EHS vs. EC: City prepares for big crowd at Ely Stadium
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ELYRIA — For the first time, the football teams from Elyria High School and Elyria Catholic are playing at Ely Stadium.
Gary Knapp paints the big red “E” on the Ely Stadium turf for tonight’s Elyria High-Elyria Catholic football game while Carl Hammond pushes the sprayer. (CT photo by Bruce Bishop.)
Off the field, police and school officials are working to make sure what simply is being called “The Game’’ doesn’t become something else — “The Traffic Jam” or “The Clash.’’
“Anytime we have that many people in one area, we are concerned,” Police Chief Duane Whitely said. “This is a game that will draw people from all over the city.”
Traffic and crowd control is the major concern. Whitely said officers will be at most major intersections near Ely Stadium directing traffic.
Getting spectators into the stadium quickly before the 7 p.m. start and repeating the same thing when it’s time to empty the stadium is the goal. School officials are likewise concerned about the anticipated crowd and have responded by upping the number of security guards in and around the stadium.
Elyria Schools’ spokeswoman Amy Higgins said extra security — a total of 10 — have been ordered for todnight’s game. Six are security guards from the Whitguard Security Co., the district’s security firm, and four are offduty Elyria police officers hired to staff the event.
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“We don’t believe we will have a problem with players or fans, but we want to take the proper precautions to ensure everyone is safe,” Higgins said. “But really, the feel in the community is that this is not a game that will turn into a nasty off-field rivalry. Everyone is excited about this and see it as an event for the whole community.”
The athletic directors from both school likewise said they had no worries.
“We would have never put these two teams together if we didn’t think they were mature enough to handle themselves,” said Elyria athletic director Jerry Chizmar. “This is a game about bringing the city together.”
Likewise, Barb Salata, EC’s athletic director, said she never had any concerns of unsportsmanlike conduct occurring tonight on or off the field.
Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.
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