Byrnes unveils plans for new football stadium
Nixon Field could soon be getting a facelift.
Byrnes’ home stadium—which has gone without significant renovations since 1980—will potentially receive major upgrades in time for the 2025-26 football season. The first renderings of the project were released on March 26.
“This is something that’s been discussed on and off in the district for many years now,” said Spartanburg District Five board chair Jeff Boland. “We’ve just grown so much in student enrollment the last several years, and our priority because of that has been building new schools.”
Boland says the project, if approved in May by Spartanburg District Five, will likely break ground in June. The process will take around 12-14 months and be ready for athletic use by August—just in time for football season.
The upgrades are plentiful, says Boland. A brand new press box and paved walkway into the stadium highlight the upgrades along with the capacity of 7,800 (up from 6,000).
“It’s important to know that it’s not just for football, either,” said Boland. “There’s soccer, lacrosse, and more. A lot of athletics and even band tournaments will be hosted in this new stadium. It’s going to be of good use in a lot of areas.”
Byrnes football head coach Reggie Shaw says he’s eagerly anticipating the upgrades.
“We’re all really excited,” said Shaw. “It’s going to give us a whole new opportunity to start new traditions while celebrating the past, too. This is big for our school.”
With the new stadium being built at the same site as the current one, however, it will present a unique challenge for the Rebels this football season.
Byrnes will play entirely on the road in 2024.
Shaw says the team is accepting and embracing the challenge ahead. They’ll take it one game at a time and proudly be “road warriors” this coming season.
“We’re going to have a chance to do something no other team has ever done,” said Shaw. “We’ll go on the road and be battle-tested going into the playoffs. We look at it as the
ultimate challenge. The team is responding well.”
Reaction to the new stadium, both internally and in the community, has so far been largely positive. The project cost is yet to be determined, said Boland, but most of the logistics and costs will be clearer at District Five’s vote in May.
“Everything is still fairly preliminary at this point,” said Boland. “We’re still waiting on the cost as things are being added and taken out to get a firm number. We’ll know a lot more once we have our board meeting in May.”
BYRNES 2024-25 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Week Date H/A Opponent
Week 0 Aug. 23 Away at TL Hanna
Week 1 Aug. 30 Away at Irmo
Week 2 Sept. 6 Bye
Week 3 Sept. 13 Home at Greer
Week 4 Sept. 20 Away at Wade Hampton
Week 5 Sept. 27 Away at Dorman
Week 6 Oct. 4 Home at Riverside
Week 7 Oct. 11 Home at Gaffney
Week 8 Oct. 18 Away at Eastside
Week 9 Oct. 25 Away at Spartanburg
Week 10 Nov. 1 Home at Boiling Springs