Woodward debuts new football turf Friday

CINCINNATI - For the past seven seasons, the Woodward Bulldogs have been a team without a home.   The decision had been made in 2004 to build a brand new Woodward High School, so the old stadium couldn't be used while demolition and construction was taking place.

That changes on Friday night when Hamilton Badin comes to Bond Hill to open the season against the Bulldogs.

Woodward will show off its new facility, complete with a Field-Turf artificial playing surface, an all-weather running track, new locker room facilities, plus a new grandstand and pressbox.

A big boost was provided a year ago by the Bengals and the NFL when they made a grant of $200,000 to Cincinnati Public Schools for the playing surface at Woodward.

Woodward Coach Jeremy Patterson says the facility will allow his team to be "normal."  It won't have to walk across the street to practice on a field any longer. It will also provide a venue for other schools and other teams in the community.

You can view a story about the new Woodward facility by clicking on the attached video.