UPDATED: District Remarks on Friday Night's Football Game

Updated 11:00 p.m.: At the Maplewood Township Committee meeting tonight, Maplewood Vice Mayor Kathy Leventhal also addressed overcrowding issues at the Columbia High School Football game under the lights on Friday, Sept. 16. She noted that more police were being hired to patrol the game, including one officer from South Orange and security staff from the high school. Also, if the district again must make the decision to close the gates because the stands are at capacity, district staff would notify police 15 minutes ahead of time. In addition, South Orange and Maplewood police are working together on a traffic plan. School bands will be required to stop playing when the game has ended. Leventhal asked that the town Planning & Engineering Committee consider permanent changes and signage related to parking in the area. Deputy Mayor Fred Profeta and Committeeman Jerry Ryan also felt strongly that selling tickets ahead of time would help mitigate the problem because students showing up late would not have the expectation of getting in. Leventhal reported that police had said that pre-sales would do little to help the issue.

Suggestions from neighbors — under consideration — including bussing students and parents from the school parking lot, adding more lights near the clubhouse, publishing the night game schedule to inform neighbors and starting games earlier, perhaps at 6 p.m.

The following is a release from the South Orange-Maplewood School District

Columbia High School hosted its first ever night game Friday night when the football team kicked off its home season at Lynn V. Profeta Field in Maplewood. A record-breaking crowd came out to support the Cougar Team under the newly installed lights.

Superintendent Brian Osborne, who was at the game, observed “all in attendance had a great time cheering on the Cougars.  Our kids showed great school spirit.” 

The over capacity attendance resulted in some game-goers not gaining entry to the stadium at halftime, raising neighbor concerns about crowds outside the stadium.  On Tuesday morning, district administration met with South Orange and Maplewood officials and police departments to review the concerns and make adjustments to response protocols for crowd control, parking, and traffic flow.  The remaining two night games will be held on September 23 and November 4 (Homecoming).