Majestic and Modern: Phillip Beard Stadium, the New Home of Buford High School Football

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Buford High School football now has a magnificent and modern new home, Phillip Beard Stadium, located in Buford, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta.

The stadium opened in late July 2025 and the grand opening of the new stadium took place on July 30 or 31, 2025, drawing widespread attention from the community and sports fans.

The first official game at Phillip Beard Stadium was held on August 14, 2025, between Buford High School and Milton High School.

This historic event was broadcast live on ESPN, demonstrating the facility's importance to the high school football landscape.

In the highly anticipated inaugural game, Buford High School secured a resounding 20-13 victory over Milton.

Buford High School has officially opened its new $62 million football stadium, Phillip Beard Stadium.🎥- bestofbuford/IG pic.twitter.com/31MrF4tziu

— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) July 29, 2025

Phillip Beard Stadium, also known as Dexter Wood Field has a spacious seating capacity, accommodating up to 10,000 spectators.

Of these, 1,543 are premium seats, offering extra comfort for spectators.

Furthermore, the stadium also features 15 luxury suites with exclusive catering services, perfect for a more private viewing experience.

One of its most prominent features is the giant digital scoreboard, measuring 44 feet by 82 feet, or approximately 3,500 square feet, making it one of the largest for a high school facility in the United States.

The stadium complex also includes a two-story field house complete with modern locker rooms and state-of-the-art fitness facilities for athletes.

To support athlete training and development, the complex has six different training fields for various sports, as well as a JV field.

Phillip Beard Stadium cost $62 million to build, making it the most expensive high school football stadium in Georgia, surpassing even some college stadium investments in the state.

The stadium is owned by the city of Buford and leased to the school annually for games.

Funding for the construction came from the city's general fund and enterprise funds, as reported by BVM Sports.

This meant the project did not involve any new debt or the use of property or sales tax revenues, which are often a public concern.

This innovative funding approach ensured that the stadium's construction would not impact teacher salaries, classroom resources, or other educational funding for the city's schools.

Buckford's investment in Phillip Beard Stadium marks a significant milestone in high school athletics, showcasing a trend of increasing financial commitment at the high school level.

Phillip Beard Stadium is the fourth facility used by Buford High School for football games since the 1930s, demonstrating the evolution and growth of their athletic program.

The size and scale of the new stadium perfectly match the school's rapid growth, which has grown from approximately 400 students in 1996 to over 2,000 today.

The need for a larger stadium became clear after previous games drew impressive attendances, such as the 2022 game against Mill Creek, which drew 12,000 fans to the old 5,100-seat stadium.

The new stadium design places the stands closer to the field, creating a more intense atmosphere and a more immersive viewing experience for fans.

Meanwhile, the old stadium located next to Buford Middle School is being renovated to improve the track and will continue to be used for junior varsity football, flag football and various other high school sports.