Chapin High School’s football team playing its first game of the season against Irmo High tonight, Aug. 18, is no surprise. 

But fans and students alike were shocked as the Chapin Eagle Club announced yesterday that the team would play at home in what seems to be an active construction site. 

With renovations to Cecil Woolbright Field Stadium ongoing, Lexington-Richland School District 5’s Board of Trustees had been planning for the opening game to be held at Irmo high due to construction delays. 

The Chronicle requested information regarding what tonight will look like for attendees and athletes, but the district declined to elaborate beyond a map posted to the club’s Facebook page detailing where home and visitor fans and Eagle Club members will enter and sit along with the locations of usable restrooms and concessions.

Both the district and the Eagle Club emphasized that safety is the top priority tonight.

“As you know, construction continues, and we ask for your patience and flexibility as we navigate this temporary arrangement,” the club posted. “Also, make sure to express thanks for all of the 'players' who went above and beyond to make this happen for our CHS students.”

The district has not confirmed what areas of the stadium will be fully accessible to attendees, but explained that the site will be clearly marked to ensure the safety of guests.

“Our staff is working to prepare for the game tonight,” Amanda Taylor, the district's communications director, said. “Safety of our team, fans and community is our highest priority and all construction areas will be clearly marked.”

Dave Weissman, executive director of operations for District 5, told the board that he expected the stadium would not be ready for the first home game during the board meeting on Aug. 7. 

“There’s always been a backup plan,” Weissman said during the trustees meeting. “We’ve already scheduled them [the game] at Irmo, that’s always available to us.”

The Board of Trustees is not scheduled to meet again until Aug. 21, and there is no clear answer as to when the decision was reached to hold the opener at home or who approved that decision.

Lexington-Richland School District 5 announced in early 2022 that it would renovate and expand the stadium.

The project's expected completion date was originally January 2024, but because of weather delays, the Office of School Facilities expects February of next year to be more accurate.

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.