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No ‘home’ games for MHS football next season and that’s good news
stadium 1959
This photo taken in 2009 shows former Buffaloes Gary Heaton, from left, Joel Linker, Mike Erdman, Wayne Dias and Roy Rea were a part of the 1959 Manteca High football team that played the first-ever game at Guss Schmiedt Field. The Manteca Unified School District is now upgrading to the 63-year-old football stadium.

Manteca High will be playing its home games on the road during the upcoming season.

And that’s actually good news.

It’s because it means by the time December 2024 rolls around:

*Manteca High, for all practical purposes, will have a new stadium and track facility.

*Upgrades will range from an all-weather track surface to state-of-the-art field lights.

*The campus will be further secured with an 8-foot high wrought iron fence along the eastern boundary of the stadium to eliminate homeless cutting through the chain link fence.

The demolition of the visitors’ bleachers, freshmen fieldhouse, and light standards has been completed.

The project is now experiencing weather-related delays.

The stadium work’s current phase involves underground work for infrastructure and grading to address drainage issues.

The 8-foot wrought iron fencing on the eastern boundary of the campus/stadium is designed to prevent homeless and others from accessing the field and campus.

Over the years, the individuals have entered the campus by cutting holes in the existing fence.

 Before Garfield Avenue was closed, they used it as a shortcut to reach Moffat Boulevard from areas around Lincoln Park where they had/have pockets of makeshift encampments.

Periodically, there have been issues with homeless accessing the stadium to seek shelter under the bleachers and even around the press box.

The fencing along the southern boundary will be chain link with slats.

 The endeavor includes all new stadium field lighting plus an 8-lane all-weather track.

The turf that was in place, although it was in excellent repair, required significant and ongoing maintenance. The project will allow the installation of hybrid Bermuda turf that increases the durability of the turf.

The turf will be designed to accommodate both football and soccer.

Irrigation systems are being replaced to address ongoing issues and to align with standards for water conservation, adequate coverage, and controls.

The stadiums will be brought up to current building codes. That includes Americans with Disabilities Act compliance concerns and providing for lighting upgrades to emergency egress requirements.

Among the other work:

*Replacing the main electrical service for the stadium due to the age and condition of the infrastructure.

*Replacing or upgrading the fire alarm system, audio visual system and emergency egress lighting for the stadium.

*Installing emergency backup battery storage to support the emergency egress lighting.

*Replacing the 1,000-seat visitors’ bleachers.

*New ticket booth/restroom building as well as a picnic/pop up tent area.

*Installing ADA parking and an accessibility path.

Manteca High’s home games during the 2024 football season are expected to take place at either East Union High, Sierra High, or Lathrop High.

 

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com