Buford High School (GA) unveils dazzling $62 million football stadium

Buford (GA) has one of the top high school football programs in the country.

Now, the Wolves have one of the best stadiums in high school football as well.

On Monday, Buford High School unveiled Phillip Beard Stadium and Dexter Wood Field, a $62 million project funded by Buford City School District. Per WSB-TV, the stadium has a capacity of 10,000 people including 1,543 premium seats, 15 luxury suites, a special events room, and a 44-by-82-feet scoreboard in the end zone.

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With Wood as head coach from 1995-2005, Buford went 118-17 with a three-peat as state champion from 2001-03. During his tenure they set a new state record with 47 consecutive wins.

Beard is currently the Buford City Commission Chairman and has served in Buford city government for 50 years. Per Gwinnett Daily News and Morgan County Citizen, Beard was the lone dissenter in the choice of name, explaining:

“I didn’t like it. I voted against it but my peers wanted a name so they gave it mine... I don’t work for those type of things. I work for what we’ve accomplished. We’ve got the No. 1 school district in America, ranked No. 1 academically (by Wiingy.com), and that’s the reason I work.”

Last season, Buford went 12-2, losing only to a pair of top-10 teams in the country – 13-10 to Milton in its season opener and 30-17 to Carrollton in the GHSA 6A state semifinals. Despite graduating one of the nation's stronger senior classes, Buford has a chance to be even better in 2025.

Top seniors include 5-star DL and Texas A&M commit Bryce Perry-Wright (team-highs of 13 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and 17 QB-hurries), 3-star QB and Nebraska commit Dayton Raiola (1,953 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes to three interceptions), who's the younger brother of Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola, 4-star OL and Georgia commit Graham Houston, and 4-star Georgia commit Tyriq Green (career totals of 1,519 yards and 21 TDs rushing, 18 catches for 312 yards and one TD, and seven interceptions). There are at least 20 more Division I prospects on the Wolves, including a handful of national recruits.

Buford debuts its new stadium on Aug. 14 with a chance for revenge against Milton, which went on to win the 5A state title and finish as a near-consensus top-three team in the nation. The game will be televised on ESPN2.