State Fair Comes To Rocky Mount

Have you ever been to the State Fair heading down Hillsbourgh Street in Raleigh and as you get along side the Vet School you can look up ahead and see the the State Fair and the crowds and the cars?

That was the scene today as I was heading home down church street this afternoon, I was along about where the new soccer fields are at the sports complex and looking ahead I thought. The State Fair has hit Rocky Mount. No, It wasn't the the State Fair but the 13th annual Down East Viking Football Classic.

This morning at 6.30 am I was heading north on Centura Blvd or what ever it is called now and the parking attendants were already waiting for the rush of a party that started at 8.00am. It was 4.15 or so as I passed by again this time heading south on church. The stadium was jammed as the game was showing 4.22 to play in the first quarter. I'm guessing 9,000 people were inside the stadium and another 3,000 or so we tail gating any where they could find space enough to to set up a grill. I understand those in the parking lot paid a game ticket price to be there.

There is no doubt about it that this football game is well worth the effort made by all to pull this off in Rocky Mount every year. I would like to know what the average attendance is to football games at Elizabeth City State. Also with out any figures I would assume there is a large alumni base for ECSU in the Raleigh area who finds it easier to drive fifty miles to Rocky Mount once a year over 150 to Elizabeth City four or five times a year.

What ever happens to the stadium after Rocky Mount High moves into it's new home in 2012 I hope they make the visitors side of the field the same as the home side is now. Not only could this game be played there still but what would be wrong with the Eastern Finals in 1-A or 2-a high school being played there?

The final score of the game ECSU 38- Fayetteville St 26