After the summer-long construction, the new stadium is open. The new expanded area is ready for all crowd-goers after last night’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

“The student bleachers are going to be great because of the amount of people that usually show up for the games,” Amanda Russo, sophomore, said. “The student section is always so packed, so being in the new bleachers, everyone is going to be able to fit and I think we will all look better [as a student section] supporting the school.”

The new bleachers are able to hold more than twice of the number of people, with a new seating capacity of 2,438. A new press box was also installed, as well as a storage unit under the bleachers for the athletic department, according to Ryan Rubenstein, assistant principal of facilities and activities.

“We’re going to be able to fit everyone and anyone that wants to come to the game,” Rubenstein said. “There’s plenty of room for everybody. The band will be in the stands this year, so there will be plenty of room for them. Even with parents and the rest of the community, there’s going to be enough room for everybody.”

The stadium officially opened last night when Doug Goldberg, president of CUSD 95 Board of Education, cut the ribbon in a ceremony that went on in spite of rain earlier in the day.

“All of the changes we’ve made out there are significant enough that once we get a good crowd out there, people will notice a lot of the changes,” Rubenstein said. “Beyond the bleacher size, there’s room underneath the bleachers to walk through. Everything we’ve done out there to me, is top-notch and the way a stadium should be.”

Although the stadium has been used for games and other events already, the varsity football team will have its first chance to host fans at their home game on September 18 against Zion. Fans should be ready to show their school spirit during the “blackout” theme in the new bleachers next Friday.