Dafford Smith Stadium is back in business. 

After nearly three whole seasons on the road, Fairview is finally returning home to play football on its beloved field.

The Aggies’ long-awaited debut on the once-condemned site will take place for Senior Night next week against Springville. The stadium passed a state inspection Friday after the pouring of concrete bleachers and installation of hand rails was completed on the home side earlier in the week.

Seating will only be open on the home side next Friday, with the bands setting up shop behind each zone. School officials will install barriers between the unfinished visitor’s side. Both sides should be completed and reopened within the next 1-2 months.

“These students have been out of their stadium for three years, and this is a chance to blow it out for a real home game before graduating,” superintendent Shane Barnette said. “This will really build some momentum for next season.”

Fairview has already won one homecoming game, beating Curry 42-14 last week. Of course, the region tilt was actually played at West Point, the Aggies’ “home” this season after spending the previous two at Cullman High. 

The development isn’t just good news for the football program, either. Most members of the marching band have never performed on their home field, several students have never cheered on the football squad from their home stands and many local businesses have lost money without the usual foot traffic expected on a Friday night in a small community that loves its football.

Fairview’s last varsity home game was Oct. 18, 2013. The school hosted a junior varsity matchup a Monday the following fall, only for the stadium to be condemned due to unsafe bleachers three days later on the eve of the 2014 campaign.

“It’s exciting to know we are coming back home,” said coach George Redding, who’s in his 10th year atop his alma mater. “It’s hard to believe that we have been out of our stadium for that long. It’s been extremely tough not having a home stadium, packing up each week and walking by our stadium every single day but never getting to step foot on it. Even today, you can’t help but think of the players, band members and cheerleaders that didn’t get to experience the unbelievable atmosphere in Dafford Smith Stadium. I hope and pray that all of them come next Friday and know that day is as much for them as those who are here now.

“The thought of the band playing, our cheerleaders cheering, the stands running over with purple from one end zone to another under the lights of Dafford Smith Stadium … well, nothing else needs to be said. That pretty much says it all.”

The Aggies travel to Hayden tonight.