You drive down West 4th Street and see it. A massive, concrete relic that feels like it belongs in a bigger city. It’s Arlin Field. Honestly, if you aren't from Richland County, you probably think it's just another high school stadium. You'd be wrong.
This place is a time capsule. It’s 17 acres of memories and weirdly specific sports history that most people just drive right past.
The Radio Pioneer You’ve Never Heard Of
Most stadiums are named after a coach who won a bunch of games or a donor with deep pockets. Not this one. Arlin Field is named after Harold Arlin.
He wasn't a linebacker. He was a radio guy.
Back in 1921, Harold Arlin was the voice behind the first-ever football play-by-play broadcast. He was only 24. Later, when he moved to Mansfield, he became the ultimate hype man for the local schools. He spent 16 years as the School Board president. When they built the new stadium in 1947 to replace the old 6,000-seat "Stadium Field," they wanted to name it after him.
He actually fought against it. He spent an hour in a board meeting arguing why they shouldn't use his name. He lost that argument.
That One LeBron Game
People always talk about LeBron James and St. Vincent-St. Mary. But did you know he played his final high school football game right here at Arlin Field?
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It was November 2001. A Division IV state semifinal.
LeBron was a lanky junior wide receiver back then. He wasn't the "King" yet, but everyone knew he was something else. Licking Valley ended up beating the Irish 37-13. LeBron didn't play football his senior year, so that cold night in Mansfield was the end of the road for his gridiron career. If you look at the turf now, it's hard not to imagine a teenage LeBron leaping for a pass in the corner of the end zone.
The Tyger vs. Tiger Curse
There is this legend in Mansfield about the spelling of the school mascot. The "Tygers" with a "y."
The story goes that Mansfield Senior and Massillon had a bet back in the 1940s. The loser had to change their name. Mansfield lost. A lot.
Before Arlin Field opened, the rivalry was brutal. In 1939, Mansfield lost 73-0. In 1913, it was 88-0. Boosters finally decided they needed a bigger home-field advantage. They built a stadium that could hold 12,500 people, which was insane for high school football at the time.
In 1948, they managed to cram 13,800 people into the stands for the Massillon game. They still lost 33-7, but the atmosphere was legendary. They finally broke the curse and beat Massillon in 1949.
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More Than Just a Football Field
If you visit on a Tuesday morning, it’s not football you’ll see. It's walkers.
The stadium serves as a park for the community. People use the track for morning jogs and the open spaces for a quiet escape. It’s sort of the "living room" of Mansfield.
- Seating Capacity: It officially holds about 10,000 now, though it has hosted nearly 14,000 in its heyday.
- Playoff Magnet: The OHSAA loves this place. It has hosted over 60 playoff games since 1972.
- Accessibility: Unlike older stadiums, it’s remarkably wheelchair-accessible, which is a big reason why it stays on the playoff rotation.
The 2025 Face Lift
Everything wears out. Even concrete giants.
The turf you see today is brand new. In late 2024, the school board dropped $764,000 to replace the old surface, which had been there since 2011. The old field had a "G Max" score—basically a measure of how hard the ground is—that was getting dangerously high.
The new Motz Group turf was finished in early 2025. It includes a specialized underlayer that won't need to be replaced as often as the grass itself. This ensures that Arlin Field stays the "Crown Jewel" of Richland County sports for the next decade.
Why It Still Matters
High school football in Ohio is a religion. Arlin Field is one of its most storied cathedrals.
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You've got the history of the "Voice of America" Harold Arlin. You've got the ghost of LeBron James in the locker rooms. You've got the weird "y" in Tygers.
When the lights go on Friday night and the smell of popcorn hits the air, you realize this isn't just a patch of synthetic grass. It’s where the city's identity lives.
What to Do Next Time You’re There
If you're heading to a game or just passing through, do these three things:
- Check the scoreboard. It's been upgraded recently for high-def replays, which is rare for a stadium of this vintage.
- Look at the stands. Notice how close they are to the field. There’s no track separating the fans from the players, which makes the 10,000 people sound like 50,000.
- Walk the perimeter. The 17-acre park area is actually one of the best spots in Mansfield for a peaceful hike or a quick run when the stadium isn't in use.
Arlin Field isn't trying to be a modern NFL stadium. It doesn't need to be. It’s a place where the past and the present collide every time a whistle blows. Whether you’re a die-hard Tygers fan or just a traveler looking for a piece of Ohio history, it’s worth the stop.
Plan your visit for a Friday night in October. That’s when the magic is real. Arrive early to snag a spot in the main lot, otherwise, you'll be hiking from the overflow blocks away. Wear orange and brown. Be ready for some noise.