Post by Scott Crawford on Feb 18, 2013 12:02:35 GMT -6
Built in 1937 as part of the $12 million Works Progress Administration upgrades to the City Park of New Orleans, Tad Gormley Stadium has been the site of many historic events. Named after the Tad Gormley, the stadium's superintendent and former referee and coach, it hosted the Beatles concert in 1964 and the U.S. Track & Field Trials for the 1992 Olympics.
The stadium has also hosted 15 boys high school soccer championships (Div I and III in 2001, 02, 03, 04, 05, 11 and Div. I, II, and III in 2012), including the 2002 Jesuit vs. Brother Martin game, which according to some sources was the most watched soccer game in Louisiana history. It is estimated that 8,000 people were in attendance. It has also hosted 15 girls high school soccer championships, as well as a game between the U.S. under-23 National Soccer Team and the former New Orleans professional team, the Riverboat Gamblers, in 1995. Capacity is 26,500.
In 2005, Katrina flooded the city of New Orleans, including City Park. The stadium received five feet of flood waters. Thanks to donations from many sources, including the Sugar Bowl Foundation and Reggie Bush, the stadium received a new grass field. It reopened in the Fall of 2006. In 2009, the grass field was replaced with synthetic grass. This weekend will be the second time Tad Gormley hosts all six state championships.
The schedule is as follows:
Division III Girls Championship: Friday, February 22 at 5:00.
#1 Loyola vs #2 Sacred Heart
Division III Boys Championship: Friday, February 22 at 7:30.
#1 Newman vs. #2 Episcopal BR
Division II Girls Championship: Saturday, February 23 at 11:00.
#1 Vandebilt vs. #3 Ben Franklin
Division II Boys Championship: Saturday, February 23 at 1:30.
#2 St. Louis vs. #4 Beau Chene
Division I Girls Championship: Saturday, February 23 at 5:00.
#1 St. Scholastica vs #2 Lafayette
Division I Boys Championship: Saturday, February 23 at 7:30.
#1 Jesuit vs #2 St. Paul's.
Tad Gormley Stadium before Katrina
Tad Gormley during Katrina
Tad Gormley during the last two Division I state championships:
2011 (St. Paul's 3 Jesuit 2)
2012 (Jesuit 2 St. Paul's 1)
The stadium has also hosted 15 boys high school soccer championships (Div I and III in 2001, 02, 03, 04, 05, 11 and Div. I, II, and III in 2012), including the 2002 Jesuit vs. Brother Martin game, which according to some sources was the most watched soccer game in Louisiana history. It is estimated that 8,000 people were in attendance. It has also hosted 15 girls high school soccer championships, as well as a game between the U.S. under-23 National Soccer Team and the former New Orleans professional team, the Riverboat Gamblers, in 1995. Capacity is 26,500.
In 2005, Katrina flooded the city of New Orleans, including City Park. The stadium received five feet of flood waters. Thanks to donations from many sources, including the Sugar Bowl Foundation and Reggie Bush, the stadium received a new grass field. It reopened in the Fall of 2006. In 2009, the grass field was replaced with synthetic grass. This weekend will be the second time Tad Gormley hosts all six state championships.
The schedule is as follows:
Division III Girls Championship: Friday, February 22 at 5:00.
#1 Loyola vs #2 Sacred Heart
Division III Boys Championship: Friday, February 22 at 7:30.
#1 Newman vs. #2 Episcopal BR
Division II Girls Championship: Saturday, February 23 at 11:00.
#1 Vandebilt vs. #3 Ben Franklin
Division II Boys Championship: Saturday, February 23 at 1:30.
#2 St. Louis vs. #4 Beau Chene
Division I Girls Championship: Saturday, February 23 at 5:00.
#1 St. Scholastica vs #2 Lafayette
Division I Boys Championship: Saturday, February 23 at 7:30.
#1 Jesuit vs #2 St. Paul's.
Tad Gormley Stadium before Katrina
Tad Gormley during Katrina
Tad Gormley during the last two Division I state championships:
2011 (St. Paul's 3 Jesuit 2)
2012 (Jesuit 2 St. Paul's 1)