Time for Friday Night Lights at Ladue High School
A myriad of reasons why Ladue should look at adding lights, turf field to their sports complex.
The fact remains, Ladue High School needs lights, and a turf field for its football complex.
Before you grab you telephone cord to strangle me, or decide to burn my house down with some vigilantes, hear me out.
There are health and safety factors that cannot be swept under an artificial rug. Its just too damn hot in August and September to attempt to play football in the day time sweltering heat. Players are wearing all kinds of heavy gear, and the weather is not conducive to good safety factors. Additionally, teachers, coaches and administrators are neither paid, nor expected to work a six or seven-day week.
A turf field means the complex can be used around the clock for gym class, field hockey games; soccer, flag football, you name it. Little maintenance is required.
With Friday night games, that leaves more time for the Ladue folks to be with their families and friends on weekends.
First, of all lets get rid of some of those urban myths
- The land for the high school was donated by the Horton Watkins Family, way back in the 1950s with the provision--no lights, and no Friday night football. It’s just that, an urban myth.
- Neighbors behind the football complex will lynch anyone who tries to spoil the tranquility of their neighborhood on Friday nights. Not so.
The growth of brush and trees is so heavy over 50 years, that if lights were on until around 10 p.m., hardly any of the neighbors would even notice.
The Rams brethren in the county all have lights: like the Parkways; the Rockwood Schools; Kirkwood, Webster, Mehlville, Oakville, Lindbergh, Maplewood, Affton, DeSmet, Chaminade and so on and so forth. Everyone in the neighborhood survives. Folks sit on their decks at Affton, and Clayton and Mehlville to take in some of the night-time action. High school football, everywhere is meant for Friday nights.
How to get it done
It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a cooperative effort between public schools and private enterprises to meet the 21st century financial needs of any local school district.
I am absolutely not suggesting use of tax payer money or stretched-thin District funds to expense this project.
Rather, try easing the naming rights restrictions and let corporations donate to a stadium fund. Think Dierberg Markets, StarBucks or Honda of Frontenac might at least listen to a sales pitch to have their name emblazoned on the field?
How many family dollars are already spent at Dierbergs by Ladue families, or how many students, staff and administration drop off cash daily at the local StarBucks?
Private dollars built the Velten-Maher Sports Facility
Notice that gorgeous brick structure with the gilded Ram at the north end of the football field? Steve Bahn, parent and businessman, and former coaches, the late Ed Velten and retired Jerry Maher raised $500,000 to make that happen. Folks who made generous donations got their names affixed to lockers and on a nice display board out front. No longer do players have to change in their cars, or on the parking lot.
It can happen again if the right leaders step up to lead the cause.
The Centenne Corp. recently rebuilt Gay Field for the Clayton Greyhounds. Now they have night football in a neighborhood, surrounded by Ladue and University City homes. Field usage is restricted to certain nights, and the lights are switched off by ten.
At Parkway Central Friday night, the hosts paraded a whole bunch of officials to center stadium to thank them for securing lights and that gorgeous new turf.
I asked coach Mark Goldenberg of the Colts if he liked playing on the new rug? What a loaded question.
Of course he did, then pointed to the stands full of fans who packed Colts stadium for the game against visiting Ladue. The Rams are having to give up home games (and Dads' Club revenue) to play under the lights and on the road on Fridays. Just two home games are scheduled this year.
The Ladue City Council does present a major roadblock. They've turned down similar requests for lights from both MICDS and John Burroughs. Maybe one of the present Ladue council members will be sympathetic to the cause?
So school-board members, go get yourself a consultant to get the project paid for. I’m sure Kirkwood’s Jim Velten or someone at Parkway would be more than willing to tell you how to execute a game plan.
It takes a village to raise a child. Ladue’s business community and parent partnership are just as skilled as others in raising funds for important projects.
When Ladue officials recently built the new all-weather track, they did a lot of below-the-surface work in anticipation of getting a new turf field and some lights someday. Most of the expensive out of sight spade work is done.
Need a kick off donation. Call me, (LHS Class of '62), I’ll kick in something to get it started.
Laura Beath
6:37 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
Ladue definately needs a turf field and lights and I will be the second one to kick in. Let's get a committee formed and see how much we could raise and how much vocal support we could gather.
Laura Beath
James Baer
8:27 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
Laura. Seriously. This is how these things get started. Strictly grass roots efforts. Get your friends, parents of players, etc. to agree and join in. It always takes a group effort to accomplish big things, like lights and turf for LHS.
James Baer
4:56 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
We need readers comments! Do you think Ladue should get lights, turf field for its football complex? That is of course, if its paid for by private donations, NOT tax payer money. We are waiting for your opinion on this issue.
Joan Brannigan
6:59 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Maybe they can pay in the old Westminster/Ladue field and put lights there.
James Baer
7:22 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Joan,
Creve Coeur government officials told no lights to Westminster Christian, and one of the many reasons why they re-located to Town & Country.
James Baer
7:24 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
This is the perfect chance for our readers to tell us if they think Ladue should get lights, new turf for their football complex? Or, maybe they think this is all a bad idea? Your chance to share your views right here on Patch.
Rhonda Weiche
9:44 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
When I learned that Ladue High School does not have lights for their football field I was amazed. A community of this caliber and a school with the reputation Ladue has should not be the exception in what I see as a negative. In every way, Ladue should be setting the standard for excellence, including lights for their football field. I agree with Jim about this also being a possible health issue. I am sure the Ladue students, parents and athletes would prefer to play more home games than two per season as well. There are many ways to fund the lights. If you had more home games, the concessions could help fund them? Be creative and say yes to Friday night lights.
Linda F.Jarrett
10:43 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Every high school needs lights on its football field. A crisp fall evening begs football, and you need lights for that. This should be a slam/dunk. Whoops, wrong sport! But you get the idea.
Joan Brannigan
5:10 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
James, didn't know that.
flyoverland
8:08 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
If the City allows Ladue High to install lights it will also have to allow JBS and MICDS or there will be a lawsuit.
Kelli
2:24 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Completely concur! I grew up where NO school played Varsity Football games on Saturday. ( :^ o That's right, I DIDN'T go to High School in St. Louis,& have NEVER suffered socially as a result! :^ ) Unfortunately all of our kids have had to suffer the homework-interrupting ,wknd-away-nixing, less-than-full-student/fan supporting--sweltering Saturday Football games! It's a give and take situation for area homeowners,in my opinion. Property buyers know if/where their lots are contiguous with/to school property lines. In doing so, they are assured: 1) Their neighbors will always be the same. (No "crazies" just moved in next door!) 2) They know exactly when their neighbor will be active. 3) They know the "guy next door" will always keep his property maintained. 4) There won't be a multi-home subdivision under construction any time a permit is issued... I could go on and on. We live in a cold winter weather environment. The lights won't likely be on at all for those months. Oh,& remember Summer vacation?For me, there are few High School memories that top FUN Friday night, HOME football games-and subsequent post-game dances or get-togethers! Our stands were ALWAYS PACKED.It was an expected, on-the-calendar-as-soon-as-the-schedule-was-out EVENT for the entire community! (Concessions, Logowear, & Spiritgear were no brainer money-makers too!) I say: LET THE KIDS PLAY! Let the SCHOOL SPIRIT, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, SAFETY...and MEMORIES begin! HOME LIGHTS James! Thnx! Kelli Larson
Ann
9:54 am on Friday, September 2, 2011
YES!! Ladue needs lights, as does John Burroughs and MICDS! Friday night football should be a rite of passage for all high school students! It's also a great family event! So exciting and fun. Many lively and interesting Saturday morning breakfast conversations have taken place thanks to Friday night football. My family and I moved here from a town that plays all of it's football on Friday nights and we miss it desperately. We have boys that attend a middle school in ladue and we would be ecstatic if they could play their games under the lights on crisp fall nights. I never imagined them playing in the blazing heat on a Saturday afternoon. When it comes to high school football, Friday night is what it's all about!!! I'm 100% behind you James! Let's get it going!!
Fritz
10:29 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Keep in mind this is the same city council that fought putting the divider down the center of Lindberg because one of the jug-handles was going to require the removal of 50 trees. Only after a 16 year old classmate of my sister lost her life in a head-on collision with a drunk driver did they give in. I would have expected that all those idiots who fought the divider would have died off and been replaced by more open-minded individuals that have moved out of the gilded age and into the 21st century - but obviously such has not occurred! MAYBE it will happen in the next century - but I'm not holding my breath!
Joan Brannigan
12:25 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
I'm a pretty regular Ladue football fan. I enjoy the Satuerday afternoon football games. I would probably enjoy them at night as well. Lights are expensive to put in and expensive to turn on. Right now we are having enough trouble paying our teachers. I can live without the lights.
James Baer
1:24 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
Joan, the word is, there won't be any lights or Friday night football in the fall. If there was,likely the lights would be paid for by outside donations, not district funds.
Coach
8:21 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
As a coach on the staff at Ladue and a former Friday Night player myself it would be such a spirit lift in the building and community. The Homecoming parade, and new gym floor are steps in the right direction to turn the school spirit around at this proud institution!