By Brandon Schroeder
Sports Editor
For years, R.J. Reynolds students and alumni have been clamoring for a chance to play in a true home stadium. Finally, after many years of hard work, RJR has an on-campus facility: M. Douglas Crater Stadium and Field. However, with big changes come new responsibilities and planning which haven’t been done before.
“It’s going to take a couple games to see what works,” Athletic Director Brad Fisher said. “We’ll set plans and adjust as needed.”
RJR sports teams have been playing on Bolton Field and Deaton Thompson Stadium for years, which can typically be more than a ten-minute drive, depending on where students live. Now, with a stadium on the Reynolds campus, students do not have to travel as far for events.
“It can be a hassle for parents to drive their kids to games when they are farther away,” Fisher said. “Having the stadium means that students can watch their friends more instead of taking a ten-minute drive. Having a stadium on the school campus will instill more school spirit. It will allow for students who have other sports games to walk down and watch the games instead of driving somewhere else.”
Even though the field has been set down and painted, some safety measures have to be placed before RJR gets a certificate from the state to start holding events there.
“Right now, we are working on getting a bathroom facility as that is required for any event that has people present,” Fisher said. “We also have to build an emergency access road for first responders and safety vehicles to get to in the off chance that [something] happens. Once that happens, we will get a certificate that allows us to have people and events at the stadium.”
Another obstacle that will be challenging is that some of Wiley Middle School’s sports teams will also be playing on the field, creating even more scheduling that will need to be done. Wiley’s teams will be able to use the facilities as their own as well.
“Wiley is growing just like Reynolds,” Fisher said. “They have a flag football team that they are starting up that plays around at round-robin-style tournaments. Their teams will use the facility, so there could be more of a traffic factor if Wiley has games and parents go to watch their kids. That’s just something we have to be prepared for with a new wrinkle in the schedule.”
In the spring of 2022, they broke ground for the stadium. Since then, many obstacles have been navigated, such as pipeline issues, sinkholes, and weather. However, even though years of hard work have turned the Crater into what it is today, some seniors are heartbroken that they won’t be able to play on the field or at the finished stadium.
“I’m devastated that I can’t play even after being on the football team all four years of high school,” Senior Sam Clary said. “It’s going to be tough not to have the opportunity to be on the field, but I’m still happy for some of my teammates who are going to be able to play on it.”
While there are a few more things that need to happen before the stadium is ready, one thing is certain: RJR students and fans get ready to finally have a true home field to play on.