Arizona high school football stadiumsare one thing, but game-day atmosphere is another.
The Arizona Republic has chosen its list of 12 schools that offer the best high school football game-day vibe. This involves everything such as marching bands, cheerleaders, crowds and concessions. We realize there are many more schools out there that present plenty of game-day sizzle, but this is based on our observations covering games in recent years.
Readers can vote in our poll below for the school they think has the best atmosphere from among those on the list. We'll keep the poll open until Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. Print readers can find the poll online with this story at azcentral.com/sports/high-chools.
Top 12 Arizona HS football game atmospheres
1. Peoria Liberty
Get there an hour early and much of
the home-side stands are full at Liberty, a perennial powerhouse. The community loves its Lions. And they put out a product that they feel is second to none. They also might have best high school public-address announcer in the nation.
2. Gilbert Highland
Coach Brock Farrel believes his school has the best marching band in the state. The tuba turnout, he says, is legendary and energizes their fans and student section. The combination of the band, the student section and the product makes the Hawks a go-to Friday night destination in the Southeast Valley.
3. Gilbert Williams Field
The students pack it in on the home side, where the fans are almost on the sideline, it seems. The band, with the drums leading the Black Hawks onto the field before games, gives goose bumps.
4. Chandler Basha
Any of the Chander district's big three of Basha, Hamilton and Chandler has tremendous support with the sidelines becoming massive levels of humanity to try to get up-close looks at their teams. To kick off the season on Aug. 29, Basha is playing host to Chandler in an ESPN nationally televised game that will showcase a new scoreboard and sections behind each end zone. It will be overflow.
5. Phoenix Brophy Prep
The Broncos play their home games across the canal at Central High, where the Stampede, the Brophy student section, turns up the vibes big time. There is a cool tailgate at the Brophy school and the players walk together across the canal to the field for a grand entrance that riles up the Stampede.
6. Snowflake
The Lobos have a tremendous community turnout on Friday nights with passionate fans, generations of families in a mountain-town atmosphere. There is great family football pride in Snowflake and, on any given home game, there are upwards of 4,000 to 5,000 fans. The student section is about 400 deep, which is impressive at school of about 875 students. It's a bucket-list experience to see a game at Snowflake or Lakeside Blue Ridge, which is surrounded by pine trees.
7. Mesa Mountain View
The Toros like to think they have the biggest high school video board in the state. It is huge. They will make every home game electric, as this is the school's 50th anniversary. A strong sense of community and family pride dates back to the '70s and '80s, when Jesse Parker ran the show. The field is now named after the late legendary coach.
8. Mesa Red Mountain
Circle Oct. 16 on the calendar. That is when Red Mountain hosts Mountain View in the Battle of Brown Road, without a doubt one of the most intense high school football rivalries, and it brings out the community in droves. The games are usually down to the wire. Crowds overflow. And the Red Mountain light show before games is cool.
9. Prescott
Coach Cody Collett believes Bill Shepard Field has an atmosphere second to none. Tremendous crowds in a student section that brings the energy with different themes for each home game. There's a homecoming parade and a Hall of Fame game. A state-of-the-art video board adds to a great entrance for the players. The weather at kickoff is great, especially earlier in the year when fans are sweltering in the Phoenix area. And Thumb Butte in the background doesn't disappoint, Collett said.
10. Anthem Boulder Creek
This 6A school has a small-town feel. It's definitely a community team with great support. There is a DJ before, during and after games. The cheer, band and student sections are all outstanding. The entire football program participates in the Anthem Veterans Day parade.
11. Scottsdale Chaparral
The Birdcage is one of the best, most creative student sections in the state. They also get to play their own music, featuring a boom box that sits in the stands. The student section fills out about half an hour before games.
12. Peoria Centennial
Like Liberty, the home stands pack out early. And this could be one of the best teams that Centennial has had this year. Great band, great cheer squad, and great food. Home-game atmosphere will be electric.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vote: Republic's top Arizona high school football game-day vibes
