Graham Stadium

[Fairlawncat]

28 minutes ago, Cane4lf said:

As someone outside the situation, you may not be aware of all the details. This isn't about opposition to the stadium itself—most people support it. The real issue is the lack of planning. This situation will be longer than just one year. With proper foresight and coordination, not a single student would have had to bear the consequences. The impact on the kids could—and should—have been entirely avoided.

Brother is it really that impacting on a kid to play 5 games out of Mitchell and still play 3 games at Graham in which those kids make history? 3 home playoff games at Tazewell? Is that that big of a stressor or setback for kids? Dude, there's Lou Gehrigs disease, possible nuclear war, metastatic brain cancer, losing a job you had for 20 years, those are setbacks. The kids are worried about their girlfriends and the next social media post. They won't be scarred for life by traveling some for one year. You are describing a true first world problem.

I don't claim to know the details on planning, but I do know Eric. I played against him and kept in touch. Betcha Graham has a fully functional home stadium by August 2026. Won't be 3 years. 

Even if the planning was bad and sounds like it was, everyone in the situation is now here at this point and there's no going back. All you can do now is plan correctly or for the future. 

[SwvaOG]

32 minutes ago, Fairlawncat said:

Brother is it really that impacting on a kid to play 5 games out of Mitchell and still play 3 games at Graham in which those kids make history? 3 home playoff games at Tazewell? Is that that big of a stressor or setback for kids? Dude, there's Lou Gehrigs disease, possible nuclear war, metastatic brain cancer, losing a job you had for 20 years, those are setbacks. The kids are worried about their girlfriends and the next social media post. They won't be scarred for life by traveling some for one year. You are describing a true first world problem.

I don't claim to know the details on planning, but I do know Eric. I played against him and kept in touch. Betcha Graham has a fully functional home stadium by August 2026. Won't be 3 years. 

Even if the planning was bad and sounds like it was, everyone in the situation is now here at this point and there's no going back. All you can do now is plan correctly or for the future. 

I actually think this is a good compromise. They get three true home games at their place.  I think they rebounded pretty well.  If I'm Graham, I'm pushing for five home games in 2026 (whether they are Saturday or not) and then all five home games under the lights by 2027.  Once they get there, this will all be a blip.

[Cane4lf]

4 hours ago, Fairlawncat said:

Brother is it really that impacting on a kid to play 5 games out of Mitchell and still play 3 games at Graham in which those kids make history? 3 home playoff games at Tazewell? Is that that big of a stressor or setback for kids? Dude, there's Lou Gehrigs disease, possible nuclear war, metastatic brain cancer, losing a job you had for 20 years, those are setbacks. The kids are worried about their girlfriends and the next social media post. They won't be scarred for life by traveling some for one year. You are describing a true first world problem.

I don't claim to know the details on planning, but I do know Eric. I played against him and kept in touch. Betcha Graham has a fully functional home stadium by August 2026. Won't be 3 years. 

Even if the planning was bad and sounds like it was, everyone in the situation is now here at this point and there's no going back. All you can do now is plan correctly or for the 

I get the point you’re making — yes, in the grand scheme of life, there are far worse things than having to play games away from your home field. But this isn’t about comparing football to terminal illness or global crises. It’s about holding our local leadership accountable for a failure in planning that directly affects dozens of kids who only get one shot at their high school experience.

This isn’t just a minor inconvenience — it was a foreseeable disruption that could have been avoided with better foresight. Playing “some games away from Mitchell” and calling it history doesn't change the fact that students lost a sense of consistency, community support, and tradition that home games provide — especially for seniors. For some of these kids, this is their only chance to play in front of a home crowd. That matters. It's part of what shapes their memories and development.

Also, yes — let’s hope Graham has a stadium by August 2026. not hopeful, But if not that still means multiple classes of players will go their entire high school careers without ever playing a true home game. That is a setback in the context of their lives.

And while we can’t go back, ignoring how we got here is a mistake. If we don’t acknowledge the poor planning, we risk repeating it. Accountability isn’t about blame — it’s about learning, fixing, and doing right by the next group coming up. That’s not a first-world problem — that’s just leadership.

[Real Sasquatch]

1 hour ago, SwvaOG said:

I actually think this is a good compromise. They get three true home games at their place.  I think they rebounded pretty well.  If I'm Graham, I'm pushing for five home games in 2026 (whether they are Saturday or not) and then all five home games under the lights by 2027.  Once they get there, this will all be a blip.

I hope you're right.  The School system had the money to build the stadium, then it got "sequestered" by the county.  They will have to come up with new funding sources now.  I'm confident that they will do that.  My hope is they at least have seating and lighting up in a season or 2, the concessions and restrooms can be done later.  The School can be opened up for locker rooms beside the gym for the opponent and the field house can be used for Graham.  

[stu_bean]

44 minutes ago, Real Sasquatch said:

I hope you're right.  The School system had the money to build the stadium, then it got "sequestered" by the county.  They will have to come up with new funding sources now.  I'm confident that they will do that.  My hope is they at least have seating and lighting up in a season or 2, the concessions and restrooms can be done later.  The School can be opened up for locker rooms beside the gym for the opponent and the field house can be used for Graham.  

I know one Board of Supervisors that will be out after election as he is simply not running again.  Don't know about the other districts.  But I will be curious to see if anything changes or gets things rolling next year.

[EH31]

What’s the plan for middle school & JV games?

[CPF]

31 minutes ago, EH31 said:

What’s the plan for middle school & JV games?

Most likely at the school also

[Cane4lf]

1 hour ago, CPF said:

Most likely at the school also

So with no lights, games will be at 4pm? Great—guess working class parents can’t watch their own kids play. But hey, it’s not about these kids or their families, right? We’re sacrificing them for “the kids to come.” Gotta love that narrative. If only we were all supposed to just nod and follow along like sheep.

And let’s not even talk about logistics—bus issues are already a problem in the county. You really think Tazewell or Richlands is making it to a 4pm kickoff? Not likely. Add in the early sunsets once the time changes, and you're basically guaranteeing away games all season. Just another example of short-sighted planning that leaves the current generation holding the bag.

[CPF]

So what exactly is your answer to this problem?  Sign a 5 year lease? Is that better so that you aren't inconvenienced by this?  Elaborate I'm all ears. 

[jeffro]

 WOW   Thats all i can/should say

[Cane4lf]

1 hour ago, CPF said:

So what exactly is your answer to this problem?  Sign a 5 year lease? Is that better so that you aren't inconvenienced by this?  Elaborate I'm all ears. 

 

33 minutes ago, jeffro said:

 WOW   Thats all i can/should say

Last I heard, the proposal was 3 years for $324K.

First of all, I would never have left the ball in Bluefield, WV’s court. A little foresight goes a long way. It’s not like this contract expiration snuck up on us — everyone knew it was coming. A responsible approach would have been to plan for this well in advance, not act blindsided when Bluefield, WV made a business decision.

Let’s be honest: Graham High School should never have been in this position to begin with. The county had substantial funds, and instead of addressing the most urgent need — a school without a home field — they split the money evenly. That was the first major mistake. Tazewell got new turf, a track, and new visitor stands. Richlands got a turf field. And Graham, the only school without its own stadium, got nothing of lasting value. That’s indefensible.

What should’ve happened? Tazewell County should have prioritized installing lights and stands at the new learning facility — just enough to host games and gain independence from Bluefield, WV. It wouldn’t have been perfect — there’d still be work to do: concessions, locker rooms, restrooms, and parking. But we would’ve had control. No longer at the mercy of another town or another school system.

With that leverage, we could’ve negotiated the terms we wanted with Bluefield. Meanwhile, future funds — like the ones now being discussed — could have gone toward finishing the Graham facility and updating the other schools more gradually. But instead, we acted like there was no urgency, no obvious solution. Now Bluefield makes a move — a smart one, from a business standpoint — and we act shocked. We left the ball in their court, and they took it. That’s not betrayal — that’s just smart negotiation on their part.

Now, we’re reacting emotionally, not strategically. We’re making decisions out of bruised pride, not in the interest of the students or families affected. And the elected and hired officials are catering more to their own narratives than the people they represent.

So where are we now? The proposed cost is $324K over 3 years. For comparison, we were paying $60K a year before — $180K over three years — plus around $5K per playoff game. At two playoff games a year (and that’s conservative), that’s another $60K — totaling $240K. That means this new proposal is about $84K more over three years. If we could negotiate the playoff games into that $324K figure, then we’re only paying $28K more per year than before — a small price for stability and continuity while we fix past mistakes.

And if Bluefield won’t agree to include playoff games? Then you swallow your pride and pay the $324K plus $60K for playoffs — $384K total. Subtract the $240K we were paying before, and you’re talking about $144K over three years. That’s $48K per year. If we can’t afford that — if we really believe that’s too high a price — then we’ve either lied about having the funds to build our own facility, or we’ve admitted that we simply don’t care enough about the students and families being affected.

So we have a choice: lead with pride, or lead with principle.

[Beaverdad16]

Shame on the city of Bluefield WV for their greed and the school board of Tazewell Co for their lack of preparation. 
 

In the words of Donald Trump, they don’t know what the f they are doing. 

[Real Sasquatch]

I like the fact that Bluefield, VA folks are FINALLY getting pissed off.  I say let your representative on the B.O.S.  hear your complaints and maybe he can start trying to work towards a solution as well.  There are plenty of places to hold Middle School and Little League in Bluefield, Va.  There's the rec park and the Middle School Field.  The middle school field could easily be painted and folks can use their lawn chairs and blankets there for now.  The lower field at the rec park is plenty big enough for little league.  I'm sure it will all work out.  Might be a pain in the behind for a couple of years, but that's the situation the Graham folks are in, no thanks to the city of Bluefield, WV trying to take advantage of the situation that Graham is in.   They could have done a 2 year contract, but tried to force Graham into a 5 year contract, knowing full-well that Graham was building a stadium.  It is what it is, blame who you want, but at this point folks need to pull up their boot straps and try to help the situation.  

[Real Sasquatch]

16 minutes ago, Cane4lf said:

 

Last I heard, the proposal was 3 years for $324K.

First of all, I would never have left the ball in Bluefield, WV’s court. A little foresight goes a long way. It’s not like this contract expiration snuck up on us — everyone knew it was coming. A responsible approach would have been to plan for this well in advance, not act blindsided when Bluefield, WV made a business decision.

Let’s be honest: Graham High School should never have been in this position to begin with. The county had substantial funds, and instead of addressing the most urgent need — a school without a home field — they split the money evenly. That was the first major mistake. Tazewell got new turf, a track, and new visitor stands. Richlands got a turf field. And Graham, the only school without its own stadium, got nothing of lasting value. That’s indefensible.

What should’ve happened? Tazewell County should have prioritized installing lights and stands at the new learning facility — just enough to host games and gain independence from Bluefield, WV. It wouldn’t have been perfect — there’d still be work to do: concessions, locker rooms, restrooms, and parking. But we would’ve had control. No longer at the mercy of another town or another school system.

With that leverage, we could’ve negotiated the terms we wanted with Bluefield. Meanwhile, future funds — like the ones now being discussed — could have gone toward finishing the Graham facility and updating the other schools more gradually. But instead, we acted like there was no urgency, no obvious solution. Now Bluefield makes a move — a smart one, from a business standpoint — and we act shocked. We left the ball in their court, and they took it. That’s not betrayal — that’s just smart negotiation on their part.

Now, we’re reacting emotionally, not strategically. We’re making decisions out of bruised pride, not in the interest of the students or families affected. And the elected and hired officials are catering more to their own narratives than the people they represent.

So where are we now? The proposed cost is $324K over 3 years. For comparison, we were paying $60K a year before — $180K over three years — plus around $5K per playoff game. At two playoff games a year (and that’s conservative), that’s another $60K — totaling $240K. That means this new proposal is about $84K more over three years. If we could negotiate the playoff games into that $324K figure, then we’re only paying $28K more per year than before — a small price for stability and continuity while we fix past mistakes.

And if Bluefield won’t agree to include playoff games? Then you swallow your pride and pay the $324K plus $60K for playoffs — $384K total. Subtract the $240K we were paying before, and you’re talking about $144K over three years. That’s $48K per year. If we can’t afford that — if we really believe that’s too high a price — then we’ve either lied about having the funds to build our own facility, or we’ve admitted that we simply don’t care enough about the students and families being affected.

So we have a choice: lead with pride, or lead with principle.

Was anybody willing to come up with $324 K?  That's still $108 K per year.  That's taking advantage of the situation.  Let's not forget that the school system recently had $5.4 million "sequestered" by the County Board of Supervisors".  They "had" the money, until it was "sequestered".    Am I wrong about this?

I understand the frustration.

Anyway, it is what it is and hopefully from this point forward, those in charge will do what is right by these kids.

[jeffro]

19 minutes ago, Beaverdad16 said:

Shame on the city of Bluefield WV for their greed and the school board of Tazewell Co for their lack of preparation. 
 

In the words of Donald Trump, they don’t know what the f they are doing. 

Thank you!!

[Fairlawncat]

23 minutes ago, Cane4lf said:

 

Last I heard, the proposal was 3 years for $324K.

First of all, I would never have left the ball in Bluefield, WV’s court. A little foresight goes a long way. It’s not like this contract expiration snuck up on us — everyone knew it was coming. A responsible approach would have been to plan for this well in advance, not act blindsided when Bluefield, WV made a business decision.

Let’s be honest: Graham High School should never have been in this position to begin with. The county had substantial funds, and instead of addressing the most urgent need — a school without a home field — they split the money evenly. That was the first major mistake. Tazewell got new turf, a track, and new visitor stands. Richlands got a turf field. And Graham, the only school without its own stadium, got nothing of lasting value. That’s indefensible.

What should’ve happened? Tazewell County should have prioritized installing lights and stands at the new learning facility — just enough to host games and gain independence from Bluefield, WV. It wouldn’t have been perfect — there’d still be work to do: concessions, locker rooms, restrooms, and parking. But we would’ve had control. No longer at the mercy of another town or another school system.

With that leverage, we could’ve negotiated the terms we wanted with Bluefield. Meanwhile, future funds — like the ones now being discussed — could have gone toward finishing the Graham facility and updating the other schools more gradually. But instead, we acted like there was no urgency, no obvious solution. Now Bluefield makes a move — a smart one, from a business standpoint — and we act shocked. We left the ball in their court, and they took it. That’s not betrayal — that’s just smart negotiation on their part.

Now, we’re reacting emotionally, not strategically. We’re making decisions out of bruised pride, not in the interest of the students or families affected. And the elected and hired officials are catering more to their own narratives than the people they represent.

So where are we now? The proposed cost is $324K over 3 years. For comparison, we were paying $60K a year before — $180K over three years — plus around $5K per playoff game. At two playoff games a year (and that’s conservative), that’s another $60K — totaling $240K. That means this new proposal is about $84K more over three years. If we could negotiate the playoff games into that $324K figure, then we’re only paying $28K more per year than before — a small price for stability and continuity while we fix past mistakes.

And if Bluefield won’t agree to include playoff games? Then you swallow your pride and pay the $324K plus $60K for playoffs — $384K total. Subtract the $240K we were paying before, and you’re talking about $144K over three years. That’s $48K per year. If we can’t afford that — if we really believe that’s too high a price — then we’ve either lied about having the funds to build our own facility, or we’ve admitted that we simply don’t care enough about the students and families being affected.

So we have a choice: lead with pride, or lead with principle.

I agree with most of what you wrote, but it's still a temporary fix. You Assume that paying the fee for Mitchell Stadium and this incident will finally get TCSB in motion and planning and that they will build a stadium once that new contract is paid to Mitchell, TC ain't building brother. 

Bluefield WV didn't make a business decision. They made a crippling and dumb decision because when Graham gets their own field and Bluefield College and possibly Bluefield State follow, Bluefield, WV, will be in a mess. They have no tax base in Bluefield, WV. They made an ignorant decision. 

As for acting emotionally, I think that might be you and being hung up on how it's going to "hurt the kids." Are you sure it's not hurting You more than your son? Your son will be disappointed and upset not to play at Mitchell, but it will last 1 day until he's hanging out with his girlfriend and friends. But for you? How about you?  I think this more about You than it is the "kids". The kids don't give a damn. They just want to play. 

[jeffro]

 On Wiki:

The late H. Edward "Eddie" Steele said that the city had an inside contact with the federal Works Progress Administration who was able to steer WPA crews in the direction of Bluefield to build important municipal projects. Steele did not say who the connection was, but during Mitchell's 14 years as Bluefield city manager, the city was successful in completing a number of projects, including, but not limited to, the stadium that bears his name.

During Mitchell's tenure, the city installed a police radio system; built Bowen Field and erected a grandstand; managed to bring WPA crews to the city to erect the stone retaining walls along Princeton Avenue in the East end of the city; acquired the land and built the East River Playground for $5,000, and acquired the land and built a playground on the city's North side for $17,000; and built the Scott Street Municipal Parking Garage at a cost of $500,000. Nelson added that her father felt it was important for the city to remember its history, and led efforts to acquire and remove the old Davidson cabin to make way for the construction of Park Central High School, and to restore it in the city park complex near the stadium.

"My father wanted the stadium to serve all the schools of the Greater Bluefield area," Nelson said during a telephone interview. She added that a program of all the games scheduled to be played at the stadium in 1954 included Bluefield, Graham and Park Central high school games as well as Bluefield State College games that season. " This was a stadium for all to use. I think that is something my father would have been most proud of," Nelson said.

Bluefield BOS must have missed the last line

[Cane4lf]

5 minutes ago, Fairlawncat said:

I agree with most of what you wrote, but it's still a temporary fix. You Assume that paying the fee for Mitchell Stadium and this incident will finally get TCSB in motion and planning and that they will build a stadium once that new contract is paid to Mitchell, TC ain't building brother. 

Bluefield WV didn't make a business decision. They made a crippling and dumb decision because when Graham gets their own field and Bluefield College and possibly Bluefield State follow, Bluefield, WV, will be in a mess. They have no tax base in Bluefield, WV. They made an ignorant decision. 

As for acting emotionally, I think that might be you and being hung up on how it's going to "hurt the kids." Are you sure it's not hurting You more than your son? Your son will be disappointed and upset not to play at Mitchell, but it will last 1 day until he's hanging out with his girlfriend and friends. But for you? How about you?  I think this more about You than it is the "kids". The kids don't give a damn. They just want to play. 

 

7 minutes ago, Fairlawncat said:

I agree with most of what you wrote, but it's still a temporary fix. You Assume that paying the fee for Mitchell Stadium and this incident will finally get TCSB in motion and planning and that they will build a stadium once that new contract is paid to Mitchell, TC ain't building brother. 

Bluefield WV didn't make a business decision. They made a crippling and dumb decision because when Graham gets their own field and Bluefield College and possibly Bluefield State follow, Bluefield, WV, will be in a mess. They have no tax base in Bluefield, WV. They made an ignorant decision. 

As for acting emotionally, I think that might be you and being hung up on how it's going to "hurt the kids." Are you sure it's not hurting You more than your son? Your son will be disappointed and upset not to play at Mitchell, but it will last 1 day until he's hanging out with his girlfriend and friends. But for you? How about you?  I think this more about You than it is the "kids". The kids don't give a damn. They just want to play. 

Your assumption is way off base my friend. I do not have a son in the mix.  Just voicing an opinion.  

[CPF]

5 minutes ago, Fairlawncat said:

I agree with most of what you wrote, but it's still a temporary fix. You Assume that paying the fee for Mitchell Stadium and this incident will finally get TCSB in motion and planning and that they will build a stadium once that new contract is paid to Mitchell, TC ain't building brother. 

Bluefield WV didn't make a business decision. They made a crippling and dumb decision because when Graham gets their own field and Bluefield College and possibly Bluefield State follow, Bluefield, WV, will be in a mess. They have no tax base in Bluefield, WV. They made an ignorant decision. 

As for acting emotionally, I think that might be you and being hung up on how it's going to "hurt the kids." Are you sure it's not hurting You more than your son? Your son will be disappointed and upset not to play at Mitchell, but it will last 1 day until he's hanging out with his girlfriend and friends. But for you? How about you?  I think this more about You than it is the "kids". The kids don't give a damn. They just want to play. 

 

And I'll add to that BU has serious financial problems. They may not even have a football team in 5 years. Which makes an incredibly dumb decision even dumber. 

[Cane4lf]

7 minutes ago, CPF said:

 

And I'll add to that BU has serious financial problems. They may not even have a football team in 5 years. Which makes an incredibly dumb decision even dumber. 

Does anyone know the exact cost it takes to keep that stadium up? That seems like a reasonable question. To see if Bluefield WV is way out of line.   The last I remember BU and BSU didn’t have football programs not that long ago but Mitchell still made it work. 

[CPF]

Just now, Cane4lf said:

Does anyone know the exact cost it takes to keep that stadium up?  The last I remember BU and BSU didn’t have football programs not that long ago but Mitchell still made it work. 

Thats a great question. My guess is not nearly as much as one would think. Personally I think we are all subsidizing the city park Christmas light show that brings absolutely nothing financially to the city.

[VHSLhelper]

A better question is... what work is being planned that they want a 5-year commitment?

That stadium is getting old, and fixes aren't getting any cheaper.

 

[CPF]

3 minutes ago, VHSLhelper said:

A better question is... what work is being planned that they want a 5-year commitment?

That stadium is getting old, and fixes aren't getting any cheaper.

 

Most of the work will be behind the scenes stopping the Graham stadium from ever getting built.

[Real Sasquatch]

3 minutes ago, CPF said:

Most of the work will be behind the scenes stopping the Graham stadium from ever getting built.

Bingo.  At least they will try to stop it.  It'll get built, just gotta deal with a bunch of petty B.S.  

[Wolf1207]

Another idea would be for Graham to play their games at Bullet Park. They already own it! 
Sorry but had to go there!