The historic Nelson Box at Bellaire has undergone several upgrades over the past two years, but the most prominent opportunity will come this fall.
Permanent light fixtures will be installed there for the first time in the stadium’s 90-year history, a change from the Saturday afternoon schedule to more action under the Friday night light fixtures.
Bellaire will move some of this season’s games under the lights this fall, though the dates that will be replaced aren’t official.
Bellaire’s athletic director, Josh Kernik, says the heat of August and early September and its effects on the protection of students and spectators played a pivotal role in the decision to install lighting.
Bellaire Superintendent Derrick McAfee also detailed the reasons for the addition of lighting fixtures in a note posted on his Facebook page Sunday afternoon.
Ohio’s season has been moving forward more and more in recent years due to the expansion of the playoffs, which means more games during the day portion of the day, from mid to late August and early September.
Playing on Saturday afternoons in August and early September has also become a scheduling challenge, as groups are more reluctant to engage in betting those early afternoon games at the start of the season.
The lighting will also ensure that Bellaire doesn’t miss any conceivable home playoff games, as all playoff games are now played on Friday nights. Bellaire was able to move home playoff games to Saturday afternoon, but if the state ever makes the decision to do so The decision that games can only be played on Fridays, regardless of the stadium situation, may have affected the Big Reds.
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