Prattville Lions to play home games in Wetumpka as massive stadium renovation continues

Marty Roney, Montgomery Advertiser
·3 min read

PRATTVILLE − Friday night lights won’t be the in cards for Prattville during the upcoming football season as a massive stadium renovation is forcing the Prattville Lions to hit the road for four out of five home games.

Stanley-Jensen Stadium, home turf of the Lions, is getting a makeover at a cost of about $17 million. The stadium is owned by the City of Prattville. Work began in October.

Negotiations are now ongoing between the Autauga County Board of Education and the City of Wetumpka for the Lions to use that city’s new municipal stadium, which opened in 2021. Exact details like dates and costs are being worked out, said Autauga Schools Superintendent Lyman Woodfin.

Plans were to play home games at the stadium while construction was ongoing, if that was possible.

“It looks like Prattville will play the first four home games at Wetumpka, at least that’s what the plan is,” said District 6 Prattville City Councilman Robert Strichik who chairs the parks and recreation committee. “We want the final home game to be played in Prattville, so our seniors, and the band, can end the season at home.”

Strichik has shepherded the $16.78 million stadium project since the plans were first floated about three years ago. He understands what not having a full slate of home games means to the students, and community. He’s a PHS alum and the play-by-play announcer for the Lions' home games.

Construction crews continue work on Stanley Jensen Stadium in Prattville, Ala., on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Construction crews continue work on Stanley Jensen Stadium in Prattville, Ala., on Monday, March 11, 2024.

“It’s disappointing, but once the stadium is completed it will be a much better facility,” he said. “This is a 16-month long project. We knew construction was going to be going on during the football season.

“A project of this size, we aren’t building a house, you’re going to see delays. In this situation it’s a case of just ripping the Band-Aid off and going forward.”

Work is set to be completed Jan. 1.

Costs of using Wetumpka’s stadium will be paid by the board of education, with the amount still being negotiated, Woodfin said.

Other groups will see an impact on the bottom line as well. Losing home games means the loss of ticket sales, parking fees and concessions, all of which financially support the school, quarterback club and band boosters.

The stadium is also used by other schools’ and city league sports teams. Other groups have leased the stadium in the past for sporting and other events.

Plans include keeping the current home stands and turning them into the visitors' side, razing the concrete seating that is the current visitors side and creating new home stands. Other plans include:

  • Locker rooms for home and visiting teams.

  • Bathrooms and concession stands.

  • A scoreboard with a large video screen

The money for the project will come from the renewed one-cent sales tax that was earmarked to pay for the city's debt service. The plan is to float a bond issue for the work with the balance coming from cash on hand, using federal COVID-19 relief funds and a pledged donation of $1.7 million from the Autauga County Board of Education for the stadium.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

Signs promote the stadium renovation during the Prattville vs. Stanhope Elmore game Stanley-Jensen Stadium in Prattville, Ala., on Friday September 29, 2023.
Signs promote the stadium renovation during the Prattville vs. Stanhope Elmore game Stanley-Jensen Stadium in Prattville, Ala., on Friday September 29, 2023.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Prattville stadium work may move PHS home games to Wetumpka