The Marietta Indians were scheduled to open their home season on Friday night, September 6 against Healdton at 7:30 p.m.
Instead, they’ll be playing that game at Plainview Public Schools football stadium, with the same time and same visiting team.
And while the Indians will play their home opener on a field that isn’t theirs, at least it’ll still belong to some Indians.
Weather and construction delays created a perfect storm in which the Marietta Indians’ home field wasn’t ready for occupancy.
“The new bleachers are finished with the exception of emergency egress lighting, which was backordered,” said Superintendent Brandi Naylor.
“Due to safety considerations, the State Fire Marshal would not approve a temporary occupancy without that lighting.”
Emergency lighting, often referred to as egress lighting, is used as a safety precaution to power outages so that people will be able to find their way out of a facility.
At Plainview on Friday night, Marietta fans will enter at the Plainview north gate and will sit on the home side of the stadium.
“We owe a huge thank you to Plainview Public Schools for allowing us to use their facilities,” said Naylor, “and we hope everyone makes the drive to support our Marietta Indians.
“As disappointed as we are to not get to use our beautifully remodeled facility, at the end of the day it’s about our kids – and they are the heart of the Marietta Indians, regardless of where they’re playing.”