BRUCETON, Tenn. — The red brick facade of the home-side bleachers at Joe T. Herndon Stadium has welcomed Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central Tigers fans for over 50 years. Now, those bricks are coming down.
It’s part of a rehabilitation project that the school board approved during a special-called meeting Tuesday night, June 30.
Since April, the board has discussed various solutions for the bleachers, which have fallen into disrepair over the past year, exhibiting cracked concrete, crumbling steps, and separation of the facade from the rest of the structure.
In a letter sent to parents, guardians and taxpayers following Tuesday’s vote, the Board of Education and District Administration said a detailed engineering evaluation led to the decision to move forward with structural repairs, and that the improvements will come with no increase to the local property tax rate.
The full renovation is expected to take about 12 months, with the board aiming to keep the stadium in use throughout the process rather than closing it for a season.
Work will happen in three phases.
Safety shoring will begin this month, with temporary load-bearing support systems installed beneath the stands to stabilize the structure ahead of football season.
During the fall, the top three rows of the stadium will be blocked off and restricted from public use, while the remaining rows stay open for game days.
Major structural repairs are set to begin immediately after the 2026 season, with the goal of restoring full seating access in time for 2027.
L.I. Smith and Associates of Paris is the district’s engineering and construction manager on the project. They will oversee installation of new steps and handrails, reinforced structural supports for the press box, and the removal of sections of brick facade on the east and west sides of the stadium so crews can evaluate and repair the concrete block walls underneath.
The project is split into two separate bidding phases, one covering work ahead of the 2026 season and a second covering completion after the 2027 season.
The board also accepted a separate bid Tuesday for upgrades at Central Elementary School, where crews will replace the ceiling and improve insulation in the gym.