Braly Municipal Stadium

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Braly Municipal Stadium

http://www.d2championship.com/Braly_Stadium/braly_small.jpg]
location = Stadium Dr
Florence, AL
broke_ground = ??
opened = ??
closed =
demolished =
owner = City of Florence
operator = City of Florence
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect =
former_names =
tenants = UNA Lions (NCAA D2);
Florence High School Falcons
seating_capacity = 14,215

Braly Municipal Stadium is a stadium in Florence, Alabama. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the University of North Alabama Lions and the Florence High School Falcons. It also hosts the NCAA Division II national football championship game which is broadcast on ESPN.

Braly Municipal Stadium is recognized across the nation as one of the finest football facilities on the college-division level. The 14,215-seat stadium, which is the home field of the University of North Alabama, served as the site for numerous NCAA Division II playoff games before being chosen as the host stadium for the Division II National Championship game in 1986. This year marks the 20th anniversary that Braly Municipal Stadium has hosted the event.

Site of one of the largest attended high school football games in North Alabama history on November 9, 2007, when the Hoover Bucs kicked a field goal with 5 seconds left to beat the Florence Falcons 31-28 in the first round of the Alabama State Playoffs. All tickets issued by the Alabama High School Athletic Association were sold and an estimated 13,000 were in attendance.

A renovation in 1980 added 5,000 seats to Braly Stadium, and another renovation in 1998 produced an additional 1,200 seats, bringing the seating capacity to 14,215. Braly Municipal Stadium has a playing surface that rivals any in the country. Its foundation consists of sand, enabling the field to withstand six inches (152 mm) of rain at one time without altering the footing.

A $175,000 scoreboard with a message center was installed just before the 1995 season, and the 1998 renovation of the press box doubled the working press area and expanded booths for all coaches, radio and game personnel. Additional restrooms also were built, as well as new viewing booths for game administration.

Braly Municipal Stadium features two ultra-modern dressing rooms, concession stands, restrooms and a three-level press box. The first level seats up to 50 sportswriters in the press room. A second level houses coaching staffs from each competing school, the public address announcer, the clock operator, the stadium manager and both home and visiting radio crews. The third floor is used by television and film crews.

Other renovations from 1998 include completely new east stands that have restrooms and concession areas, additional restrooms under the west stands, and cleaning and repainting throughout the stadium.