Central High School Hosts First-Ever Game In Home Stadium

For the first time in more than 100 years, Central High School has its own football field. Tonight is also Homecoming for the Braves' game against Mannford.

The waiting game is over and Central High Football fans said having their own stadium is a win in their books. The Friday night lights hit a little differently than when Kirby Counce was a student in 1979.

"This is just, it's fabulous. This is just, this is a dream. You know, we're a 115-year-old school, we finally got our own home field. I mean that's powerful," said Counce. 

In the past, the Central High School Football Team played all its "home" games at either Webster or Booker T.

"To imagine, I think it was 15,481 days ago that I graduated from Central," said Counce. 

For the first time in the school's history, tonight's homecoming game against Mannford takes place on "Brave" turf. 

"I wish we'd had it, but now's the time," said Counce. 

School leaders and alumni held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the school's brand new, $3-million football stadium.

"When you play a home game, and you have to get on a bus and go to another facility it doesn't feel like your home game," said Supt. Deborah Gist, Tulsa Public Schools.

"We just finally stopped renting out apartments and finally came home," said Benjamin Williams, Class of 1985. " It may not be the biggest or the fanciest, but it's ours."

Keith Miller played an instrumental role in making the stadium possible before he died earlier this year. His son said Dad would be proud.

"I can hear him hollering a screaming, saying here we go," said Keith Miller the 2nd.

"They may spend four years at this facility but they're gonna be brave the rest of their life," said Counce.

The new stadium includes a new concessions stand, ticket booth, and press box as well as home and visitor bleachers, locker rooms, and restrooms. The project is part of a $415 million bond project passed by Tulsa voters in 2015.