 |
| The 5,000-seat Rocky Mount Athletic Facility (Photo/David Hahula) (click on image to enlarge) |
The RMAC, which opened in 1988, was ranked No. 28 on the list. Click here to see the entire list. Each of the 35 stadiums is pictured. Amazingly, the RMAC is one of only two eastern North Carolina high school stadiums on the list. White Oak High School's football stadium in Jacksonville also made it.
Chris Hughes, who runs CarolinaPrep.com, used many variables in putting together this list. The size of the stadium (RMAC seats 5,000), how well the facility was maintained, concessions, field presence and the quality of the press box all went into placing stadiums on his list.
Ironically, the Gryphons got to see the transformation of the stadium that made No. 1 - the home of the Northern Durham Knights, Durham County Stadium.
Rocky Mount opened its 2009 season against the Knights at the 8,000-seat facility, which was still going under reconstruction.
Finally completed before the start of the 2010 season at a cost of $8 million, the stadium's facelift included adding four concession stands, updating and renovating rest rooms and adding additional handicapped seating. The expansions also included renovating the home and visitor coaches' box, media box, promenade area, manager office and press box. All the stadium seating was replaced and upgraded. The lighted field was upgraded with fieldturf and a new electronic digital scoreboard.
Also added were long jump and pole vault areas, and a brand new eight-lane running track.
Another irony is that Rocky Mount will be playing its final season at the RMAC this fall with the impending move to the school's new campus the fall of 2012.
Another irony is that Rocky Mount will be playing its final season at the RMAC this fall with the impending move to the school's new campus the fall of 2012.
