Following concerns, new P-CEP stadium expected to be ready for fall openers
Plymouth-Canton Schools officials assured the community the new P-CEP athletic stadium will be ready to host games once the 2025-26 season commences in less than one month.
After multiple Plymouth-Canton Educational Park coaches expressed concerns about the availability of the campus’s new north athletic stadium for the start of the 2025-26 athletic season, good news has emerged.
Less than one month before official varsity games were slated to be played at the sparkling new $11 million facility, the unfinished track that surrounds the artificial turf playing surface — and the recent changing of the locks by contractors at the stadium’s main gate — raised doubts about whether scheduled games would have to be shifted to other venues, at least for the outset of the fall season.
“After discussing with our Facilities Team, I can tell you with great certainty that the new stadium will be ready before school starts,” shared Frank Ruggirello, Jr., Plymouth-Canton Schools Executive Director of Communications and Marketing.
Locked gates cause for concern
Several camps and practices were held on the new turf field throughout July without incident, with athletes and coaches crossing the unfinished track on makeshift walkways to get to the field.
Sometime in the past few days the entrance was secured with new locks, creating apprehension about the facility’s immediate usability.
Ruggirello’s statement, however, should ease any concerns.
Back-to-back games to launch new stadium
The north stadium’s football debut is expected to take place Thursday, Aug. 28, when Canton hosts Livonia Churchill.
Twenty-four hours later, on Friday, Aug. 29, Salem is expected to host Utica Ford on the new field.
Plymouth, the Park’s third football team, will open its season at Monroe.
The new stadium’s bleachers, turf field, scoreboard and goalposts were installed in late summer 2024.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
