Ceres High School’s aging football stadium has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility.

Ceres Unified School District broke ground on the $7.8-million project this past spring.

The renovation is scheduled to be completed by late August.

“We’ve really invested the last few years in high school athletics,” said Kristi Britton, assistant superintendent of Business Services for CUSD.

“Being able to provide this for Ceres High School and Central Valley until its stadium is completed is something special,” she added. “I’m excited for the community to see the field and track.”

Upgrades included installing an AstroTurf Field, a Beynon all-weather track, a Daktronics scoreboard and air conditioning in the snack bar and team rooms.

The CHS Stadium Track and Field Project cost $6.7 million as CUSD used funding from its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Reserve to pay for the project.

JL Bray was the contractor.

The architect was Darden Architects.

ADA parking and pathway is scheduled to be installed by late August.

Ceres High’s practice field will be re-sodded and be ready for use in early November.

“Due to the influx of COVID funding and stimulus funding the district received over the past several years, a reserve was created in the LCAP,” Britton said. “Educational partners (staff, students, community) and the Board agreed to use some of that reserve to pay for artificial turf and all-weather tracks at both comprehensive high schools.

The CHS Scoreboard cost $499,351.

ACME completed the work, which was funded by District Routine Repair and Maintenance.

The Architect was FF&J Architects.

Air conditioning cost $590,512.47.

ACME was the contractor.

Architect was FF&J Architects.

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER I) state funding paid for the project.

“I’m thrilled with the way it turned out,” said Brett Johnson, head coach of the Bulldogs’ football and track and field programs. “It looks beautiful. We haven’t had any updates to our fields and playing surfaces since the mid-1990s. To finally get something that is not only safe—that’s the No. 1 priority—and looks nice is very exciting. When people see it (inside of the stadium) for the first time in person, it’s going to be a wow factor.”

“It’s pretty surreal,” Ceres High senior football player/track and field sprinter Reis Smith said. “I never thought it would happen during my time at Ceres. We need to appreciate what we have.”

“I’ve only played on FieldTurf a handful of times,” Bulldogs’ football/track and field standout Elias Carrera stated. “Ours looks very nice. I’m looking forward to playing on it and not worrying about any setbacks. The center of the old field would get really bad. There was no grass. It was dirt and mud.”

“It’s the same AstroTurf used at Fresno State,” Britton added.

Members of Ceres High’s football program practiced on the field for the first time last Thursday.

Red & White scrimmages were held on Friday.

“It’s a whole different vibe when you walk in,” Johnson said. “Everything pops. I love the red end zones. The Bulldog (logo) in the middle of the field looks amazing. Having a gray track makes the field stand out more. We have something nice that will last. It’s a new era. I’m hoping we can create a week for alumni to come back.”

“Seeing it in person was awesome,” Smith stated. “The colors pop. Compared to other turf fields in the area, I could feel the difference. It’s stickier and not as hot.”

Ceres High and Central Valley coaches toured the renovated stadium earlier month during a professional development meeting.

Central Valley’s home football games are held at Ceres High.

“It looks great,” Hawks’ head coach/former Bulldogs’ standout quarterback Derrick Goblirsch said. “It’s 10 times better than it was before. The colors really pop. It made sense to get FieldTurf out there. Over the years, it’s had a lot of wear and tear.” 

The stadium will also be used by Ceres High girls flag football, boys and girls soccer and track and field athletes.

The facility’s old dirt track would flood during rainy weather.

“When sprinklers came on, we’d lose lanes one and two,” Johnson said. “We’d have to scoop water off so we could actually practice. The drainage was so bad. Our custodial group was amazing. They’d help us out to give us a surface that was usable.”

“We were at such a huge disadvantage,” he added.

“Dirt makes your feet feel kind of heavy,” Smith stated. “Having an all-weather track under your feet definitely feels different. Times will be faster.”

Past upgrades at Ceres High’s football stadium included a new snack bar, two P.E. classrooms with a storage shed, and updated bathrooms. Those improvements were made for $2.3 million in 2014.

Central Valley’s stadium could be ready for use as early as the fall of 2026.

Phase one of the project includes installing an artificial turf field, an all-weather track, home-and-away bleachers, and a ticket booth/restroom/concession stand building.

The parking lot will also be modified and improved.

LCAP reserve funds will cover the cost of the project.

“We’re in the design phase process,” Britton said. “We’re hoping to select a contractor this fall. The goal is to break ground on the project in December of this year.”

“It’s exciting it’s finally in motion,” said Goblirsch. “It’s going to be really nice. It’s going to help foster more school pride in our football program. It’s going to be special for our seniors to play on their home field for the first time.”

“I’ve always wanted CV to have their own field,” Johnson added. “It gives their players home pride. That’s important.”