Quick facts about the new Fred Kelly Stadium, home of four district athletic programs

A look at the new Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange. (Photo courtesy Orange Unified School District)

A new home is ready for four Orange County high school athletic programs.

The virtual dedication grand opening ceremony was held Thursday for the new Fred Kelly Stadium on the campus of El Modena High School in Orange.

The Orange Unified School District facility is the home field for the El Modena, Orange, Villa Park and Canyon high school football programs. It will also host track and field, soccer and lacrosse contests.

The stadium is named after Frederick “Fred” Kelly, who was a graduate of Orange High School. He went on to compete at USC and was selected to be a member of the 1912 U.S. Olympic Team. He won the 110-meter hurdles at the 1912 Summer Olympics. Kelly died on May 7, 1974 at the age of 82.

Orange Unified School District officials honored Kelly by dedicating the original Fred Kelly Stadium in 1969. There were renovations in 2004 and in the mid-2000’s.

In December 2018, district officials held a closing ceremony for the stadium in preparation for a total renovation. Football teams in the district played home games at other stadiums last year while the renovation was made.

They are scheduled to open the new stadium in January 2021 if state and local health officials give final approval. High school sports has been shut down since the coronavirus pandemic began in March.

Quick facts about the new stadium:

—The stadium, which has aluminum benches, will hold 3,400 fans on the home side and 1,700 on the visitor’s side, a 25 percent increase over the capacity in the old stadium.

—The stadium wiill include new lights and a state-of-the-art BOSE sound system.

—-Fred Kelly Stadium’s new synthetic track, which meets all CIF standards, is expected to last for many years. The new playing field features synthetic grass and is designed to last for the next 10 to 15 years. The new field will have linings for football, lacrosse and soccer.

—The new scoreboard is three stories above the field and is 17 feet tall and 26 feet wide. District officials say the new scoreboard can split screens into multiple pictures with live video and standard scoreboard features such as scores and time.

On the reverse side of the scoreboard is a 16 foot x 6 foot marquee that is capable of publicizing upcoming games and past scores.

—The team rooms will include 40 gear lockers and each room will include a coach’s team room. In addition, trainer tables have been installed in each room, new showers were installed and there is a referee locker room.

—-Changes have also been made to the press box which can be accessed by an elevator. There is also a top deck for coaches and the media.

—-Officials said in a release they are “especially proud of the improvements we’ve made to accessibility. Fred Kelly Stadium is now ADA compliant, with accessible parking spaces and passenger loading zones.”

—There is also a new snack bar and new restrooms on the visitor and home sides. All bleachers now feature companion seating in the accessible seating areas as well.

Source: Orange Unified School District