Toggle sidebar

Q of the Week: Best High School Stadiums in Illinois

E

Edgytim

Senior
Staff member
May 29, 2001
564
863
113
Was asked to contribute this for our National HS side...always enjoy getting your thoughts on this as well. Mine?

In no order......

Rocky Stadium Rock Island

Duchon Field Glenbard West

Barda Dowling Stadium Chicago Mount Carmel

Lane Tech Stadium Lane Tech HS Chicago

Coin Flip on either

Roscoe Eades Stadium Sterling/Howard Fellows Stadium LaSalle Peru HS

Post yours here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swansa01, Anon1751544614, rocketnation and 3 others
J

johnndoe

Senior
Oct 19, 2019
1,203
854
113
With the Howard Fellows Stadium initial construction occurring during the mid-1930s FDR mid-Depression "New Deal" years with the whole Works Progress Administration/WPA effort, that site is up in some rare air. I am not aware of the original opening years of the others on the list, but I suspect most are far more recent.
 
GhostOfTheGhhost

GhostOfTheGhhost

All-Conference
May 14, 2018
530
1,193
93
SiuCubFan8 said:
Lane would be unreal if they did just some minor upgrades but it is still really cool.
Click to expand...
Hot Take from a CPL fan...
If you drive by Lane Stadium on Addison, it looks cool. If you stand in front of Lane Stadium on Addison, it looks cool. So, I get this sentiment. However....if you actually enter Lane Stadium you encounter bleachers that are falling apart, bathrooms that don't work, or are dripping some sort of liquid on your head, a sound system that can barely be called a sound system.... Plus, you get to get constantly hassled by the Red Coat security on the way in, if you stand up in the isle, and if you want to remain in the stadium more than 30 seconds after the game ends. Concessions? Maybe... Yes, they have replaced the turf. Yes, they have replaced the scoreboard after years of it not working. But, at the end of the day, Lane Stadium is gross from a fan experience. From what I hear from coaches and players, the locker room situation isn't any better than the bathroom situations. From a fan experience, Gately and Rockne blow it away...
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: Silver Rain, Blacknight36, HRCJRHRCJR and 2 others
S

SiuCubFan8

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2007
5,756
3,611
113
GhostOfTheGhhost said:
Hot Take from a CPL fan...
If you drive by Lane Stadium on Addison, it looks cool. If you stand in front of Lane Stadium on Addison, it looks cool. So, I get this sentiment. However....if you actually enter Lane Stadium you encounter bleachers that are falling apart, bathrooms that don't work, or are dripping some sort of liquid on your head, a sound system that can barely be called a sound system.... Plus, you get to get constantly hassled by the Red Coat security on the way in, if you stand up in the isle, and if you want to remain in the stadium more than 30 seconds after the game ends. Concessions? Maybe... Yes, they have replaced the turf. Yes, they have replaced the scoreboard after years of it not working. But, at the end of the day, Lane Stadium is gross from a fan experience. From what I hear from coaches and players, the locker room situation isn't any better than the bathroom situations. From a fan experience, Gately and Rockne blow it away...
Click to expand...
I will rephrase, "they need significant upgrades". It has been some years since I had been there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GhostOfTheGhhost and Irishfan19
McCaravan

McCaravan

All-American
Feb 1, 2016
4,781
7,505
113
Gately will always hold a special place in my heart for the decades of great memories I have of that place. Very spacious and not a bad seat in the house. That being said I love Barada Dowling at MC. What a game changing move that was.
Special mention has to go out to The Pit at the old St. Rita on 63rd. What an experience! Gone but not forgotten!
 
  • Like
Reactions: OnVikings! and USD24
McCaravan

McCaravan

All-American
Feb 1, 2016
4,781
7,505
113
LWN_Pheonix said:
When Brother Rice named it Gary Little stadium, do you think that they were referring to tg visiter stands???
Click to expand...
Having brothers and nephews that attended and played for BR and it's close proximity to my home I've been to BR almost as many times as I've been to MC. Its a tale of two sides. If you sit on the home side it's a great experience. Good seating, great view, solid concessions. The visitor side you can hear the theme music to the movie Platoon playing as you are walking over. It's bad. If you are one of the lucky 250 that can sit on their visitor side suck the guts in, it's tight. Seating in the first couple rows seems like a good idea until they take the sidelines and your view becomes obstructed. The claim they can't do anything about it due to zoning and something with McAuley but I don't get it. If they play MC I'll watch the BRTV broadcasts as the young lads do a good job. If I go with one of my family members to watch from the home stands I'll go and have a fine experience.
Side note- BR used to play at Gatley as well, when I was in high school that's where they played. 1990 I think was the first true home game they did. So they made the best of what they had to work with.
 
U

USD24

All-American
May 29, 2001
5,501
5,337
113
LaSalle-Peru has to be on the list. Best high school stadium/atmosphere in Illinois that I have attended a game.

Unpopular opinion, but I am not crazy about GW home field. I have been to a handful of games there and to me it is just meh. It's nice, but I don't get the hype about it being one of the top stadiums in the state.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KasanteMC, Thrillshire and SiuCubFan8
C

cornerrat#1

Senior
Jul 1, 2025
487
462
63
All.... Belleville Althoff 's old field for all time best crown where one needed almost a four wheel drive jeep to get over it.... Ratsy P.S. Loved the railroad tracks that encroached nearby as well. P.S.S. I miss it dearly.
 
Last edited:
A

Anon1661696174

Redshirt
Aug 28, 2022
2
4
3
I think you are missing a hidden gem in the city. Winnemac Stadium is beautiful, and it's a great place to watch a game. I have coached in CPS and the CCL and it is hands down my favorite place to watch a game. It reminds me of an East Coast prep school stadium.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Silver Rain, USD24 and GhostOfTheGhhost
GhostOfTheGhhost

GhostOfTheGhhost

All-Conference
May 14, 2018
530
1,193
93
Anon1661696174 said:
I think you are missing a hidden gem in the city. Winnemac Stadium is beautiful, and it's a great place to watch a game. I have coached in CPS and the CCL and it is hands down my favorite place to watch a game. It reminds me of an East Coast prep school stadium.
Click to expand...
Plus, the Starbucks drinking, Lululemon wearing, stroller pushing crowd in Winnemac Park on fall Saturday mornings is not to be missed!
 
  • Like
Reactions: KasanteMC, SouthofI80Fan, all4theillini and 1 other person
S

SiuCubFan8

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2007
5,756
3,611
113
USD24 said:
Unpopular opinion, but I am not crazy about GW home field. I have been to a handful of games there and to me it is just meh. It's nice, but I don't get the hype about it being one of the top stadiums in the state.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I completly agree.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DMurph11
C

Colin2299

Junior
Aug 13, 2025
297
224
43
Few I’ve really enjoyed over the years…

Woodstock Marian, Morris & WWS
 
Last edited:
E

eagles2k3!

Freshman
Aug 29, 2025
76
62
18
Colin2299 said:
Fee I’ve really enjoyed over the years…

Woodstock Marian, Morris & WWS
Click to expand...
Love Marian’s field. Do they still do the checkerboard endzone?

However, ive been around football for almost 40 years and I’ve never seen more biased refs than at Marian central. My senior year we get a huge 4th down stop, right before half, we’re up 13-7. Penalty, worst roughing the passer call I’ve ever seen. First down they score before half to take the lead.

Thats the one that I remember most but there’s been at least 5-6 times I’ve see that happen there.
 
C

Colin2299

Junior
Aug 13, 2025
297
224
43
eagles2k3! said:
Love Marian’s field. Do they still do the checkerboard endzone?

However, ive been around football for almost 40 years and I’ve never seen more biased refs than at Marian central. My senior year we get a huge 4th down stop, right before half, we’re up 13-7. Penalty, worst roughing the passer call I’ve ever seen. First down they score before half to take the lead.

Thats the one that I remember most but there’s been at least 5-6 times I’ve see that happen there.
Click to expand...
Marian is notorious for their home field advantage over the years.

Don’t believe they paint the checkers anymore - always liked it.

Love how the fog comes over the field at night.
 
E

eagles2k3!

Freshman
Aug 29, 2025
76
62
18
Colin2299 said:
Marian is notorious for their home field advantage over the years.

Don’t believe they paint the checkers anymore - always liked it.

Love how the fog comes over the field at night.
Click to expand...
Also mosquito bites!!!!!!!!!! I remember getting destroyed in pregame on the backfield. Smart for them to put opponents next to the woods
 
crusader_of_90

crusader_of_90

All-American
Nov 1, 2003
11,332
9,276
113
cornerrat#1 said:
All.... Belleville Althoff 's old field for all time best crown where one needed almost a four wheel drive jeep to get over it.... Ratsy P.S. Loved the railroad tracks that encroached nearby as well. P.S.S. I miss it dearly.
Click to expand...
After the renovation, which had the unfortunate maroon and gray turf, Township Stadium would have to qualify in the antiquity category for sure. A 1930s Works Progress Administration construction, it was a red-brick bowl featuring notable Art Deco pillars. It was built on the original Belleville Township High School campus and was home to East, West and Althoff for many years.

As a private school, Althoff was the red-headed stepchild and got last dibs on scheduling games - unless we played East or West, we played mostly on Saturdays. And by the end of the season, the field was wrecked.

The crown was unlike any I had ever seen! Standing on the sidelines, you only saw the other team's chests and up.

It could be dangerous too. MAYBE seven yards from the sideline was a wire cabling to separate the field from the stands. MANY a brawl started when an overzealous young man took a ball carrier into the wire and sometimes, onto the concrete.

When trains came through on the Illinois Central rail line, the engineers blared horns due to the intersection. Those became unofficial time-outs because, of course, the horns were used in excess and the crowds cheered.

A local autoshop, owned by one of the first Althoff grads, overlooked the field. Rooftop parties and fireworks were standard. Those folks GOT ROWDY!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Silver Rain and Gene K.
B

Blacknight36

Freshman
Nov 2, 2022
79
98
18
GhostOfTheGhhost said:
Hot Take from a CPL fan...
If you drive by Lane Stadium on Addison, it looks cool. If you stand in front of Lane Stadium on Addison, it looks cool. So, I get this sentiment. However....if you actually enter Lane Stadium you encounter bleachers that are falling apart, bathrooms that don't work, or are dripping some sort of liquid on your head, a sound system that can barely be called a sound system.... Plus, you get to get constantly hassled by the Red Coat security on the way in, if you stand up in the isle, and if you want to remain in the stadium more than 30 seconds after the game ends. Concessions? Maybe... Yes, they have replaced the turf. Yes, they have replaced the scoreboard after years of it not working. But, at the end of the day, Lane Stadium is gross from a fan experience. From what I hear from coaches and players, the locker room situation isn't any better than the bathroom situations. From a fan experience, Gately and Rockne blow it away...
Click to expand...
This 100%. (re: Lane)

The locker room experience is one of the most disgusting things I've ever experienced. Weird liquids and smells abound. Literal planks on the floor so you can traverse the room without stepping in unknown fluids. LOL
 
  • Like
Reactions: GhostOfTheGhhost
C

cornerrat#1

Senior
Jul 1, 2025
487
462
63
crusader_of_90 said:
After the renovation, which had the unfortunate maroon and gray turf, Township Stadium would have to qualify in the antiquity category for sure. A 1930s Works Progress Administration construction, it was a red-brick bowl featuring notable Art Deco pillars. It was built on the original Belleville Township High School campus and was home to East, West and Althoff for many years.

As a private school, Althoff was the red-headed stepchild and got last dibs on scheduling games - unless we played East or West, we played mostly on Saturdays. And by the end of the season, the field was wrecked.

The crown was unlike any I had ever seen! Standing on the sidelines, you only saw the other team's chests and up.

It could be dangerous too. MAYBE seven yards from the sideline was a wire cabling to separate the field from the stands. MANY a brawl started when an overzealous young man took a ball carrier into the wire and sometimes, onto the concrete.

When trains came through on the Illinois Central rail line, the engineers blared horns due to the intersection. Those became unofficial time-outs because, of course, the horns were used in excess and the crowds cheered.

A local autoshop, owned by one of the first Althoff grads, overlooked the field. Rooftop parties and fireworks were standard. Those folks GOT ROWDY!
Click to expand...
All.... And let us not ever forget when the Crusaders and Cyclones mixed it up Coach Schott and Coach Leonard yelling at each from afar. Easily worth the price of admission. 🥳 Ratsy
 
  • Love
Reactions: crusader_of_90
crusader_of_90

crusader_of_90

All-American
Nov 1, 2003
11,332
9,276
113
Schott in the classic Bike/Riddell shoe/sock combo and the "fancy" Leonard wearing "tenny-anklet" socks that were considered (by some) as effeminate. I love petty stuff like that!
 
S

Silver Rain

All-Conference
Jun 6, 2022
1,316
1,453
78
I know the Ghost remembers Shrewbridge Stadium, at 74th & Racine, once owned by Leo and now the site of the new Stagg Field, not the old one in Hyde Park, the site of the first fission experiment. And before it was a football stadium, it was home to a velodrome, one of those steep wooden tracks used for bicycle races. But what made Shewbridge so special to a 10-year-old kid is that it was easy to scale the fence and gain free admission, even though climbing the fence, not watching high school football, was the main attraction.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: GhostOfTheGhhost
GhostOfTheGhhost

GhostOfTheGhhost

All-Conference
May 14, 2018
530
1,193
93
Silver Rain said:
I know the Ghost remembers Shrewbridge Stadium, at 74th & Racine, once owned by Leo and now the site of the new Stagg Field, not the old one in Hyde Park, the site of the first fission experiment. And before it was a football stadium, it was home to a velodrome, one of those steep wooden tracks used for bicycle races. But what made Shewbridge so special to a 10-year-old kid is that it was easy to scale the fence and gain free admission, even though climbing the fence, not high school football, was the main attraction.
Click to expand...
While I have only known it as Stagg, I have watched a number of games parked on Aberdeen just on the opposite side of the field from Stagg Elementary. I've watched kids climb the fence under the scoreboard while I munch on my catfish nuggets from Mr. J's. The tradition lives on!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Silver Rain
W

William Foster

Senior
Jul 2, 2019
335
466
63
LWN_Pheonix said:
When Brother Rice named it Gary Little stadium, do you think that they were referring to tg visiter stands???
Click to expand...
LOL, but no, the Rich Little naming rights contribution wasn't enough...
Phone Call Hello GIF by Texas Archive of the Moving Image
 
S

Still Missing34

All-Conference
Jul 12, 2005
2,480
2,063
113
USD24 said:
LaSalle-Peru has to be on the list. Best high school stadium/atmosphere in Illinois that I have attended a game.

Unpopular opinion, but I am not crazy about GW home field. I have been to a handful of games there and to me it is just meh. It's nice, but I don't get the hype about it being one of the top stadiums in the state.
Click to expand...
Having played at LP in the 80's, it was a really cool stadium.

I'm sure the atmosphere is different now, but back then the "tension" was thick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: USD24
J

JCHillmen10

Sophomore
Jul 29, 2025
98
124
33
Still Missing34 said:
Having played at LP in the 80's, it was a really cool stadium.

I'm sure the atmosphere is different now, but back then the "tension" was thick.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Been to a couple regular season Friday night games and the atmosphere is "cool." But a rare big semifinal Saturday afternoon game with a sold out place and tension through the roof....That is the coolest high school atmosphere you will ever see. But you don't get it by going to a week 6 Friday night conference game. Still very cool on a regular Friday night. But next level on a deep playoff run game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: USD24
S

Still Missing34

All-Conference
Jul 12, 2005
2,480
2,063
113
JCHillmen10 said:
Agreed. Been to a couple regular season Friday night games and the atmosphere is "cool." But a rare big semifinal Saturday afternoon game with a sold out place and tension through the roof....That is the coolest high school atmosphere you will ever see. But you don't get it by going to a week 6 Friday night conference game. Still very cool on a regular Friday night. But next level on a deep playoff run game.
Click to expand...
This was a different kind of tension coming from a 60% minority school.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom