A local community looks forward to a new football stadium

MILAN, TN - After years of planning, the city of Milan is almost ready for Friday night lights on their new field.

30 years of planning, waiting for votes, designing, and breaking ground.

The new Johnnie Hale Stadium in Milan, Tennessee is near finished, but there were a few more bumps in the road during the process.

“Between normal construction problems and then the weather that we had at the very beginning and then you throw in a pandemic, it has been an exciting process", says Jonathan Criswell.

Director of schools for the Milan Special School District, Jonathan Criswell. says a pandemic was the last thing he thought would slow down the opening of the new stadium.

Football season is scheduled to begin August 20th, although that date is up in the air Criswell says everyone is working to make sure they are ready for whatever date they begin.

“The football teams are working hard, cheerleaders are working hard, band is about to crank up and begin the process, so everybody is investing in the work to make sure that when we do have the opportunity to perform here under the lights on Friday night that we’ll all be ready to go", he added.

Criswell says this will not only benefit students, but the entire community.

“So this will be a great time for our community it is a great investment both for our students and our educational system but also for the economy of our community.”

Now, athletic teams across the state are waiting for the TSSAA to clarify how they will begin their new season. Imani Williams, for 39 news, in Milan.