The Batavia Blue Devils JV football team had the honor of being the first team to play on the new synthetic turf field at Woodward Field at a new Van Detta Stadium on Thursday afternoon in a game against Alexander.
Fans and community members are greeted by a restored historic ticket booth, which was constructed in 1940 at the main entrance at Richmond avenue and Union street along with a new parking area.
The new Woodward Field, surrounded by an eight lane track, is now open to the public from dawn to dusk.
There are rules and the area is monitored by security cameras.
- use only sneakers or running flats, no cleats or heeled shoes, no metal spikes
- no food, gum, sunflower seeds or colored beverages inside the black track fence. Water is permitted.
- no tobacco products, vapes on school property
- no bicycles, motorbikes, roller skates or skate boards inside the fence
- no pets
- no use of golf clubs
- enter through one of the open gates
- no spectators inside the fence
- organized activities need a permit
- please use lanes 5-8 when walking on the track
The new stadium holds 2,512 fans while the old stadium held 1,500, including the away bleachers. There are three locker rooms. One for Varsity teams, one for Junior Varsity and one for Modified teams/visiting teams. The Varsity and JV teams will be able to keep their equipment in the locker rooms during the season. The Modified will have to move theirs when a visiting teams needs to use a locker room.
There is also a new scoreboard which can play video clips, a new press box, a new weight room, and a new storage building.
Captain Edwin Roth, Manager Spencer Avery, Coach, R. L. Pierce, Letterman /Fred Allan, Spencer Avery(MGR.)John Bibbs, James Branche, Edward Davis, Walter Stawski, Harold Folger, William Frank, John Gardner, Lawrence Judd, Walter Kornowski. A. McGettigan, Gerald Tuttle, Angus McGinnis, Donald McNerney, Frank Pappalardo, Edwin Roth(Captain), Martin Smith Frederick Stakel
The first team to play at Woodward Field was the Batavia Blue and White Varsity Football team on September 29, 1928. They defeated Medina 31-0 on opening night. (Historical information and photo submitted by Jim Owen)
The Batavia Blue Devils Varsity team will play their first home game on the field on Friday night at 7:00p.m. against Livonia. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6:30p.m.