Shelby schools working toward enhancing look of football stadium
By David Jacobs
Fresh off its Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference 2024 football championship that featured an undefeated regular season, some enhancements could be coming to the Shelby Whippets football stadium in time for next season.
Shelby Board of Education President Scott Rose, a big booster of Whippet sports, says discussions are underway to enhance the look of the visitor seating side of the stadium. That is on the eastern side of the venue and opposite of the press box side at the Whippet Athletic Complex.
Citing Ontario High School's football stadium as an example, Rose said decorative-type windscreens could be installed in Shelby on the visitor side.
This would enhance the view of the Shelby football stadium from the home side of the field, the same side as the press box, which was recently named after the late sportswriter/editor Chuck Ridenour.
"I know that Pat's working on and trying to come up with some different ideas," Rose said of Shelby athletic director Pat Lewis
"On the visitor side, both down below and up top — similar to Ontario, which has that windscreen — we're looking to dress the place up a bit," Rose said, noting that discussions have occurred at the committee level.
The Whippet Athletic Complex made its debut in the fall of 2022, when the football Whippets moved their games to the high school campus from Skiles Field in downtown Shelby.
Enhancements are continuing at the athletic complex, including recently installed signage along Championship Drive that connects to State Street and runs to Smiley Avenue.