Tulsa Parents React To TPS Football Stadium Switch

Two Tulsa high school football teams played on their new home fields Friday evening.  Tulsa Public Schools say security concerns forced the stadium switch earlier this month.

Some parents say they're excited about the change and moving to a new location like Milton Stadium is not all bad.

Central High School is now playing on their new home field. They used to be across town at Booker T's stadium.  The Braves are now playing at Webster High School's Milton Stadium.

9/20/2103 Related Story: Security Concerns Shift Central, Rogers High School Football Venues

"I'm excited to see what it's going to be like," said Cindy Mangold.

Cindy Mangold has a senior at Central High and she was getting used to her trips to Booker T's S.E. Williams Stadium at 1514 East Zion.

East Central parent Shirley Bradley says the moves to new fields are a good choice by administrators.

"Oh, I love coming over here so this works great for me. I'm very satisfied with the choices they made," said Shirley Bradley.

Bradley says she was concerned about trips to other stadiums.

"Honestly, I was worried because just the stories I hear from the past years or from the past games you seriously worry as a parent," said Shirley Bradley.

Two incidents, one involving a post-game fight and another where a sawed off shotgun was brought to a game, prompted Tulsa Public School administrators to move Central High from their home field at Booker T to Webster's football stadium at 1919 West 40th Street.

Rogers used to play at Milton Stadium, now they play at S.E. Williams Stadium.

Tulsa Public School Police say these changes keep the focus on the game and on the field. Police Chief Gary Rudick says people not involved in the games use these events as places to cause trouble.

"It allows them to do things that have nothing with supporting kids. It's a selfish self-centered approach that allows them to do what they want them to do and sometimes that's cause trouble and we just don't need that," said police chief Gary Rudick.

TPS Police officers presence appeared to be lower at this week's games.

Rogers played their first home against Fort Gibson at S.E. Williams Stadium Friday.