Frequently asked questions
US plans to install an artificial turf field marked for football, soccer and lacrosse games on the footprint of the existing grass football field. To widen the field, it will narrow the running track that surrounds the field to three lanes. Home crowd stands to accommodate 500 fans will be erected on the east side of the field (back facing Ashley Road) and a pressbox will be built on top of the home crowd stands, estimated to be 25-30 feet tall. Visiting crowd stands will be erected for 300 fans on the west side of the field (back facing the new middle school building). A scoreboard will be built on the north end of the stadium (facing Brantley Road). Not clear where the speakers for the public address system will be located. Four permanent light towers will be erected, located on the on the east and west sides of the stadium, flanking the grandstands, each estimated to be approximately 40 feet tall. The stadium will be surrounded by a 4-ft high chain link fence.
A donor group, led by the family of Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslem, has reportedly committed $20 million to University School to pay for the project at the lower school. While most of these funds will be used to pay for the new stadium complex, a portion may be earmarked for scholarships and coaching endowments.
Parking, traffic congestion (including parking and traffic which narrows or blocks emergency routes on Brantley and Claythone).
Reflected light.
Crowd noise and noise from the PA system.
Security, especially following night games.
Trash and debris spread throughout our neighborhoods.
Destabilizing and altering the character of a quiet residential neighborhood.
Impact on property values.
Unclear. US has a 220-acre campus situated in Hunting Valley, about 5 miles away from its Shaker campus. The Hunting Valley campus includes a football stadium in a secluded area, surrounded by fields and forest; no houses are visible from this facility. There is extensive parking adjacent to the Hunting Valley stadium. This stadium does not include lights, but US has apparently not sought a variance from the Hunting Valley ordinance which prohibits outdoor lighting. The US Head of School has explained that US is building a second high school stadium for night games at its Shaker Heights campus to foster unity and connection between students at the two campuses.