Inquiries were sent out to each of the area athletic directors inquiring whether their high school football field had a name or not. Responses included the six above that were named for a particular person of prominence who was at one time involved within the school district. Two others fields, we were told, also have names; Big Cat Stadium in Morris and The Jungle in Olivia.
Big Cat Stadium was built for both the University of Minnesota, Morris and Morris Area High School football teams to share. The stadium was completed in August, 2006, with the high school team playing Minnewaska Area in the first game played on Sept. 1. The college team hosted Lawrence University the next night.
The name of the stadium, approved by the Morris Area school board and approved by the UMM administration, was in reference to both schools' nicknames; the Morris Area Tigers and the UMM Cougars.
The surface is artificial turf with three feet of sand, eight inches of crushed granite and one million pounds of sand and rubber pellets (from recycled tires) to make the upper layer.
The Jungle was given its name by BOLD current head football coach Steve Solem. The Warriors previously played in Bird Island and Solem dubbed the field "The Rock". For years, many fans around the area thought it was in reference to a prison. But Solem named it the rock because the field didn't have much grass left on it when the playoffs started and the surface became as hard as a rock.
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When the team's home field was moved to Olivia in 1997, the grass was thick and green because the field had a sprinkler system. Because of the contrast with the team's former field, Solem called the Olivia site "The Jungle." There is now a sign at the field that says "Welcome to The Jungle".
