Graham Stadium

[Gridiron60]

I haven’t seen any progress on the stadium this spring. As a matter of fact, they didn’t even play soccer games there which seems crazy with the new field. I’m guessing not having lights played a part since soccer can run until dark when there’s three games and no visitor seating perhaps. It seems to me the school board, board of supervisors, and/or town of Bluefield aren’t following through at this point.
Anybody have any updates or in the know about the situation ? 

[jeffro]

ive been going by there every once in a while, as well looking for progress and like you said none.  its hard to imagine much of a stadium there due to the massive water collection on one side of the field and close proximity to the school. But i guess they have it figured out

[EH31]

bluefield, va. — While a conditional use permit for a new football stadium at Graham

High School was approved last December, the development of the stadium is a process that will take time, according to school officials.

Last December the Bluefield, Va., Town Council approved a conditional use permit allowing the Tazewell County School Board to build a stadium next to Graham High School. As currently proposed, the stadium would be developed at the site of the existing outdoor learning and sports facility at GHS.

"The track is there and the turf is there,"

Tazewell County School Superintendent Dr.

Chris Stacy said. "In time we would add bleachers, home bleachers and a press box. It would not be all at once.

"In time we would add bleachers, home bleachers and a press box. It would not be all at once. We would do it in

sections."

That process has not yet started, nor has an engineering firm been selected to oversee the development of aspects of the new stadium.

"The only updates is it is still in progress," Stacy said. "The next phase would obviously be trying to get some bleachers or lights in.

It is still something that is a project and it is something we want to complete."

In the meantime, the G-Men of Graham High School would presumably continue to play their home games at Mitchell Stadium in neighboring Bluefield, which the high school has been doing for years.
 

Stacy said the school system's contract with the city of Bluefield for the use of Mitchell Stadium is back up for consideration, adding that the contract will be presented to the school board next week

"It is our contract year," Stacy said. "The city will send me a contract and I'll present it to the school board."

Stacy said it will be up to the school board to decide where the G-Men play, adding that other options for home games include the football stadium at Tazewell High School.

 

 

there’s plenty more to this article if you’d like to read it in today’s version of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph 

[Mountain Football]

Translation......... stadium will be like the many things on my Honey Do list. They have been started a completion date is yet to be determined. Similar to the Bluestone Technology Park and the Minnow Farm. 

[Gridiron60]

1 hour ago, Mountain Football said:

Translation......... stadium will be like the many things on my Honey Do list. They have been started a completion date is yet to be determined. Similar to the Bluestone Technology Park and the Minnow Farm. 

Yep, in other words, Graham has a new practice field , the end. I’m not complaining, it’s a super nice practice field. It’s just a shame that’s all it’s going to be for the foreseeable future. 

[VHSLhelper]

18 hours ago, Mountain Football said:

 Similar to the Bluestone Technology Park and the Minnow Farm. 

Funny, I was just reading about the fish.
Current estimates...  $350ish Million, start in 2028, start selling in 2030.
And I wonder if they'll keep the name "Pure Salmon", considering they just announced that due to the upcoming inflation that the tariffs will cause, they're switching from salmon to steelhead trout, which is more affordable. 

[jeffro]

59 minutes ago, VHSLhelper said:

Funny, I was just reading about the fish.
Current estimates...  $350ish Million, start in 2028, start selling in 2030.
And I wonder if they'll keep the name "Pure Salmon", considering they just announced that due to the upcoming inflation that the tariffs will cause, they're switching from salmon to steelhead trout, which is more affordable. 

Due to trade restrictions,  I heard minnows were raised 

[VHSLhelper]

"were raised"???

Where? In a fishbowl??

[Mountain Football]

I feel for sure sixcat could enlighten us on the engineering process. If they haven't chosen an engineering firm much less started that process, I'm going to say we are a LONG ways from a stadium. 

[Real Sasquatch]

6 time State Champion that doesn't have a Home Stadium....smh

[EH31]

4 hours ago, Real Sasquatch said:

6 time State Champion that doesn't have a Home Stadium....smh

They play their home games in “America’s Best High School Football Stadium.”
 

What more could you want? 

[cityofRaven]

On 5/11/2025 at 6:39 PM, Real Sasquatch said:

6 time State Champion that doesn't have a Home Stadium....smh

Phoebus, an 11-time state champion; Hampton, an 18-time state champion; Bethel, a 3-time state champion; and Kecoughtan all share a home stadium at Darling Memorial Stadium. 

I think Graham will be just fine. 

[frito gonzales]

They did have a track meet there and they got some nice new benches. I guess that's something?

[Fairlawncat]

40 minutes ago, cityofRaven said:

Phoebus, an 11-time state champion, Hampton, a 5-time state champion, Bethel, a 3-time state champion, and Kecoughtan all share a home stadium at Darling Memorial Stadium. 

I think Graham will be just fine. 

Crabbers have 18 titles

[FootballFan67]

At the school board meeting last night cliff notes version:

City of Bluefield asked for a 5 year contract (not sure what the $$ amount was & if it differed from latest contract)

Board asked Chris Stacy to negotiate a one year contract

City of Bluefield countered with a three year contract for $108,000 per year (it wasn't stated if that amount included playoff games)

No action was taken on the contract. I'm presuming part of the reason is that not all board members were present last night and perhaps to evaluate the possibility of still seeking a one year contract since no action was taken. 

Chris Stacy said he would bring it to the board at the next meeting. 

[jeffro]

Wow.  It would be interesting to know what Bluefield and Bluefield college pay.  

[Mountain Football]

https://www.wvva.com/2025/05/13/bluefield-city-board-approves-rate-hike-use-mitchell-stadium/

[Gridiron60]

1 hour ago, Mountain Football said:

https://www.wvva.com/2025/05/13/bluefield-city-board-approves-rate-hike-use-mitchell-stadium/

I honestly thought it was more than $60,000. It seems like TCPS & City of Bluefield are looking to get in a pissing match. It’s crazy to think Bluefield wants $108,000 for Graham to play there the next three years if that’s accurate when the universities practice & play there and won’t be charged as much. 

[EH31]

15 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

I honestly thought it was more than $60,000. It seems like TCPS & City of Bluefield are looking to get in a pissing match. It’s crazy to think Bluefield wants $108,000 for Graham to play there the next three years if that’s accurate when the universities practice & play there and won’t be charged as much. 

It’s not really that crazy to think. 
 

The universities aren’t trying to build their own stadiums and they haven’t bad mouthed the city of Bluefield like the residents and leaders of Tazewell County has. 

Bluefield, WV is just calling the bluff. 

 

[Gridiron60]

1 minute ago, EH31 said:

It’s not really that crazy to think. 
 

The universities aren’t trying to build their own stadiums and they haven’t bad mouthed the city of Bluefield like the residents and leaders of Tazewell County has. 

Bluefield, WV is just calling the bluff. 

 

Upping the price by nearly $40,000 per year if a five year contract isn’t signed, seems a bit ridiculous to me. TCPS should have built Graham their own stadium years ago. I’d fast track those seats , pressbox & lights if I were TCPS, Tazewell BOS, & Town of Bluefield. 

[Gridiron60]

17 minutes ago, EH31 said:

 

[EH31]

3 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

Upping the price over $40,000 per year if a five year contract isn’t signed, seems a bit ridiculous to me. TCPS should have built Graham their own stadium years ago. I’d fast track those seats , pressbox & lights if I were TCPS, Tazewell BOS, & Town of Bluefield. 

Right.. but they can’t. They’re millions of dollars and multiple years away from it happening. 
 

Bluefield, WV isn’t upping the price $40,000. They offered a contract with a rental fee $62,500, increasing by 2% yearly, over 5 years. Roughly 320k over 5 years.
 

If the $108,000 per year for 3 years is correct then that means they’re basically asking for close to the same amount of total money (324k). 
 

It’s a smart move by the city of Bluefield.  
 

Tazewell County put theirselves in a vulnerable negotiating position with all the public statements about the new stadium being built. 

[EH31]

10 hours ago, FootballFan67 said:

At the school board meeting last night cliff notes version:

City of Bluefield asked for a 5 year contract (not sure what the $$ amount was & if it differed from latest contract)

Board asked Chris Stacy to negotiate a one year contract

City of Bluefield countered with a three year contract for $108,000 per year (it wasn't stated if that amount included playoff games)

No action was taken on the contract. I'm presuming part of the reason is that not all board members were present last night and perhaps to evaluate the possibility of still seeking a one year contract since no action was taken. 

Chris Stacy said he would bring it to the board at the next meeting. 

In 2023 the contract was originally brought up in April but wasn’t approved until July.  

[Gridiron60]

1 minute ago, EH31 said:

Right.. but they can’t. They’re millions of dollars and multiple years away from it happening. 
 

Bluefield, WV isn’t upping the price $40,000. They offered a contract with a rental fee $62,500, increasing by 2% yearly, over 5 years. Roughly 320k over 5 years.
 

If the $108,000 per year for 3 years is correct then that means they’re basically asking for close to the same amount of total money (324k). 
 

It’s a smart move by the city of Bluefield.  
 

Tazewell County put theirselves in a vulnerable negotiating position with all the public statements about the new stadium being built. 

By that, if Bluefield agrees to a one year contract , TCPS can expect to pay $324,000. I’m puzzled if the last contract was for two years, why not offer that again. I’m not really puzzled, it’s tantamount to extortion by Bluefield, WV city government. 

[EH31]

8 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

By that, if Bluefield agrees to a one year contract , TCPS can expect to pay $324,000. I’m puzzled if the last contract was for two years, why not offer that again. I’m not really puzzled, it’s tantamount to extortion by Bluefield, WV city government. 

It’s not extortion because the city of Bluefield isn’t forcing Tazewell County to do anything. 

Chris Stacy has mentioned multiple times, including once in the last week, that Tazewell County has other options for Graham to play football games at.  
 

The city of Bluefield is just showing their cards and testing Tazewell County’s willingness to pay.