Linn-Mar's house begins to become a home Friday

MARION -- It's a new stadium. A beautiful new stadium, both expansive and expensive.

But it's not yet a home.

"It's not really home until we make some memories in it," said Linn-Mar quarterback Mark Atwater.

That begins Friday night.

A full house of 6,000 fans is expected at Linn-Mar Stadium for the Lions' home opener against Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Kickoff is 7:15 for the varsity game.

"It's a much-awaited moment for the school, the program and the community," said Lions Coach Bob Forsyth. "There's only one opening night. It's kind of like homecoming."

The stadium hosted track meets and soccer matches last spring, and a couple of freshman football games in recent days.

But this is the big stage, varsity football. The day of which the Linn-Mar community has waited for 10 years or more.

Armstrong Field, the Lions' former football home, has been flooded by Indian Creek numerous times and became "outdated," according to Scott Mahmens, Linn-Mar athletics director. Armstrong is now a practice field for the freshman and sophomore teams.

The new stadium isn't named after anyone. For now, it's simply Linn-Mar Stadium.

It came with a price tag, a large one. About $10 million, according to Mahmens. The facility includes FieldTurf, which Mahmens said won't need replacement for 8-12 years, a large press box (which includes an elevator) and large locker rooms for both teams on the north end. 

The Lions' "team room" -- where they warm up for games and do film study throughout the week -- is Atwater's favorite feature.

"I love it there," he said. "It's so big compared to Armstrong. There's so much space. You're not lying on top of someone when you're trying to stretch."

The visiting locker room is sort of mauve in color -- not quite the same as Hayden Fry's pink, but close enough.

Linn-Mar officials broke ground on the stadium just after the 2009 season ended, and construction continued through last season.

"Last year, we practiced at Excelsior (Middle School)," said Forsyth, who opened his fourth season at Linn-Mar last week when the Lions defeated Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 35-10. "We took a minute or two from practice each day to watch the progress."

The stadium seats 5,000 on the home side on the west, 1,000 on the guests' side on the east. Mahmens said parking "shouldn't be an issue.

"I'm really excited, but a little nervous. I don't know what to expect. I know there are going to be a lot of curious people that come out."

There will be wide eyes. Forsyth is making sure none of them will come from his team.

"We've been addressing (the potential for distraction) every day," he said. "We have to focus on what's really important. We have to play better than we did last week.

"We'll carry this night forever. Let's embrace it."