After 3 years of waiting, La Mirada breaks ground on new stadium
District leaders, from right, Board President Norma Amezcua, Superintendent Dr. John Lopez, Principal Benjamin Webster, Board Member Chris Staples, Board Member Narcis Brasov, Board Member Jose Rios, Assistant Superintendent, Estuardo Santillan and Board Member Dr. Robert Cancio during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new football stadium at La Mirada High School on Tuesday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
LA MIRADA – Finally.
After over three years of waiting, the La Mirada High School football stadium project, also known as Goodman Stadium, is off the ground and the bulldozers are busy tearing down the old and will soon begin building the new.
The original field turf was put down in 2004, but was never redone and it was deemed unplayable and unsafe.
The last official event was held in May of 2019 with the graduation ceremonies. The last sporting event was the Suburban league Track and Field finals, also in May. It’s been quiet ever since.
Over those past three years, the sports teams have been playing their “home” events at the old Excelsior High School.
Wednesday, however, was officially the beginning of the football stadium project, even though it had already started June 27 and is scheduled to be completed in August of 2023.
A ground breaking ceremony was held on the West end of the stadium on the track with dignitaries lifting a shovel full of dirt.
“For any of you who are here, you know that this is a long time coming,” said Norwalk La Mirada Unified School District Superintendent John Lopez, to those in attendance. “We’re so excited that we’re breaking ground (Wednesday). I’d first like to thank the Board of Education for supporting this and to have the vision and direction of Measure G.
“We would like to thank our community and the parents who supported Measure G. I’m looking forward for our stadium for being the crown jewel of our community and some exciting Friday Night Lights with football games here, graduations and other athletic competitions.”
The scope of work includes: A new synthetic turf and track, new home and visitor bleachers, new concession stand, restrooms, team room building for home and visiting teams, a new ticket booth, a new nine-lane track, a new accessible ramp and new lighting.
The Architectural Firm for the project is NAC Partners, the General Contractor is Environmental Construction, Inc. and the Construction Manager is Cumming Corporation.
The stadium was funded by Measure G, a $375 million dollar taxpayer-funded bond aimed at renovating and modernizing Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District facilities.
La Mirada High School principal Ben Webster speaks at Tuesday’s groundbreaking. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Measure G, which was passed in December 2014, has 10 projects completed to date in the district.
One of those facilities was the newly renovated and expanded LM gymnasium with a locker room modernization, which was completed late last year.
Also in the planning stages at the school is a new baseball, softball and practice field, which is scheduled to begin this Fall.
Attending the ground breaking were members of the Board of Education, La Mirada High School and LM-N staff and members of the community. Speaking at the ceremony was Lopez, LM Principal Ben Webster and Board of Education President Norma Amezcua. Leading the pledge of allegiance was ASB President, Celeste Pamaran.
What they said:
Mike Moschetti, LM Football coach: “The city and these kids deserve the best and when this stadium project is done, we will have some of the finest facilities in Southern California. Now, in saying that, I could give a rat’s ass. I will play in a parking lot if we have to.”
Dave Christensen, LM Girls Soccer coach: “After three years of no home stadium or a home field advantage, we are more relieved than excited with the start of the construction of our new stadium.
The positive out of all of this is the La Mirada Girls Soccer team has continued to pursue excellence with a CIF State finalist in 2020 and a CIF-SS Championship in 2021.”
I am proud of the resilience of my athletes to overcome and succeed.” Christine Mead, LM Athletic Director: “It is amazing to finally see movement on the stadium project. It’s been a long three years of getting on buses for practices and games. We are hopeful that we only have one more season collectively, that we will have to do that.”
Ben Webster, Principal, La Mirada HS: “It’s exciting, as the new principal, it’s great to start a new project right away. I know that this has been a project that has been three years in the making. We’ve always had great sports programs here and have really built a reputation of success and it’s going to be great for the family and community of La Mirada to have such a showpiece that really reflects the excellence that they expect from the school and from the community.
After four years to finally have a new stadium and have our names here on our own turf will be awesome.”
Norma Amezcua, President, Board of Education: “We are extremely excited for this project. We will continue to see more modernizations and improvements thanks to Measure G. We are looking forward to many more projects and improvements.”
Aidan Nasser, La Mirada Alumni and football player: “Being a La Mirada athlete and not being able to play on our field has hurt the past couple of years. Seeing the ground breaking is like looking at the light at the end of the tunnel. It feels great that future La Mirada athletes will be able to use the field.”