At 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sep 26, the Capital University football team will face conference opponent Muskingum University at home under the newly installed stadium lights. This will be the team’s first night game at Bernlohr Stadium in the school’s history.
The installation of the stadium lights comes after a lengthy dispute between Capital University and its neighboring community of Bexley. Capital faced a lot of backlash regarding the negative side effects of the stadium lights since it first presented its plan in Apr 2013. Some of the various concerns voiced by the Bexley community were a fear of traffic issues, increased noise, and safety issues.
Capital hosted community workshops to allow students, faculty, and Bexley residents to voice their opinions and work towards a compromise. The South Bexley Neighborhood Association, a group of Bexley residents who live adjacent to Bernlohr Stadium, petitioned against the plan for stadium lights, citing that they would lower property values and bring an increase of criminal activity. However, Capital’s plan was approved in the end by the Bexley City Council, despite the South Bexley Neighborhood Association’s concerns.
Larry Matteson, President of the SBNA, shared his thoughts on the approval.
“The installation of lights at Bernlohr Stadium was a significant and emotional issue for the South Bexley Neighborhood Association. However, that is in the past and we look forward to working with Capital’s Administration and its students, as well as the City of Bexley, to maintain the unique character of South Bexley as a new era in Capital University sports programming begins.
We hope that the implementation of the conditions surrounding the usage of the Stadium will proceed smoothly and without any adverse impact to the University or the neighborhood. We also appreciate the regular updates that Capital has provided as the installation of these changes have taken place.
We look forward to collaborating with the Administration and the City of Bexley in keeping the campus, South Bexley, and Main Street a safe and pleasant place to live for all of us,” Matteson said.
Capital will be required to follow a set of rules created by Bexley’s planning commission regarding the use of stadium lights. These rules will regulate traffic flow, address security issues and dictate how late the lights may be on.
The approved plan for the stadium lights allows them to be used around 90 times this year, with only 18 instances being used for night games. Any other time, the lights will be used for evening practices starting during the spring. The public address system will be used during night games but it will not be used during evening practices.
Capital’s football and soccer teams have not played under the lights yet, but many athletes are looking forward to the experience. Vince Austin, senior defensive lineman on the football team, is excited about playing under the stadium lights.
“It will bring back memories of high school football Friday nights. The whole team is looking forward to it,” Austin said.
Both the men and women’s soccer team will play under the lights as well. Women’s soccer will host its first night game at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sep 4 against Fredonia St, while men’s soccer will play its first night game at 7 p.m. the following Wednesday on Sep 9 against Thomas More.
Capital Sports Information Director, Ryan Gasser, is excited about the upcoming night games this year.
“This opens a whole new world for Capital athletics,” Gasser said.
While only one home night game will be played by the football team, fans of Capital athletics can look forward to multiple night games for the men and women’s soccer teams this year.
