CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — For the third straight week, concerns about safety have impacted a Euclid High School football game.
On Wednesday, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District announced that Friday's home football game against Euclid will not be open to the general public. Only the families of Heights High and Euclid football players, cheerleaders, and marching band members will be allowed to attend.
"We are excited to welcome the Euclid football team to Heights for our Friday night football game and have put in protocols to support crowd management of the event. As a proactive measure, we put in additional protocols weeks ago, knowing that this game would likely attract young people from different schools and communities. We look forward to celebrating our student-athletes with the Euclid school community and future contests with Euclid High School," CH-UH told 3News in a statement.
The district says middle school and elementary school siblings (and younger) can attend the game, but must be accompanied by and remain with an adult or legal guardian at all times. Spectators will be required to stay in the bleachers during the game, unless they are in line for concessions.
CH-UH school officials add that the restriction on fans is being put into place "out of an abundance of caution." You can see the district's game guidelines below:
Euclid City Schools released the following statement from Superintendent Christopher Papouras to 3News on Thursday:
"We are excited to visit Cleveland Heights for Friday night’s football game. We are appreciative of the security measures they have implemented to create a positive environment for the Heights and Euclid communities’ enjoyment. We understand the interest in this game and that some may desire to travel to Heights from other communities.
"We have had several contests with the Tigers this year, and each was incredibly entertaining in a friendly and energetic environment. Both student bodies that have attended the events displayed exemplary behavior and sportsmanship. We look forward to the contest and our continued positive relationship with Cleveland Heights."
Two weeks ago, Euclid school officials moved its September 29 home high school football game to Brunswick following unspecified "inappropriate and inexcusable behavior on and off our campus" among a select number of students.
Last week, leaders at Solon City Schools elected not to travel to Euclid to play the scheduled game on October 6. Solon school officials told 3News that the decision not to go to Euclid to play the game "was a safety decision due to the absence of clear communication from Euclid that included a robust safety plan surrounding all aspects of the game and fan/student attendance in light of recent violence on and around their school campus."
Solon added that it offered to host Friday's game at Stewart Field and "provide Euclid every opportunity to honor their student athletes and band members for their Senior Night."
"The Solon City School District has chosen to forfeit the game instead of making the journey to Euclid Community Stadium," announced Papouras in a post on the district's Facebook page.
Since Euclid was not willing to move the game to Solon, school officials there say the game has been canceled. "Per Ohio High School Athletic Association regulations, a regular season game that is canceled is considered a “no contest,” not a forfeiture. A “no contest” shall not be included in won-lost records," Solon leaders added, disputing the notion that they will be forfeiting.
Papouras disagreed with the notion that Euclid would not be a safe place in which to host the game.
"We want to emphasize that Euclid Schools are committed to hosting events only when we can ensure our local community's and visiting opponents' safety," he stated. "Therefore, we find no reason to move Friday night’s game.
Euclid ended up hosting a different opponent on Oct. 6, losing to River Rouge (Michigan), 36-6. Solon elected not to add another game.
Previous Reporting:
- After Solon backs out, Euclid hosts football game with new opponent
- Euclid gets new high school football opponent after Solon elects to not travel there
- Solon elects not to play Friday's high school football game instead of traveling to Euclid, but disputes claims it will forfeit
- Euclid decides to move this Friday's high school football game to Brunswick following 'inappropriate and inexcusable behavior' among students