Atwood Stadium
Encyclopedia
Atwood Stadium is an 11,000-seat stadium
located in Flint, Michigan
. It opened on June 8, 1929 and was named after Edwin W. Atwood who donated a portion of the site for the stadium. It has hosted high school football
, minor-league baseball
, and concerts over the years. Atwood still hosts high school football games today. Originally Atwood Stadium had a natural grass field, but in 1969 began using artificial turf. Atwood's turf was ruled unsafe, leading to the stadium's closure in 1992. The stadium reopened in 1995 after $2 million in improvements, including a new artificial turf field. Currently the stadium in undergoing key renovations to bathrooms, the press box, the concourse, the exterior and soon, the playing field, but the stadium is still in use for sporting events, mainly football. It is currently home to Flint middle school football as well as Flint Northern
and Southwestern
High School football, and Flint Fury semi-pro football. Atwood is also home to the University of Michigan-Flint Kodiaks club football team. It was once home to Flint Central High School
football until the school closed in 2009, as well as Flint Blue Devils, Flint Wildcats, Flint Sabres, Flint Falcons, Flint Rampage, Genesee County Patriots, and Michigan Admirals semi-pro football, and Flint Indians, Flint Gems and Flint Arrows minor-league baseball.
From 1930 through 1976 the Annual Football game between Flint Central High School
and Flint Northern High School
was played on Thanksgiving Day and drew attendance in the tens of thousands of people. The 1950 game drew a record crowd of 20,600, thanks to standing room and temporary seating. Due to the development of state playoffs after 1976, the game was no longer held on Thanksgiving Day. Prior to the closure of Flint Central in 2009, Central won the overall series 41-39-1. Only four of the 81 meetings were not held at Atwood. The inaugural meeting in 1928 was held at Dort Field behind Flint Central. The 1929 meeting was held at Viking Field behind the original Flint Northern. Due to the stadium's temporary closure in 1992, the 1993 and 1994 Central-Northern games were held at Guy V. Houston Stadium, located near Flint Northwestern.
By 2007, all of Atwood's seating received renovations, with new vinyl seats installed.
Atwood is located at 701 W University Ave., which is part of historic downtown Flint.
For the past couple of seasons, Atwood has been home to the annual season opening game between Flint Northwestern and Flint Beecher. Beecher is coached by former NFL player Courtney Hawkins, while Northwestern also has a famous alum as a coach, Andre Rison
. Beecher won the 2010 opener, 28-18, while Northwestern took the 2011 opener, 46-44, in double overtime.
It also was the stadium in which the homecoming concert of American Idol
Contestant LaKisha Jones
was held on June 9, 2007. More recently, it hosted a homecoming tribute to 2009 Heisman Trophy
winner and Flint Southwestern Academy
graduate Mark Ingram, Jr.
Atwood is the biggest stadium in Genesee County, but it is not the only facility in use in the city of Flint. Guy V. Houston Stadium, the second biggest stadium in the county, is located next to Flint Northwestern High School. Built in 1967, Houston is home to Flint Northwestern football, and is used as an alternate stadium for Flint Northern and Flint Southwestern on nights when Atwood is already in use. It was once the alternate home for Flint Central as well. Houston is often used for high school track meets, thanks to a brand new $400,000 track. It is the former home of Michigan Phoenix women's pro soccer, as well as Michigan Admirals and Genesee County Patriots semi-pro football.
Athletic Park, which once sat on the grounds of the IMA Auditorium/Autoworld, was the city's main stadium prior to the opening of Atwood in 1929.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
located in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. It opened on June 8, 1929 and was named after Edwin W. Atwood who donated a portion of the site for the stadium. It has hosted high school football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, minor-league baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and concerts over the years. Atwood still hosts high school football games today. Originally Atwood Stadium had a natural grass field, but in 1969 began using artificial turf. Atwood's turf was ruled unsafe, leading to the stadium's closure in 1992. The stadium reopened in 1995 after $2 million in improvements, including a new artificial turf field. Currently the stadium in undergoing key renovations to bathrooms, the press box, the concourse, the exterior and soon, the playing field, but the stadium is still in use for sporting events, mainly football. It is currently home to Flint middle school football as well as Flint Northern
Flint Northern High School
Flint Northern High School, is a public secondary school located in Flint, Michigan. The original building was built in 1928, and the current site was erected in the 1970's. It is one of three high schools in the Flint Community Schools district along with Flint Northwestern High School and Flint...
and Southwestern
Flint Southwestern Academy
Flint Southwestern Academy is located in Flint, Michigan, United States. This school is a part of The Flint Community Schools.The 2009 closing of Flint Central High School sent many ex-Flint Central High School students to Southwestern and led to the reopening of McKinley Middle School, which...
High School football, and Flint Fury semi-pro football. Atwood is also home to the University of Michigan-Flint Kodiaks club football team. It was once home to Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School was one of the Flint Community Schools, located in Flint, Michigan, USA. Flint Central was the city's oldest school. Its first building was built in 1875, and the school moved into the present building in 1923. It was called Flint High School until Flint Northern High...
football until the school closed in 2009, as well as Flint Blue Devils, Flint Wildcats, Flint Sabres, Flint Falcons, Flint Rampage, Genesee County Patriots, and Michigan Admirals semi-pro football, and Flint Indians, Flint Gems and Flint Arrows minor-league baseball.
From 1930 through 1976 the Annual Football game between Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School
Flint Central High School was one of the Flint Community Schools, located in Flint, Michigan, USA. Flint Central was the city's oldest school. Its first building was built in 1875, and the school moved into the present building in 1923. It was called Flint High School until Flint Northern High...
and Flint Northern High School
Flint Northern High School
Flint Northern High School, is a public secondary school located in Flint, Michigan. The original building was built in 1928, and the current site was erected in the 1970's. It is one of three high schools in the Flint Community Schools district along with Flint Northwestern High School and Flint...
was played on Thanksgiving Day and drew attendance in the tens of thousands of people. The 1950 game drew a record crowd of 20,600, thanks to standing room and temporary seating. Due to the development of state playoffs after 1976, the game was no longer held on Thanksgiving Day. Prior to the closure of Flint Central in 2009, Central won the overall series 41-39-1. Only four of the 81 meetings were not held at Atwood. The inaugural meeting in 1928 was held at Dort Field behind Flint Central. The 1929 meeting was held at Viking Field behind the original Flint Northern. Due to the stadium's temporary closure in 1992, the 1993 and 1994 Central-Northern games were held at Guy V. Houston Stadium, located near Flint Northwestern.
By 2007, all of Atwood's seating received renovations, with new vinyl seats installed.
Atwood is located at 701 W University Ave., which is part of historic downtown Flint.
For the past couple of seasons, Atwood has been home to the annual season opening game between Flint Northwestern and Flint Beecher. Beecher is coached by former NFL player Courtney Hawkins, while Northwestern also has a famous alum as a coach, Andre Rison
Andre Rison
Andre Previn Rison is a retired American football wide receiver who played professionally for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and the Canadian Football League's...
. Beecher won the 2010 opener, 28-18, while Northwestern took the 2011 opener, 46-44, in double overtime.
It also was the stadium in which the homecoming concert of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Contestant LaKisha Jones
LaKisha Jones
LaKisha Ann Jones is an American singer. She placed fourth on the sixth season of American Idol.-Personal life:Jones was born at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan, to a teacher at the Flint Foundation Academy...
was held on June 9, 2007. More recently, it hosted a homecoming tribute to 2009 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner and Flint Southwestern Academy
Flint Southwestern Academy
Flint Southwestern Academy is located in Flint, Michigan, United States. This school is a part of The Flint Community Schools.The 2009 closing of Flint Central High School sent many ex-Flint Central High School students to Southwestern and led to the reopening of McKinley Middle School, which...
graduate Mark Ingram, Jr.
Mark Ingram, Jr.
Mark Ingram, Jr. is a running back for the New Orleans Saints. Ingram is the son of former NFL wide receiver Mark Ingram, Sr....
Atwood is the biggest stadium in Genesee County, but it is not the only facility in use in the city of Flint. Guy V. Houston Stadium, the second biggest stadium in the county, is located next to Flint Northwestern High School. Built in 1967, Houston is home to Flint Northwestern football, and is used as an alternate stadium for Flint Northern and Flint Southwestern on nights when Atwood is already in use. It was once the alternate home for Flint Central as well. Houston is often used for high school track meets, thanks to a brand new $400,000 track. It is the former home of Michigan Phoenix women's pro soccer, as well as Michigan Admirals and Genesee County Patriots semi-pro football.
Athletic Park, which once sat on the grounds of the IMA Auditorium/Autoworld, was the city's main stadium prior to the opening of Atwood in 1929.