NORMAN, OK (Jan. 16, 2023) – The new Norman North High School stadium will be located on the site of the current facility, Norman Public Schools shared during Tuesday’s Norman Board of Education meeting. The stadium is part of the district’s 2023 10-year, $353.9 million school bond proposal.
NPS recently acquired a parcel of land at Rock Creek Road and Stubbeman Avenue, which allowed the district to explore two different stadium location options. MA+ Architecture created two designs: one for building the stadium in that new area and a second for constructing the stadium in the same footprint as the current facility.
Both designs were presented to a stakeholder group, which favored the second design. The current stadium includes a track around the field, but this plan includes putting a new regulation track in the Rock Creek and Stubbeman corner lot.
“Throughout this process, we have and will continue to meet with various stakeholders, including representatives from football, track and field, band, parent booster clubs and site administration, to gather their feedback,” said Justin Milner, associate superintendent and chief operating officer. “For example, during discussions, stakeholders expressed they would like the home stands to face the east instead of the west, and that has been incorporated into the design.”
Through the 2014 bond, significant improvements were made to the football locker rooms and weight room. By keeping the stadium in its current location, teams will be able to take advantage of those spaces while the district remains mindful of taxpayer dollars, Milner said.
The current goal is to have the stadium ready to use for the 2025 football season. Milner said updates will be shared with the board for each phase of the design. Additionally, a future update will include drawings to show how Harve Collins Stadium will be “tigerized” for Norman High School.
“Thank you again to the Norman community for supporting the 2023 school bond. We are excited to start the design process for some of the projects, including the stadium,” Superintendent Dr. Nick Migliorino said. “This stadium is more than a football stadium. While football games will be played in the facility, other student groups like cheer, pom and band will be able to perform during true home games, and the track team will also now have a home competition venue. School spirit will improve as contests are held on the Norman North campus, and elementary students who will be future Timberwolves have the opportunity to participate in field days and spend time on their future high school campus.”
The 2023 bond resolution included $24,085,000 for the stadium project. For more information about the projects included in the bond, visit normanpublicschools.org/bond.