Springdale looks for another football venue for this fall, but hopes to return to Vets Field in future

Springdale High School’s football team hopes to return to the borough’s Veterans Memorial Field in 2025, but it will be forced to play elsewhere for at least the upcoming season.

Allegheny Valley School District’s lease to use the field expires at the end of the school year. District officials have expressed concerns about a leaning wall on the visitors’ side of the borough-owned field and, following an engineer’s recommendation, they blocked off a section of the bleachers last season.

“Even if we still had the lease, I don’t know if we’d be able to play at Vets Field this season,” said Allegheny Valley Superintendent Pat Graczyk. “Last year, I had actually made the recommendation to play an away schedule because I was worried about the field.”

With the lease expiring, Allegheny Valley School Board voted this week to formally authorize district administrators to look for a place for Springdale’s football team to play this fall.

It appears that has already been in the works.

Graczyk said administrators have been in talks with other school districts about using their fields. He didn’t identify the other districts or provide details on the negotiations.

The district also is in communication with the borough about a potential return to Veterans Memorial Field, which typically draws 500 to 600 fans for games.

“We also are working with the borough. That’s all I’m willing to share publicly,” Graczyk said. “Things have been going very well. We’ve been talking with the borough. We’re optimistic about the future.”

As for the leaning wall, Graczyk said, “It does need to be addressed. We are working with the borough. We have a very good working relationship with the borough, and our conversations have been very positive.”

Three residents who addressed the school board at this week’s meeting asked about costs, booster club sales generated from games and the future of Veterans Memorial Field.

Graczyk said the district has prepared for the cost of having to bus the football team, band and other student performers for the upcoming season.

“We also are looking at outside venues that have concession stands so that our band can make money off the concessions,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s anybody on this board that didn’t have some difficulty in making the decision with what we did here,” board President Nino Pollino said.

Graczyk said the district hopes to find a field as soon as possible.

“We all want this to be a special season and an accessible season for folks,” board member Amy Sarno said. “This is something I know we care deeply about, and the administration is going to work really hard, and we are going to work really hard, that this is going to be OK.”