Alabama neighbors react to decision to no longer play high school football at Ladd-Peebles Stadium

By TYLER FINGERT
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MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) – Mobile County high schools may have played their last game of football at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Mobile County Public Schools said they would no longer play games or hold a graduation ceremony for Ladd after a shooting earlier this month left five people injured.
Neighbors who live near the stadium tell us that they are disappointed with this decision.
“I get it but I still disagree because crime is everywhere so why would you stop people from coming to Ladd Stadium it won’t stop crime,” said Stephanie Gage, who grew up near the stadium.
The school system’s decision came exactly one week after a stadium shootout near the end of the Vigor and Williamson game. 5 people were injured when a gun passed through security.
Several people have been arrested in connection with the crime and they are still looking for another person.
âWe want him to stay here, everyone wants him to stay, but they need to better strengthen security,â said Willie Mae Henderson.
Last week’s shooting at the stadium is the second in just over two years.
The school system and Ladd implemented more security after the 2019 shooting.
Now Ladd officials and the school system seem to blame each other for this latest incident.
âI was really surprised by the tact, just because I felt like we had a really good relationship,â said Vic Knight, general manager of Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Those who love Ladd are hoping that there can be a compromise so that high school football can still be played at the stadium.
âWe need something, they’re playing somewhere else, at other schools and the like and parents want to see their kids play here because it’s a landmark,â Henderson said.
âI just hope they don’t close it and just make Ladd Stadium stay open,â Gage said.
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