Construction delays force North East's football team to hold season opener at Iroquois

North East's football fans must now wait nearly a month for their team's home debut.

Athletic Director Brian Dewey announced Wednesday that the Grapepickers' season opener against Grove City, originally scheduled at Ted Miller Stadium, has been moved. While teams will still meet Aug. 23, they'll now do so at Iroquois High School.

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Kickoff at John L. Post Stadium remains at 7 p.m.

"The reason for the change is that the turf project at North East will not be completed in time for this game," Dewey said in an email to the Erie Times-News. "North East will remain the home team and wear dark jerseys."

The 'Pickers' next scheduled home game is Sept. 12 against Fort LeBoeuf. In between the Eagles and the Bison, they'll make short bus trips for games at Seneca and Harbor Creek.

The installation of field turf at North East , a project with an estimated cost of $3.5 million, began in late April. Once officially completed, the high school football stadiums at Union City, Northwestern and Girard will be the only ones left with natural grass surfaces.

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Construction delays force North East's football team to hold season opener at Iroquois