Port Neches-Groves football coach Matt Burnett let players do something they were not allowed to before Thursday.
That is to walk through the concourse and bleachers at the school’s rebuilt $10.2 million stadium, set to reopen tonight for a homecoming game between PN-G and Livingston. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
“I think the kids are finally realizing what’s fixing to happen,” Burnett said. “I think it’s taken a while for this to sink in for them after we played two games last week and were just getting back from the hurricane.”
Hurricane Ike closed PN-G ISD schools for two weeks and caused the cancellation of one game and the postponement of two others. The Indians, like all District 20-4A teams, played twice last week, on Tuesday and Saturday.
They’ll play a home game for the first this season tonight. And the setting, a 12,278-seat stadium nearly filled to capacity, should be something players never forget.
PN-G senior quarterback Harrison Tatum walked to the top row of the home side bleachers, from where he could see from Lake Sabine to theMartin Luther King Jr. Bridge in Port Arthur.
“To see that and to get the fans’ viewpoint of the game, it’s like, ‘Golly,'” Tatum said. “That gives the players confidence in the fans because you know the other team is going to see that big stadium full. It gives you confidence that a lot of fans are going to be there, and it makes you want even more to go down with the first win in that new stadium.”
Although the stadium opening is highly anticipated, about 1,200 tickets remained unsold Thursday afternoon, athletic ticket sales managerBecky Romero said.
About 200 reserved seats remain for sale until noon today at the PN-G ISD administration building, 620 Avenue C. About 1,000 general admission seats will be available when stadium gates open at 6 p.m. today. Ticket prices are $6. Students can buy $3 tickets before noon today.
Burnett said the purple and white end zones on each side of the bright green field glowed when stadium lights were tested last week.
Not everything in the stadium will be fully functional. The Jumbotron video board above the scoreboard will be off and the press box is incomplete.
All bathrooms and concession stands are open, Burnett said. Concession stand food includes barbecue beef sandwiches, links in tortilla wraps, pepperoni pizza, soda, water, popcorn, peanuts, sunflower seeds and candy, according to the PN-G ISD Web site.
Source: CHRISTOPHER DABE, Beaumont Enterprise
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/hs/article/Port-Neches-Groves-High-School-debuts-10-2M-776146.php
