FLINT, Michigan – The community is invited to celebrate the grand re-opening of Kettering University’s Atwood Stadium with several festivities planned for Thursday, August 27.
The schedule includes:
- An open house with food trucks and games from 3-5 p.m.;
- A parade featuring bands from Flint Northwestern and Beecher High Schools, Congressman Dan Kildee, Mayor Dayne Walling, Ira Rutherford and other dignitaries will march from Durant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary School at the corner of University and N. Chevrolet Avenue to the front entrances of Atwood Stadium off of University Avenue beginning at 5 p.m.;
- The Ira Rutherford Classic between Beecher and Flint Northwestern at 7 p.m. (admission is $5);
- A fireworks display at the conclusion of the game.
Attendees at the open house will have the opportunity to see the new turf at Atwood Stadium up close through field goal kicking competitions, lawn games and other family-friendly activities.
“The renovation and grand re-opening of Atwood Stadium on our campus represents a significant milestone in the ongoing rebirth of the city of Flint,” said Kettering University President Dr. Robert K. McMahan. “We invite the entire community to join us in celebration of the amazing institution that is Atwood and to help us mark as a community the beginning of the next exciting chapter in the life of this legendary facility.”
The new turf was made possible thanks to community-wide support from many individuals and organizations and culminating with a $1.75 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Kettering selected FieldTurf Inc., the nation’s leading provider of professional artificial playing surfaces, to install the same turf used at Ford Field in Detroit and Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor in Atwood Stadium.
The game between Northwestern and Beecher marks the official grand re-opening of Atwood Stadium and will include pre-game and halftime festivities as well as a fireworks display after the game.
For more information on the event, parking and Atwood Stadium visit www.kettering.edu/Atwood. To make a contribution to Atwood Stadium, visit www.kettering.edu/give.
