Sports News Southwest

Yuma, Arizona – Arizona Western College announced that the AWC Football team will make their official home debut tomorrow night as they play at the brand-new Veterans Memorial Stadium for the first time ever as they take on Scottsdale Community College. It is the first of two straight home games for the Matadors at ‘The Vet’, with 2^nd-ranked Snow College set to head to Yuma for a matchup with the Matadors next Saturday night, September 15^th.

 

Veterans Memorial Stadium will offer the Matadors several new things, including: increased seating (VMS can house approximately 5000 people for an event) in their brand-new bleachers, improved field lighting, larger press box facilities (with more analog and internet capabilities), and-most importantly for the AWC Student body-closer access from campus for those that live on campus and don’t have reliable transportation. Veterans Memorial Stadium also offers the Matador players and their opponents a brand-new field and new locker room facilities. For the fans, a brand-new scoreboard offers state-of-the-art lighting and information and a permanent 25-second play clock on each side of the field. There are brand-new concession facilities and restrooms as well. Matador Athletic Association members will enjoy increased reserved seating, a special parking area, and a brand-new MAA Hospitality Tent (located on the south end of the home side bleachers) that offers increased seating and will soon offer MAA members a way to watch the game via AWC TV in the tent while enjoying food prepared by various businesses around town, including Pizza Hut of Yuma, which will be catering the MAA Hospitality Tent tomorrow night. Tomorrow night’s debut marks the first time that the Matador Football team has called somewhere other than Irv Pallack Field home since shortly after the football program made their debut back in 1964. 

 

Tomorrow night’s debut will feature special ceremonies at halftime dedicating the stadium, and acknowledging the partnership between Arizona Western College, the Yuma Union High School District and Pilkington Construction.  Representatives from the City of Yuma will also be proclaiming it ‘Veterans Memorial Stadium Day’ at halftime. The corporate sponsors of tomorrow’s game, Pizza Hut of Yuma, will be offering special giveaways to fans throughout the game as well. Ticket prices are as follows: $5 for adults; $3 for seniors, military personnel (with valid military ID) and kids ages 12-17; and free for MAA Members, AWC Students, NAU-Yuma Students and kids ages 12 and under. Veterans Memorial Stadium is located at 7150 West 24^th Street-just ½ mile west of the AWC campus, and 1/8 mile east of the intersection of 24^th Street and Araby Road. Gates open at 6PM, with kickoff scheduled for 7PM.