CCPS officials hope stadium will be ready for football opener

Christian County Public Schools officials haven’t given up hope yet that the new Christian County High School Tigers’ football team will be able to open 2026 at home against Cooper High School.

Speaking on Wednesday’s Early Bird Show, Ken Carver, executive principal at the new high school, said work is scheduled to begin soon to put turf down at the Stadium of Champions. In addition to the football playing surface, the track surface also is getting a facelift.

If the stadium renovation isn’t ready by Aug. 21, the Tigers would have to play on the road against Cooper. However, Carver said the hope is that the stadium project will be completed in time to introduce the community to the Christian County Tigers on opening night.

Originally, the opening night was scheduled to be a bowl game with Stratford taking on Clarksville Northeast in the first game. However, Jonathan King, the assistant principal for operations, said school officials wanted the new Christian County Tigers to play the first game of the year. Stratford and Northeast have agree to play in Clarksville that night.

King said there is no start date on the renovation at the Stadium of Champions, but there are many changes coming to the facility this fall.

Carver said turf baseball, softball, and soccer fields also will be part of the grounds at the new high school and that construction also will be starting soon.

Spring football practice for the new Christian County Tigers began on Wednesday. However, Athletics Director Jacob Ezell, said the players from Christian County and Hopkinsville high schools were not allowed to hit in practice until the current school year ends.

King and Carver said work continues at the new school and an open house event is planned for August to give the community a chance to see the school. That date will be announced later.