Banning High JV Plays First Game on New Ground, Ceremonies at 5:30 p.m.

The junior varsity Broncos take on Bloomington High at 3:15 p.m. Thursday on Banning High School's new football field.

It will be the first competitive game played on the new ground. The Broncos varsity team plays its home opener against Bloomington on the new field at 7 p.m. Friday.

Grand opening ceremonies for the field and facility are scheduled at 5:30 p.m., Banning High assistant principal Matt Valdivia said.

The new football ground includes an electronic scoreboard, press box, synthetic field, two on-the-field locker rooms, and two concession facilities.

"To me it’s like a breath of fresh air," Banning football coach and athletic director Scott McRitchie said in July, on the day of the first practice on the new field.

The football field at nearby Nicolette Middle School used to serve as the home field for the Broncos. The team had to transition to the aging Nicolette field every day after school and suit up in a storage bin for practices and home games.

"We’ve gone from changing clothes in a storage bin with a dirt floor to an air conditioned facility," McRitchie said in July. "We did our halftime stuff in there too. It’s a huge difference for us."

In addition to the new football stadium the school’s new sports facility includes two baseball fields, two softball fields, and basketball courts for physical education classes.

"It's just a huge step," McRitchie said in July. "We are very fortunate that the community stepped up like this."