James Griffin Stadium
Encyclopedia
James Griffin Stadium is a 4,367-capacity stadium
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
, USA. Although it is located on the grounds of Saint Paul Central High School
, it was also home the Concordia University, Saint Paul
's football
and women's soccer teams until 2008. It also is a venue for three high schools in the Saint Paul public school district who do not have a football stadium of their own; Arlington
, Como Park
, and Johnson
being the three who use this facility. It also hosted Hamline University
football for one season while their stadium was rebuilt. The stadium was home to the Minnesota Thunder
from 2004 through May 12, 2008.
The stadium, colloquially referred to as "The Jimmy" by Thunder supporters and "The Griff" by Concordia fans, was originally named Central Stadium. It was renamed in 1988 for James S. Griffin, the first black police captain in Saint Paul, as well as an athlete and athletic official.
After 14 years at the National Sports Center
in Blaine, Minnesota
the Minnesota Thunder moved to James Griffin Stadium. The Thunder cited the increased accessibility, compared to a suburb 20 miles away, and the want to expand its fanbase. In May 2008 the Thunder moved back to the National Sports Center.
James Griffin Stadium has seen a significant number of changes in this decade. The first of these changes were the installation of powerful halogen lights in place of old light poles that were placed in front of the bleachers. The old lights were known to block some viewing angles from fans as well as television crews.
In 2003, the grass surface was removed from the field and replaced by artificial turf, manufactured and installed by Sprinturf. This was a welcome move by many Central and Concordia athletes, as the grass surface was torn up by the high amount of football and soccer games in the fall. Funding was made possible through donations from Concordia University
, the Minnesota Vikings
, and the NFL Youth Football Fund.
During the winter of 2006-2007, the track was replaced and expanded. The track had been previously damaged when the artificial turf was installed in 2003. The track expanded from 6 lanes to 8 lanes and now can accommodate Minnesota State High School League
sanctioned events in track and field. The renovations moved the handicap accessible ramps from ground level into the stands themselves.
During this time, the Minnesota Thunder team again relocated back to their original headquarters in Blaine. Concordia college also began construction on a brand new stadium of their own on the other side of their campus. With the departure of both Concordia and the Minnesota Thunder, Griffin Stadium was again officially designated as Central High School's home field by the St. Paul School District. However, other high schools within the district (including Como Park, Johnson, and Arlington) continue to use it for varsity athletics in lieu of their own fields which have not yet been evaluated by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).
The scoreboard was the last element to receive an upgrade in the stadium. Before the start of fall sports in 2009, the eggcrate-style scoreboard was replaced with an LED version to enhance visibility during daytime games.
In addition to sporting events, James Griffin Stadium has been the host site for the Rondo Days
drill team competition numerous times.
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...
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, USA. Although it is located on the grounds of Saint Paul Central High School
Central High School (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
Central High School of Saint Paul, is the oldest high school in the state of Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1866 in downtown Saint Paul, Central has educated many leaders in business, government, literature, arts, sciences, and education throughout the state of Minnesota and the United States...
, it was also home the Concordia University, Saint Paul
Concordia University, Saint Paul
Concordia University is a liberal arts university located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Concordia University was founded in 1893 and currently enrolls approximately 2,800 students...
's 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...
and women's soccer teams until 2008. It also is a venue for three high schools in the Saint Paul public school district who do not have a football stadium of their own; Arlington
Arlington Senior High School
Arlington Senior High School is a public high school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is located north of Downtown Saint Paul on Rice Street, west of Interstate 35E in the city's North End neighborhood. The school enrolled 875 students in grades 9-12 and has the capacity to enroll 2,000...
, Como Park
Como Park Senior High School
Como Park Senior High School is a public high school located in the Lake Como area of Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving grades nine through twelve. Along with six other public high schools, Como Park comprises the Saint Paul Public Schools...
, and Johnson
Johnson Senior High School (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Johnson Senior High School is a comprehensive high school for grades 9 to 12 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Originally named Cleveland High School, the school was renamed after Minnesota governor John A. Johnson in 1911. Johnson is the second oldest high school in the Saint Paul Public Schools...
being the three who use this facility. It also hosted Hamline University
Hamline University
-Red Wing location :Hamline was named in honor of Leonidas Lent Hamline, a bishop of the Methodist Church whose interest in the frontier led him to donate $25,000 toward the building of an institution of higher learning in what was then the territory of Minnesota. Today, a statue of Bishop Hamline...
football for one season while their stadium was rebuilt. The stadium was home to the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
from 2004 through May 12, 2008.
The stadium, colloquially referred to as "The Jimmy" by Thunder supporters and "The Griff" by Concordia fans, was originally named Central Stadium. It was renamed in 1988 for James S. Griffin, the first black police captain in Saint Paul, as well as an athlete and athletic official.
After 14 years at the National Sports Center
National Sports Center
The National Sports Center is a 600-acre multi-sport complex located in Blaine, Minnesota, United States, that includes a soccer stadium, over 50 full-sized soccer fields, a golf course, a velodrome, a meeting and convention facility, and an eight-sheet ice rink, the Schwan Super Rink, which is...
in Blaine, Minnesota
Blaine, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,942 people, 15,898 households, and 12,177 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,330 people per square mile . There are 16,169 housing units at an average density of 477.6 per square mile...
the Minnesota Thunder moved to James Griffin Stadium. The Thunder cited the increased accessibility, compared to a suburb 20 miles away, and the want to expand its fanbase. In May 2008 the Thunder moved back to the National Sports Center.
Evolution
In 2003, the grass surface was removed from the field and replaced by artificial turf, manufactured and installed by Sprinturf. This was a welcome move by many Central and Concordia athletes, as the grass surface was torn up by the high amount of football and soccer games in the fall. Funding was made possible through donations from Concordia University
Concordia University, Saint Paul
Concordia University is a liberal arts university located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Concordia University was founded in 1893 and currently enrolls approximately 2,800 students...
, the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, and the NFL Youth Football Fund.
During the winter of 2006-2007, the track was replaced and expanded. The track had been previously damaged when the artificial turf was installed in 2003. The track expanded from 6 lanes to 8 lanes and now can accommodate Minnesota State High School League
Minnesota State High School League
The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, non-profit association for the support and governance of interscholastic activities at high schools in Minnesota, United States. The association supports interscholastic athletics and fine arts programs for member schools...
sanctioned events in track and field. The renovations moved the handicap accessible ramps from ground level into the stands themselves.
During this time, the Minnesota Thunder team again relocated back to their original headquarters in Blaine. Concordia college also began construction on a brand new stadium of their own on the other side of their campus. With the departure of both Concordia and the Minnesota Thunder, Griffin Stadium was again officially designated as Central High School's home field by the St. Paul School District. However, other high schools within the district (including Como Park, Johnson, and Arlington) continue to use it for varsity athletics in lieu of their own fields which have not yet been evaluated by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).
The scoreboard was the last element to receive an upgrade in the stadium. Before the start of fall sports in 2009, the eggcrate-style scoreboard was replaced with an LED version to enhance visibility during daytime games.
In addition to sporting events, James Griffin Stadium has been the host site for the Rondo Days
Rondo Days
Rondo Days is an annual weekend festival held in mid-July in Saint Paul, Minnesota that commemorates the Rondo neighborhood, an African-American community that was split in two by the construction of Interstate 94 in the mid 1960s...
drill team competition numerous times.