Salem Stadium info for first timers??

**VHSLhelper** · December 4th, 2011, 08:12 PM

who's got tips for those who haven't been before?
Which concessions to hit/avoid... what item to try/avoid.
When to hit the head.
How early to get there. Absolute latest.
Spots where the wind will kill you or you can't hear the PA?
etc.

**Biggin** · December 4th, 2011, 08:44 PM

I would advise hitting the head when you feel a sensation in your bladder and it feels as if another second would mean the difference between dry pants and wet britches

**hoard** · December 4th, 2011, 10:03 PM

Although Galax and Clintwood will probably both bring good crowds, you should be able to get there within a half hour of gametime and have no problem getting a seat or a parking spot. I've been to Salem Stadium several times over the years for regular season, playoff and state final games and have personally never seen the stadium at even 3/4capacity for the Group A finals. There really isn't a bad seat in the place.

I'm not sure if this is still the case, but you may have to pay to reenter if you leave between games. I had to in 2008 between the Clintwood/Franklin and Gretna/Floyd games. It might be the same at all VHSL championship sites now, but in the past we were able to leave between games at both JMU and Liberty and were able to get back in without paying since we had our tickets.

Can't tell you much about concessions as I usually don't eat at the game. There are many restaurants close to the stadium, though there is nothing within walking distance.

**gchs_devils** · December 4th, 2011, 10:22 PM

There really isnt a bad seat. Home side gets all the shade and the sun is in your face on the away side. Last year they checked bags and wont let you in with any noise makers (bells, horns, whistles, etc) so if you plan taking any sound be sneaky Clintwood fans. They made me take my air horn back to my car but I put it in an inside pocket in my jacket. They will pull out your blankets or anything in a bag, make you open up your seats and crap. Noise makers are not illegal for outdoor sporting events in the vhsl but its Salems rule not the Vhsl. I pulled the handbook on my phone and showed it to the women at the gate but she called her boss and then she came over and said no sorry its illegal. and they have ppl walking around during the game looking for noise makers and if they catch you they throw you out. Be sneaky clintwood be sneaky!

concessions are expensive, I suggest eating, I forgot the road but there is a bunch of fast food joints. I have never had parking problems. In and out quick.

**gchs_devils** · December 5th, 2011, 02:08 AM

And VHSL-helper, you have bad info on your website. The lpd isnt 0-9 since 97 in state games. Gate City won in 2003 while being a member of the lpd. Your random fact of the day bud.

**SWVA-Football** · December 5th, 2011, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by gchs_devils

And VHSL-helper, you have bad info on your website. The lpd isnt 0-9 since 97 in state games. Gate City won in 2003 while being a member of the lpd. Your random fact of the day bud.

I'm afraid you're incorrect. There's nothing wrong with the information on his website. He references Appalachia because they were the last Division 1 LPD team to win a State Championship and did so in 1997. If you're going to mention Gate City's 2003 team, you might want to include Powell Valley's 1998 team, too. But there's a reason those two weren't referenced - they were Division 2. Since 1997, there have been nine Division 1 teams from the LPD fall at state:

1. J.I. Burton, 1998, vs. Surry
2. Pound, 1999, vs. Surry
3. Appalachia, 2002, vs. William Campbell
4. J.I. Burton, 2004, vs. Franklin
5. J.I. Burton, 2005, vs. William Campbell
6. J.I. Burton, 2006, vs. Riverheads
7. Clintwood, 2007, vs. Buffalo Gap
8. Clintwood, 2008, vs. Franklin
9. J.I. Burton, 2009, vs. Altavista

**hoard** · December 5th, 2011, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by gchs_devils

concessions are expensive, I suggest eating, I forgot the road but there is a bunch of fast food joints.

Main Street, AKA Rt 11/460. Pretty much all of the restaurants--fast food, sit-down, bars--are on it. You can get off any of the three Salem exits off I-81 and get to the stadium fairly easily.

If you really want to see everything that's available food-wise, get off the first Salem exit (137). You'll go past Shoney's and a few motels, and come to a stoplight at Main. Take a left, and it's about a mile and a half of nothing but restaurants until you get to the intersection to Roanoke Boulevard (AKA the 'Truck Route'), the road the stadium is on.

**VHSLhelper** · December 5th, 2011, 12:59 PM

I had the "LPD is 0-9" tidbit in the Div. 1 section since that's what I was talking about, but I can also see how it can be taken as meaning 0-9 overall, so I'll clear that up when I update it this afternoon.