At the beginning of the 2010 football season, the city of Bothell unveiled the new Pop Keeney Football Stadium. The stadium renovation was part of a $149.2 million capital project bond for various district-wide projects. Other projects include replacing outdated mechanical systems; modernizing old heating and ventilation systems; replacing carpets and roofing; replacing playing fields, track, and tennis courts; and updating the voice and data network of various schools throughout the district.

            Pop Keeney has many new components, such as 503 parking stalls, storm drainage and detention facilities, external landscaping and shielded lighting fixtures, two locker room buildings, and bleachers on the visiting side with an overhead cover. For the public benefit, more restroom facilities have been added, in addition to a covered concessions facility, two formal ticket booths, and landscaping along NE 188^th Street.

            Many people have expressed their opinions on the new stadium, which is built to hold a maximum capacity of 4,800 people, however, the record attendance at the stadium is 8,500. Issues concerning overcrowding at the football games have been a hot topic among students for a long time. “I’m really sick of all the little junior-high ankle-biters running around and standing in the student section,” says senior Tucker Cholvin. Senior Brie McGie shares Cholvin’s frustration with overcrowding. “They made a larger entrance, but now the walkways are smaller. I can’t get through the crowds,” says McGie. The new entrance to the stadium is now the only entrance. Senior Maddi Turner has also experienced claustrophobic feelings. “It’s way too crowded, especially by the concessions stand, which you have to go through to get to our side.” Some suggestions have been proposed on how to better organize the overflow of people. “I’d like to see them put in some sort of special pen, like in a zoo or a botanical garden,” says Cholvin. While some suggestions may be difficult to accommodate, students continue to plead for more space.

            Concessions are another hot topic among the students; the new concessions stand has received mixed reviews. Some students like senior Derek Hayes express their approval of the new concessions stand. “The concessions look cleaner. They’re more organized and more accessible than the old building.” Other students like sophomore Jana Phipps feel that the new concessions stand is too crammed. “It’s really squished. I can’t move around.” As far as food quality goes, the opinion on the food seems to be similar to that of previous years. “The food is crap,” says McGie. “I’m serious.”

            The stadium’s visual appeal has also been a topic of much debate. “Its much less ghetto,” says Cholvin. Turner shares Cholvin’s opinion. “In the old stadium, there were so many entrances. It was kind of sketchy. I like that there’s one main entrance.” Students have also shared their opinion on the new side’s metal design. “I like our side better,” says Phipps. “It’s more permanent. It’s cement and wood, not just gross metal.” Even though the overwhelming majority of students like the old side’s style, junior Ashley Tohlen feels that it “could be modernized, or updated in some way,” Some students have noticed other problems with the old side. “I hate that the benches are so small,” says sophomore Sarah Miles. “I keep falling off.”

            So how do students feel about the renovations overall? “I like the new stadium. It’s nicer, a lot less sketch. But I’m disappointed about the fireworks,” says Turner, referring to the homecoming game’s annual tradition of setting of fireworks at the side of the field. The fireworks show wasn’t possible this year because the field in which they are usually ignited has been replaced with the new parking lot. Junior Aly Henniger feels the same way. “I hate that the couldn’t do the fireworks. It was good, but it just didn’t feel the same.”

            Perhaps the most controversial decision made by the officials at Pop Keeney was the keep the old side as the home side. Students’ reactions to this decision have been all over the board. “I understand that it’s tradition to have the old side as our home side, but we need more space. The new side seems to have that,” says Henniger. “I just want the overcrowding problem to be fixed.” Some students disagree. “I like the new side, and I do think it’s a bit nicer than the old side, but its just tradition to have the old side the home side,” says Turner. “However, I do like that the new side is covered. We won’t get soaked during away games, and more people will probably come.” Hayes says that he “wouldn’t go to the games if the home side was switched. Te old side has always been the home side for us.” Cholvin agrees. “I’m happy we kept the old side. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”