Vote for Ohio's Best Stadiums
USA Today Partners With Local Ohio Journalists to Poll Best High School Football Stadiums
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Eleven Ohio communities are now voting to decide which high school football stadium deserves the title of best in the state. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette reports the poll opened June 28 and runs through July 3, with results set to drop on July 4 as part of USA Today's "250 for 250" celebration of America's 250th anniversary.
Sports journalists from markets including Ashland, Mansfield, Chillicothe, Zanesville, and Fremont spent weeks compiling shortlists of iconic venues. Fans who feel their favorite stadium was left out can write it in directly on the ballot.
Eleven Ohio Markets Join Forces for This Poll
The poll is a collaboration across 11 smaller USA Today-owned newspapers in Ohio. The Daily Record notes the participating markets are Ashland, Bucyrus, Cambridge, Chillicothe, Coshocton, Fremont, Lancaster, Mansfield, Marion, Port Clinton, and Zanesville. Each newsroom nominated standout stadiums from its own backyard.
The effort is part of Gannett's broader "250 for 250" project, which aims to tell 250 unique local stories across the country. This Ohio chapter zeroes in on high school football — a sport that sits at the very heart of small-town life in the Buckeye State.
The Stadiums That Could Win Big
Several venues are expected to draw heavy votes. Mansfield's Arlin Field seats more than 10,000 fans and has hosted state playoff games. Fremont's Don Paul Stadium is known for its rare sunken-bowl design. Zanesville's Sulsberger Stadium offers hillside seating with views of the Muskingum River valley.
Chillicothe's Herrnstein Field stands out for its historic stone architecture. Lancaster's Fulton Field carries deep local tradition. Cambridge's McFarland Stadium is often praised for its classic brick-and-mortar feel. Each venue tells a different story about its community.
Write-In Option Keeps Smaller Towns in the Game
Not every beloved stadium made the shortlist. Fans from towns like Shelby and Norwalk pushed back early on social media, frustrated their home fields were left out. Organizers responded by adding a write-in option so no loyal fan base gets left behind, according to Fremont News-Messenger.
Regional Sports Director Chris Snow has called Ohio's high school stadiums "our cathedrals" and "the heart of these communities." The write-in clause reflects that spirit — the goal is to celebrate the grassroots level of the sport, not just the biggest venues.
July 4th Reveal Ties Stadium Pride to a Bigger Moment
Voting closes at 11:59 PM on July 3. Results will be published on July 4 across Gannett's Ohio papers as part of a statewide Independence Day digital feature. The timing links local stadium pride directly to the national Semiquincentennial — America's 250th birthday celebration.
Winning the poll carries real weight beyond bragging rights. "Best Stadium" recognition is often used in local levy campaigns to secure funding for upgrades. It can also boost tourism and turn a school's home games into regional destination events for the season ahead.
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