Canton McKinley HS – The Sports Fan Project

I recalled a Conversation with Sports Fan Craig Pringle (S:2, E:39) about his growing up in the northeastern Ohio town of Massillon.

Craig, who attended Massillon Washington High School about the same time as former Ohio State and Detroit Lions’ linebacker Chris Spielman. He recollected about what football games were/are like in Massillon, how newborn boys used to have tiny football’s placed in their hospital cribs, and what the rivalry game against Canton McKinley High School was like.

It seemed a no-brainer, then, to ensure I checked out both McKinley and Washington’s football stadiums.

McKinley HS’s stadium is hard to miss.

**^{Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, OH, is home to the McKinley HS Bulldogs. You’re able to see the top of the Pro Football Hall of Fame at left.}**

It’s the former Fawcett Field which sits adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has annually hosts the annual Hall of Fame Game, the Hall of Fame Enshrinement, and other events. It underwent renovations from 2015-21 and now known as Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (for the longtime owner of the New Orleans Saints). It seats a whopping 23,000.

**^{This statue of Tom Benson stands at the west end of the stadium.}**

Fewer than eight miles to the west is Massillon Washington HS.

While McKinley sits adjacent to the Hall of Fame and Interstate 77, Massillon HS’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium is situated in a more residential environment. It is no less impressive with a seating capacity of 16,600.

^{The sites from Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, clockwise from upper left, the Ohio Historical Marker outlining the significance of Paul Brown to Massillon, football, and all of Ohio; the stadium; boasting the state and national championships above the press box; there is an adjancent training facility that puts many small college facilities to shame; a statue of Brown stands sentry out front; and, of course, no media are allowed at practice.}

To cap our visit to Massillon, I sought Pringle’s advice on any local food spots to hit up. He offered a couple, one of which was Jay’s Pizza, which (like Washington HS) sits in neighborhood. I picked up a pie, and some pepperoni rolls for my dad and I and we adjourned to nearby Wampler Park and it’s under-renovation pavilion to enjoy our repast.

^{Jay’s Pizza provided a tasty dinner after a day of touring the Pro Football Hall of Fame and checking out rival football stadiums at Canton McKinley HS and Massillon Washington HS. And great news for Massillon residents, Wampler park is getting a splash pad and new pickle ball courts when the renovations are completed.}

Event 5 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame link