BPS Celebrates New Stadiums With Dedication Ceremonies
Construction is complete and the first athletics games have taken place on the new stadium facilities at Jefferson and Kennedy high schools. The new stadiums replace Bloomington Stadium, which has been shared by Jefferson and Kennedy high schools for decades. The new facilities will allow our athletic teams to practice and play games on the school campuses, where school pride can grow, traditions can take root, and each school can further define and celebrate their identity.
Dedication Ceremonies
Bloomington Public Schools will host dedication ceremonies to celebrate the new stadiums at John F. Kennedy and Thomas Jefferson high schools. The dedications will take place prior to upcoming home football games, and will feature remarks by Superintendent Dr. Eric Melbye, high school principals, and representatives from community partners and organizations who helped support the stadium projects.
John F. Kennedy Stadium Dedication
Friday, Oct. 10, 5:45 - 6:00 p.m.Thomas Jefferson Stadium Dedication
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 6:00 - 6:15 p.m.
The long-awaited stadium projects had strong community support. Local organizations and businesses donated $400,000 to purchase new digital scoreboards, including Bloomington Community Foundation, Jefferson Athletic Foundation, Gyropolis, Culver's and Bridgewater Bank.
Additionally, the district received a $400,000 grant from the Minnesota Vikings and NFL Foundation to install new turf fields.
Project History
Plans were approved by the Bloomington City Council in July 2024. The Bloomington School Board, high school principals, activity directors and Superintendent Dr. Eric Melbye held ceremonial groundbreaking ceremonies at each site on May 1, 2025 followed by construction officially beginning the week of May 12, 2025.
Kennedy's stadium opened on Sept. 6, 2025 for boys and girls soccer, marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony by the BPS School Board and District and Kennedy administrators. Jefferson's stadium opened on Sept. 17, 2025 for boys and girls soccer, also marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony with board members, and administrators from Jefferson and the district.
Jefferson Stadium Features
The new stadium at Jefferson High School was built on the existing athletic field. Features include:
- New artificial turf
- New ticket and entry plaza
- Stadium seating with a capacity of 2,500
- Press box on the home side of the field
- LED sports light system
- Stadium sound system
- Concession stand
- Accessibility improvements
- New fence and sidewalks
- Emergency access to stadium from public right-of-way
Jefferson Stadium Construction Photos
The BPS School Board, District and Jefferson administrators break ground on new stadium facility on May 1, 2025.
Construction progress at Jefferson High School's stadium with turf installed and bleachers going up. Aug. 15, 2025
Overlooking centerfield at the new Jefferson High School stadium. Sept. 16, 2025
The BPS School Board, District and Jefferson administrators cut the ribbon on new stadium at Jefferson High School. Sept. 17, 2025
The Jefferson High School girls' soccer team plays the first game at their new home stadium. Sept. 17, 2025
Kennedy Stadium Features
The new stadium was built on the existing athletic field. Features include:
- New artificial turf
- New ticket and entry plaza
- Stadium seating with a capacity of 2,500
- Press box
- LED sports light system
- Stadium sound system
- Concession stand
- Accessibility improvements
- New fence and sidewalks
Kennedy Stadium Construction Photos
The BPS School Board, District and Kennedy administrators break ground on new stadium facility. May 1, 2025
Construction progress at Kennedy High School's stadium with turf installed and bleachers going up. July 30, 2025
Looking down on the field from the stands at Kennedy High School's new stadium. Sept. 16, 2025
The BPS School Board, District and Kennedy administrators cut the ribbon on new stadium at Kennedy High School. Sept. 6, 2025
The Kennedy High School boys' soccer team plays the first game at their new home stadium. Sept. 6, 2025
The current Bloomington Stadium is in need of significant repairs caused by a half century of weathering and to correct functional deficiencies of the facilities. Upgrading the athletic fields at each high school to become homefield stadiums will maintain similar long-term costs with the added benefit of creating a greater sense of school pride and identity for our student athletes and fans.
A core group of Jefferson and Kennedy stakeholders, including school leaders, coaches and student athletes helped assist in designing the upgrades to the current on campus athletic fields to create a stadium setting.
The core planning group set out to provide a first-class experience that would be an extension of the school communities and attract families to the school district. The group sought to embody school pride and a sense of identity in the new stadium designs and amenities.
The group supported new stadium designs to improve and expand the functionality and accessibility to allow multiple teams to utilize the facilities. The group was also conscious of the positive and negative impacts on neighbors when helping to create the stadium plans.
The Jefferson and Kennedy stakeholders group began working with Wold Architects and Engineers in Spring 2023, meeting multiple sessions to discuss plans for the on-campus stadiums. Wold also facilitated meetings with school and district administration, and school booster clubs.
Site plan reviews with the City of Bloomington began in August 2023. At the request of the Bloomington Planning Commission, the district conducted a detailed sound impacts study in October 2023. The district worked with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to apply for a sound/noise variance before refiling plans with the City of Bloomington.
On July 1, 2024, the final site and building plans for the Jefferson and Kennedy stadiums were presented to the Bloomington City Council. A public hearing was held for each of the sites, and the Council approved the final plans.
Primary construction is expected to begin in Spring 2025 with a projected completion date of Fall 2025.
Funding for upgrading the high school stadium sites comes from existing funds dedicated for deferred maintenance and construction projects.
At present, there are no plans for the future of Bloomington Stadium. Jefferson and Kennedy teams will continue to play at Bloomington Stadium until the new stadiums are completed.