TSSAA Football: Take a look inside the MBA’s H. Frank Burkholder Wellness Center
The MBA’s H. Frank Burkholder Wellness Center is considered the best high school football facility in Tennessee, but offers something for every sport. Check it out.
From turf fields to indoor facilities to hydrotherapy pools, Tennessee high schools are constantly improving their facilities in the hopes that this will translate into success in the TSSAA playoffs.
Here are our rankings of the top five public high school football facilities in the state of Tennessee through 2024.
1. Collierville
Turf wars: Collierville High School
A look inside the Collierville High School football facilities.
As part of the $18.5 million Landers SportsPlex on campus, built in 2018, Collierville’s football facilities are among the best public school facilities in Tennessee. The Dragon Field football stadium seats 5,000 fans and features a season ticket holder area and a video scoreboard. The indoor practice facility features 150 feet of artificial turf that can also be used for the school’s soccer and lacrosse teams. It includes coaches’ offices, conference rooms and several weight rooms.
2. Liberty Creek
Liberty Creek is one of the newer high school expansions in Middle Tennessee and is the jewel of Sumner County’s high school facilities. The indoor facility is equipped with artificial turf and is used for all sports. It features a weight room, a climate-controlled 40-yard turf field with locker rooms, meeting rooms and coaches’ offices. An outdoor ramp leads down from the indoor facility to the football field, and fans can also watch the game from grass steps in the end zone. The high school and its athletic facilities were part of a $104.6 million budget that included construction of the elementary and high schools. Liberty Creek and Sumner County School were unable to provide a detailed cost breakdown for the high school athletic facilities.
More: Liberty Creek High has the best public school athletic facilities in the Nashville area and hasn’t even played yet
3. Oakland
The school’s decision to move to an artificial turf field in 2019 has significantly improved the football program’s facilities. Ray Hughes Stadium features Legion NXT by Shaw Sports Turf. It cost Oakland about $607,000 raised through donations and sponsorships. There is also a video board in the football stadium. The Patriots have the only indoor practice facility at a high school in Rutherford County, built in 2007. It is 40 yards wide and also houses an indoor soccer league. The indoor turf was replaced in 2022.
More: Why it’s even more important for Oakland Football QB Kyler Creasy to stay healthy in 2024
4. Dyer County
Dyer County has enjoyed its indoor facility since construction was completed in 2016. The school’s multi-purpose facility is regulation width for a football field and is 105 feet long, with room for two batting cages, soccer goals and cheerleading mats. The structure features an elevated loft for a bird’s eye view and an adjacent weight room, giving the athletic department two lifting spots. Dyer County also has a video board for the football field.
More: Tennessee High School Football 1-50 Best Seniors Rankings for 2024 TSSAA Season
5. Green Hill
Green Hill is the newest school in Wilson County and opened its high school doors in August 2020. On Friday nights, there are LED lights that turn green during pre-game ceremonies to create a unique atmosphere for fans. The field is artificial turf and the athletic campus includes a multi-purpose indoor facility that houses all sports with coaches’ offices and weight rooms. The football program has also raised money for its own weight room.
Reach sportswriter George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X-Platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.
