In January of 2017, construction will begin on the new site of Valdosta High School. The current facility, located on North Forrest Street, is over 40 years old, having opened its doors in 1972. The school will encompass 126 instructional units, 15 science labs, and many other accommodations for future Wildcats to use to their advantage. One addition, however, will be noticeably absent: a football stadium.
“The first phase of construction does not include a new football field or stadium,” said Jennifer Steedley, Valdosta City Schools Public Relations Director. “But there is room in the master plan for future growth and expansion to include one.”
The current venue, Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, sits just off Patterson Street, and it is a venue that football fans around the country have come to know and respect as the home of the most storied team in the nation.
“Our current stadium definitely meets our needs,” Steedley said. “We are proud of the tradition maintained within that facility.”
Bazemore-Hyder Stadium at Cleveland Field, built in 1922 and opened in 1924, is every bit as historic as the legendary football team that calls it home. Between these lines, the Valdosta Wildcats have claimed 41 region, 23 state, and six national championships. In 2008, Valdosta, Ga., was crowned Titletown, USA by ESPN; it is only fitting that a stadium of such legacy be nestled deep in the heart of the city.
The field itself is named in honor of longtime Valdosta City School System superintendent, Dr. A.G. Cleveland. In 1996, the stadium was given the current name, paying tribute to two of the most storied and successful coaches in the school’s history. Wright Bazemore (1941-42, 1946-71) and Nick Hyder (1974-1995) gave nearly 50 years of their lives to the program, bringing home a collective 21 state titles. They also combined to win all six of the Wildcats’ national championships.
Sitting alongside the field is the Wildcat Museum, named in honor of David S. Waller, who was involved with the school system for nearly 70 years. Within the museum are trophies, photographs, and other memorabilia that chronicle the unforgettable road that the Wildcats have taken to the present.
Capacity: 11,249
Most Recent Renovation: 2004
South Georgia /August 2015
Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
Valdosta, Ga.
By James Washington
