If you build it, they will come.
Sure, this may be a baseball reference, but people came out in waves to be part of the grand opening of Sylvester Stadium at Berrien Springs High School on Friday, August 27th, where the Shamrocks defeated the Benton Harbor Tigers 26-6.
The Shamrocks defeated the Tigers 26-6, making for a memorable debut.
Berrien Springs Public Schools broke ground on the new stadium back in 2019. The facility encompasses 13,000 square feet, with a capacity to hold up to 1,258 fans on the home side and 500 fans on the visitors’ side. Games were played with limited attendance in 2020 due to Covid-19, setting the stage for a true unveiling this season.
The stadium will serve as the home for several programs: football, soccer, track and field, marching band, and other related activities. The multi-purpose facility features an artificial playing surface, offices for coaches, a large display board, trainers’ rooms and large locker rooms for boys’ and girls’ teams.
The original Sylvester Field was built in 1938, and was updated in 1999. The old facility had no team locker rooms. Shamrock athletes used the storage building while the visiting team used the hallway in the adjacent elementary building. There was no storage there, and the press box was a one-story wooden box that housed 12-15 at most.
CARMI Design Group, Inc. was the architecture firm on the project, while Pearson Construction was the management company. For more information on the Sylvester Stadium project, visit: https://www.homeoftheshamrocks.org/sylvester-stadium-project
The new facilities represent significant investment in the community and already well-regarded school system, and are a point of pride for Berrien Springs residents. Come out to a game soon and enjoy this new jewel in the Village of Berrien Springs!
