The saga of Citizens Field took another turn last week.
The home of the football teams from Gainesville’s three public high schools – Buchholz, Eastside and Gainesville High – was set to be purchased by the Alachua County School Board from the City of Gainesville. The city has owned the field for decades and signed a 40-year lease to the school district in 1984 for $1 per year to have the school board handle maintenance.
The field, though, has fallen into disrepair in recent years. With the lease ending a few years ago, the city and school board have operated on a year-by-year basis for the last two seasons.
Then, in December, the city decided it wanted to be rid of the facility all together and sell it to the school district. On June 16, the board said “not so fast.”
It voted to reject the city’s proposal, which called for the site to be purchased at $5.5 million and additional construction costs between $22-25 million.
Criticism came from board member Tina Certain – who called the board “irresponsible” for spending 18 months working on a deal just to reject it.
Two days later, June 18, the Gainesville City Commission voted to send a letter to the district, asking whether it wants to proceed with the purchase under different terms. The board has until Aug. 31 to respond.
This mess has left the schools confused and frustrated; athletic directors Thomas Pankey (Buchholz), Donald Buie (Eastside) and Phillip Knight (GHS) have been left out of negotiations.
, but both Pankey and Buie spoke to the Sun.
Which city schools support on-campus stadiums?
An increased appetite for on-campus stadiums was perhaps the biggest takeaway from the June 16 meeting. Chairperson Thomas Wu – a former BHS teacher – said he’d prefer the idea.
Pankey said the thought has been discussed at Buchholz for years. Given the recent events, he called it “naïve to not begin to kick the tires.”
The Bobcats already have an on-campus field with stands. More bleachers, a concession stand and press box would need to be added.
The investment could be worth it. Buchholz would save money on bussing its team and band across town for every game. In addition, the school pays seven Gainesville Police Officers $100 per hour to man the games at Citizens. Pankey said that number would drop by 75% if the games are at BHS.
“I want what is best for our student-athletes, and we will do what is necessary for that,” Pankey said.
Buie, an Eastside alumnus who started as athletic director Wednesday, acknowledged the historical significance of Eastside to Citizens Field. The field is on the east side of Gainesville, and the Rams were the lone tenant in the 1980s when BHS and GHS played at Florida Field.
Even he’s ready for a change, though. Being so new in his role, he doesn’t know about the financials, but he believes it is possible since – like Buchholz – the school has a large practice field on campus.
He called it bittersweet if a Rams team left Citizens, but he proclaimed excitement would be rampant for a new facility.
All in all, Buie yearns for a more inclusive process – one where all sides work together to for a common goal.
What to do about GHS?
Gainesville High, however, has a problem: There isn’t enough space for a stadium on campus.
Built in the 1950s off NW 13th Street and surrounded by homes, GHS can’t build a facility big enough for its crowds. It is the closest of the three to Citizens at 2.6 miles.
Certain, the school board member, warned of this during the June 16 meeting. Pankey said that, instead of purchasing Citizens, he prefers splitting the $30 million across the three schools. Buchholz and Eastside would each get $10 million for their own stadiums; GHS could take its share to to renovate Citizens and continue to play there.
Knight declined the Sun’s request for comment since the board has not consulted GHS.
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1, Instagram @Ramreporter and Facebook Noah Ram – Reporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: As Citizens Field stalemate drags on, could on-campus stadiums happen?
Reporting by Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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By Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
