Newport High School Wildcats will host homecoming, football game with opening of its stadium

It has been a couple of years since the Newport High School Wildcats hosted a football game, but that will change this week.

The Newport High School Stadium grand opening is Friday, Sept. 13, with the Wildcats hosting Boone County at 7 p.m. Adding to the anticipation is the fact that it is also Homecoming.

“I’m excited about finally having a home football game,” Newport Independent Schools Superintendent Tony Watts said. “It has been two years since we had a home game and it’s great that it also falls on Homecoming. I’m looking forward to seeing the students, community and alumni at the game on Friday night.”

The stadium, built in 1937, failed a building inspection in 2022, which forced Newport to play and practice at Holmes High School in Covington.

The initial phase of the stadium project’s scope of work included demolishing the
concrete grandstand and replacing it with an aluminum grandstand – providing
seating capacity for 1,500 and adding a new press box.

There are a series of activities on Friday, Sept. 13 to commemorate the momentous occasion:

• The 2024 Homecoming Parade to the high school will begin at Newport Intermediate School (95 W. Ninth St.) at 4 p.m.

• A Tailgate Party will be held at the Newport High School baseball field from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., featuring free hot dogs, Kona Ice and games.

• Prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff, the Paul Baker Jr. Memorial Press Box will be dedicated.

Newport High School Alumni and Associates, Inc. is joining Newport on the Levee, Velocity Esports, Holden Hands, Inc. and Optimist International as corporate sponsors.

“The Newport High School stadium has been a mainstay in most of our lives since our childhoods,” Newport High School Alumni and Associates, Inc. noted via a statement. “So many historic and wonderful memories were made here, and they will never be forgotten, and now it is time to move on to the next chapter. We are proud to be a part of this dedication and honored to help support this grand event.”

“We are proud to partner with Holden Hands and some of our tenants like Velocity Esports to support Newport High School’s homecoming celebration,” Newport on the Levee Assistant General Manager Justin Tyus said. “Our community is very special to be a part of, and we are so grateful to be able to participate in opportunities like this that bring everyone together.”

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