Reaction mixed to school board's vote on Citizens Field, new Buchholz stadium

On Tuesday, the Alachua County School Board made a decision that will significantly impact Gainesville's high school football scene. They voted 3-2 to purchase Citizens Field from the City of Gainesville and rebuild the facility, while also constructing a new stadium at Buchholz. The total cost for both projects is estimated at $41 million. This decision essentially ends the shared use of Citizens Field by Buchholz High, Gainesville High, and Eastside High, an arrangement that has been in place since 1990.

The school board's decision brings relief to Buchholz Athletic Director Thomas Pankey, who has been working to establish a stadium on school grounds for some time. Although Pankey acknowledges the value of Citizens Field, he believes the new stadium in Buchholz will provide a more convenient and accessible location for students and parents.

Buchholz Football head coach Gator Hoskins expressed excitement about the new stadium, hoping his players will be able to show off their team's logo. However, Eastside Football coach Donald Buie is concerned about a potential competitive advantage for Buchholz with a stadium bearing Buchholz's logo.

The ACSB study suggested that Eastside should have received a new stadium, but mosquito issues ultimately derailed the proposal. Despite this, Buie maintains that Eastside deserves a stadium to maintain a competitive advantage.

The need for a stadium at Eastside isn't as vocal but is still strongly desired by the community, according to head coach Hoskins. As the November 3rd General Election approaches, Plavac is running against Hunter Miller for District 1, with Miller expressing opposition to a new stadium for Buchholz.