. It was a kick-start to getting going. The group that formed to tackle the mission was originally called Between The Fences, in reference to all the memorable games played at the stadium between the white rail fence that lines the field. A Plan to take the stadium back to its original 'north-south' layout and lower it in the ground on the Pine Street side was put forth. Three persons highly dedicated (one of which made the initial phone calls that invigorated the team) were the driving force behind this effort that lead the charge for new and classic facilities to serve the entire community. As a neighborhood icon, "Thirlby" (as it is known throughout the state of Michigan) was to have state-of-the-art seating and lighting. With the field lowered some 30–40 ft into the ground to make the top of the stadium at ground level. It was a true wonder; designed by a professional conceptual designer who is a former Traverse City Trojan Football player and graduate of the College of Creative Studies along with the assistance of another former Trojan Football player and product developer that headed up the group; (both were members of the original "3") along with a get things done former player and supporter, they had a design that awed all that saw it. Having raised $2 million of in-kind services and another $1 million committed in donations, the group was ready to move ahead at a very ambitious pace. However, as so often happens in small towns and public venues, politics gets a mean grip on things such as this. With in-fighting by various groups such as soccer and tennis supporters (being green with envy as to the support for such facilities for football), and those same meddlers (as they were known) trying to split the school system into two high schools with a forth coming bond-issue; the plans for Thrilby Field became muddled and the original group of 10 to 12 guys were pushed out of the original organization. They were just a bunch of ex-ball players wanting to see something really good happen at their old stomping grounds. They came very very close.
Along the way, the outside influences of "who's-who" in the area pushed their way in then had to come up with a new plan, since they could now not perform as in-kind donations dried up along with support for the original concept due to all the political in-fighting. So today you have a concrete albeit better than what was there, stadium that seats about 7,000. However no bathrooms or locker rooms were ever built during this period. Monies were "re-allocated" to soccer and tennis facilities and the energy and vision for Thrilby became watered down vanished for 12 to 13 years. However, in 2008 and 2009 a small group of supporters added modest locker rooms and bathrooms which were a marked improvement over what was built in the 1990s, but a far cry from what was to "be" built. New plans surfaced during this time to add style and more functionality to the stadium, that would have made it the show place for what existed there now. However, those plans were shelved and what exists today is a very serviceable uninspiring unfinished-looking gathering place. Funding for new turf installation was made possible by a grant from Don & Gerry Oleson.
Thirlby Field is still the largest high school Stadium north of Grand Rapids, and the only one like it in the north country, now with artificial turf. Some have said it could have really been so much better. Tt is still the place for Friday nights in the Traverse City area. As they continue to be memorable and fun. In the summer the stadium is used for National Cherry Festival band competition. The stadium is adjacent to the Glen Loomis Elementary School.
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Coordinates: 44°45′10″N 85°37′41″W / 44.7528°N 85.628°W