It may be summer vacation, but there’s huge news about the football stadium at Plymouth South. Plymouth South will be getting a state of the art video scoreboard at the football stadium and naming the field itself after a legendary figure in Plymouth athletics.
In a unanimous 5-0 vote at the School Committee meeting on June 15th, the Plymouth School Committee approved renaming the football stadium at Plymouth South High School to “Karl Braun Stadium” The decision serves as a testament to Braun’s more than thirty years of service, mentorship, and leadership in the Plymouth Public Schools. Braun gave more than 30 years of dedicated service as a coach, assistant athletic director, and athletic director working at Plymouth North and Plymouth South. He was the 19th inductee into the Plymouth-Carver High Schools Athletic Hall of Fame–a recognition that speaks to the lasting mark he left on Plymouth athletics.
The dedication coincides with a major upgrade: a new state-of-the-art scoreboard for the 2026-27 school year. Scheduled for installation in mid-August, the 25-by-25 foot digital scoreboard will be fully operational for Panther football, soccer, and cross country meets this fall.
“This scoreboard just adds so much to both the stadium and the community, especially with the stadium being dedicated to Karl Braun in the fall,” said Athletic Director Mr. Scott Fry.
Funding for the scoreboard is being provided by both the Plymouth South Booster Club as well as being sponsored by local businesses looking to get their brands featured.
The impact of the new technology extends beyond athletics. While student-athletes will see their names and highlights on the big screen, the scoreboard will serve as a learning tool for students in the school’s Graphic Design and Visual Communications program.
“The opportunities that this scoreboard provides are simply incredible, they’re used everywhere from colleges to most professional sports stadiums and this will be such a great opportunity for our students,” said Graphics teacher Mr. Adam Smith.
English Teacher Mr. Erik Walker said he finds naming the stadium after Braun an inspiring thing. “When I first came to Plymouth and coached the tennis team it was always Karl that helped me develop as a coach. He loved students–he loved the school and town. I’m thrilled to hear they are honoring him with the naming (of the field).”
While a final date for installation has not been locked in yet, there will be a joint stadium dedication and scoreboard unveiling is planned for late August before school starts, Fry said. The celebration will kick off with a community screening of Jaws on the massive new screen, which will also be the first major fundraiser for the videoboard, Fry added.
With the Plymouth South community gearing up for another fall sports season, meaningful changes are coming to make Friday night lights a little brighter. These upgrades will help to usher in a new era of Plymouth South athletics, if you’re on the field playing or just watching from the stands.