From the Bel Air High School Athletic Department:
The 1927 edition of El Adios, the Bel Air High School yearbook states, “The present Bel Air Grammar and High School is merely a continuation of the old Bel Air Academy, and back to the beginning of that Institution must we look for the history of the present school. The old Academy was first authorized by an Act of the Maryland Legislature, January 20, 1790; however, it was not until 1816 that the then uncompleted building was put into use. Its completion and use was taken care of by public and private donations and tuition fees. Rev. Reuben Davis became principal of the Academy in 1816 and because of his ability as an instructor and the high standards set by the school in its wide curriculum, the institution became widely known.”
To commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the Bel Air Academy, Bel Air High School has scheduled a series of events to take place throughout the 2016-2017 school year. The first of these celebrations will be to showcase the Bobcats’ athletic teams during the weekend of October 7 and 8, 2016 with a series of games to be played at Bel Air High School.
On Friday, October 7, 2016 the school will be highlighting their junior varsity teams with the following games being played in Bobcat Stadium:
3:30pm: JV Girls’ Soccer vs Patterson Mill
5:15pm: JV Boys’ Soccer vs Fallston
7:30pm: JV Football vs C. Milton Wright
On Saturday, October 8, 2016 the Bel Air High School athletic program has an entire day of contests slated to take place in the gymnasium and in Bobcat Stadium. The games are scheduled to take place as follows:
10:00am: JV Field Hockey vs North Harford – Bobcat Stadium
10:30am: Varsity Girls’ Volleyball vs John Carroll – BAHS Gymnasium
11:30am: Varsity Field Hockey vs North Harford – Bobcat Stadium
12:00pm: Varsity Boys’ Volleyball vs John Carroll – BAHS Gymnsium
1:30pm: Varsity Boys’ Soccer vs Fallston – Bobcat Stadium
3:30pm: Varsity Girls’ Soccer vs Patterson Mill – Bobcat Stadium
******Following Varsity Girls’ Soccer Game the stadium will be cleared of spectators to prepare for football game*****
6:30pm Spectators with BLUE wristbands will be admitted back into Bobcat Stadium for varsity football
7:30pm: Varsity Football vs C. Milton Wright
For an event of this magnitude alternate ticketing plans have to be put into place. Bel Air High School will be pre-selling wristbands for entrance to the games on Saturday. Wristbands will also be sold at the Bel Air High School Stadium ticket booth on Saturday, October 8, 2016 while supplies last. Two different wristbands will be sold for the day. Below are descriptions and pricing for the wristbands:
Ticket Pricing For Games:
Friday, October 7, 2016: Beginning at 4:45pm spectators will be charged $5.00 for the games.
Saturday, October 8, 2016:
Boys and Girls Volleyball games will be free of charge.
BLUE Wristbands: Spectators can pay for a $10 BLUE wrist band. There are 2,000 BLUE wristbands available. Once the 2,000 wristbands are all sold NO MORE will be made available. This BLUE wristband will allow fans entrance to ALL games played in Bobcat Stadium on October 8, 2016, including football, from 9:30am to 9:30pm. In addition, BLUE Wristbands will be sold for $5.00 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm as supplies last. This will allow fans to gain entrance to the varsity football game. Please understand, if all 2,000 wristbands are sold before the varsity football game, no additional people will be admitted to the game.
RED Wristbands: Spectators can pay $5.00 for a RED Wristband. The RED wristband will allow fans to gain entrance to games from 9:30am to until the end of the Varsity Girls’ Soccer game (approximate end time 5:30pm). The RED wrist band will NOT allow fans to gain entrance to the varsity football game.
Student and Parent game passes will NOT be accepted for any games on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Any fan wishing to see a game on October 8 must purchase either a blue or red wristband.
At the conclusion of the Varsity Girls Soccer game vs Patterson Mill the stadium will be cleared of all spectators. The stadium will again be opened at 6:30pm and only fans in possession of a BLUE wristband will be admitted.
The ticket booth will remain open until the conclusion of the varsity football game.
Seniors Citizens, HCPS Badges and MPSSAA Coach Passes will all be accepted for admission subject to the following procedures:
Individuals will need to also get a wristband (free of charge). They will be asked to sign in at ticket booth so that BAHS will be able to keep track of the number of people in the stadium and for our record keeping purposes. Please keep in mind, if someone from one of these groups comes later in the day of the event and all 2,000 wristbands have been sold they will not be able to gain entrance into the stadium, regardless of their status age status, pass presented or employer. This is being done to ensure that BAHS remains within the guidelines presented by the Fire Marshall and for the safety of all in attendance.
WRISTBAND PRE SALE SCHEDULE:
Day/Date – Time – Location
Wednesday, Sept. 21 – 4:45pm-7:30pm – Bobcat Stadium Ticket Booth
Friday, Sept. 23 – 4:45pm-7:30pm – Bobcat Stadium Ticket Booth
Tuesday, Sept. 27 – 4:45pm-7:30pm – Bobcat Stadium Ticket Booth
Wednesday, Sept. 28 – 3:00pm-5:00pm – Front Lobby of Bel Air High School
Thursday, Sept. 29 – 3:00pm-4:30pm – Front Lobby of Bel Air High School
Thursday, Sept. 29 – 4:45pm-7:30pm – Bobcat Stadium Ticket Booth
Friday, Sept. 30 – 3:00pm-4:30pm – Front Lobby of Bel Air High School
Monday, Oct. 3 – 8:00am-10:00am – Bobcat Stadium Ticket Booth
Wednesday, Oct. 5 – 4:45pm-7:30pm – Bobcat Stadium Ticket Booth
Any further questions should be directed to Bel Air High School Athletic Director Tony Blackburn. Mr. Blackburn can be reached at anthony.blackburn@hcps.org.
Joe White says
I am confused. 1890 is well after 1806. And then article says “not until 1806:. ???
Tony Blackburn says
The sentence should read: “The old Academy was first authorized by an Act of the Maryland Legislature, January 20, 1790.” I apologize for the confusion. Thank you for catching that error. I hope you will be able to attend this event!
Amy Davis says
I would have been cool if they had a parade or fireworks display. This is a very important milestone but should include more activities.
Sam Adams says
I miss Bill Brown.
200...or 201yrs? says
From the school’s website: “Bel Air High School is located, as it has been since the opening of the Bel Air Academy in 1815.”
Then the Athletic Dept. (why it is an Athletic event is also confusing) says, “however, it was not until 1816 that the then uncompleted building was put into use.”
200 yrs. or not? Did BAHS Admin sleep on this one last year and is now trying to play it off? Well done!