The Memorial Stadium
The Memorial Stadium
A dream in the hearts of many post-World War II Ware County citizens, Memorial Stadium became a reality in 1948, dedicated to the many Ware County women and men who gave their lives in defense of their county in two world wars. Until 2002, Memorial Stadium was the hub of Waycross’ community life, drawing its citizens to regular minor-league baseball games, where major-leaguers such as Hank Aaron and Stan Musial would disembark from their train trips to make cameo appearances on the field. The Ware County Gators and Bulldogs also earned cheers on the gridiron here.
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The well-loved and well-used stadium needed a serious makeover, and the City of Waycross traded it to the school system so that its funds could renovate the ailing structure. This renovation has been completed as the school board seized the opportunity to modernize the stadium, thanks to the help of the county’s voters who approved a sale tax for education, and SP Design Group, who gave the city an attractive and functional sports and community event complex that honors its rich heritage. Exterior features of the building remind one of a familiar and favorite railroad depot, while inside features are clean, comfortable and air-conditioned, and include three sets of restrooms, locker rooms, a large community room, a concession stand, and a Gator Gear store. The stadium itself features a two-story press box, a high-tech scoreboard, and ample stadium seating. Visitor parking is behind the stadium on the grass field or additional parking is available at the tennis courts or Waycross Middle School (one block behind the stadium).
Today, this structure continues to bring the people of Waycross and Ware County together not just for sporting events, but for community events of all kinds.