An Era Ending for Jefferson Football

 Thursday night, when the Apple Valley Eagles battle the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars, it will mark the end of an era since it will be the final regular season home game for the Jaguars at Bloomington Stadium.  

But it might not be the last game yet for Jefferson because they could host one and possibly two section games.  

The stadium, on the site of the former Lincoln High School, which shut down in 1982 is also home to the Bloomington Kennedy Eagles.  Home soccer games are also played at the stadium.  

Both Jefferson and Kennedy will play their home games next season at their respective campuses.  In a conversation with a representative from Kennedy, there are plans for two sides of bleachers at Jefferson and one at Kennedy.  

The main reason why both schools will be playing on campus next season is that Bloomington Stadium is too costly too repair.  It's also one of the few remaining football and soccer stadiums that utilizes natural grass.  Many schools, including St. Louis Park have gone to turf fields.  

Since Jefferson opened in 1970, Bloomington Stadium has been the hub of high school football and soccer as all three schools played their home games.  It wasn't common to have doubleheaders on a Friday.  Back then, the first game was played at 3 PM.  Then the second game began around 7:30 PM.  Later in the decade, there were evening twin bills, with the first game starting at 6 PM and the nightcap at 8:30 PM.  

Bloomington Stadium wasn't just home to high school football and soccer.  When Normandale Community College had athletic teams, the football team, under the leadership of Fred Moyer, played their home games across from the Penn Lake Library.  For years, the Bloomington Athletic Association had their version of the Prep Bowl as the division championship games were played at the stadium.  Bloomington Stadium was also home to the largest single day track and field meet Track-O-Rama.  

As the curtain rings down on Bloomington Stadium,  we can look back at packed houses the nights of Homecoming and the rivalry games between the Bloomington schools.  The sounds of fans and marching bands.  The era will end for the venue on the corner of 88th St. and Queen Ave. S., but the memories of fans who have gone through the gates in its lifespan will live on.