The new Benicia High School Drolette Stadium nears the end of its first school year, and 2017-18 football, soccer and track teams, as well as PE classes, have reaped the benefits of the state-of-the art facilities that were a long time coming. Benicia Superintendent Dr. Charles Young says, “We are very excited about the new stadium and the response has been overwhelmingly positive from students, staff and the community. Reconstruction of the stadium is something that needed to take place for some time and fortunately, the community demonstrated their commitment to the schools and generously, with foresight, passed Measure S.” Measure S, which passed in 2014, was a $49.6 million bond measure that, to date, has also funded new roofs on several schools, technology, phone system and infrastructure upgrades across the district, fire alarm replacements, and more.
Courtesy BHS PTSA Brick project banner |
The only remaining element from the previous stadium, built around 1966, is the scoreboard. New features include an 8-lane all-weather track, aluminum bleachers that seat up to 2855 people, upgraded lighting, and a new concession stand. Benicia High School PTSA has been running a memory bricks fundraiser, selling custom bricks for installation at the stadium’s entrance. Bricks cost $100, with keepsake replica bricks also available for $100. Purchases are tax-deductible, and proceeds support the work of the Benicia High School PTSA, to provide scholarships, mini-grants, teacher appreciation events, recognition for honor roll students, and support to Grad Night. Dr. Young says, “the bricks provide an opportunity for people to demonstrate their support while having their name displayed in a tasteful arrangement in the stadium’s entry. The new stadium will provide, for decades, an exciting, state of the art facility for a variety of sports and physical education classes. The Benicia Unified School District wishes to express its gratitude to the generous, thoughtful and caring Benicia community and the passage of Measure S.” To order bricks, click here.
