The Silver Bowl
The Mount Carmel Area Silver Bowl is home to two of the most successful sports programs in the state of Pennsylvania, the Mount Carmel Area football and track and field programs. The football team is number one in the state of Pennsylvania in total wins (838) and has won five PIAA “AA” state championships since 1994. The Mount Carmel Area boys and girls track teams also can boast as one of the more successful programs in the state. The program was undefeated in 154 consecutive dual meets from 1945 to 1977. The Mount Carmel Area boys track and field team also won the PIAA state “AA” championship in 1998.
The Mount Carmel Area Silver Bowl is much more than just home to both sports programs. The stadium also hosts many community events such as special olympics fundraisers, powder puff games, youth sports camps, midget football games and local band competitions. The stadium is also open daily to the public for recreational purposes. Hundreds of community members use the all weather track for recreation and exercise purposes. Our goal, with an updated and renovated field turf surface, is to increase those numbers and encourage an increase in physical activity in our community.
History
The Mount Carmel Area Silver Bowl was built in 1932 by a committee of Mount Carmel businessmen headed by Hal Grossman and other community leaders including: George Wardrop, Elmer Williams, Harold Schaefer, Harry Jones, Walter Levine, Charles Lucas, Herman Ludes, Dr. Charles Feifer, Albert Landis, Ray Williams, William Ruffing, Ira Roadarmel, and Hal Anthony. The stadium has served as the home to the Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes Football team ever since.
The original stands, which seated 6,600, were constructed of wood. The 80 foot high steel light towers were erected for the opening game of the 1932 season. The lighting system was installed by a team of technicians from General Electric’s headquarters in Schenectady, New York. The team was so impressed with the facilities that they boasted it was the most beautiful high school sports complex in existence and it would be the best lit high school stadium anywhere.
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In the mid-1930’s, stands were constructed in both end zones and painted silver. The new bleachers gave the stadium a bowl-like appearance. Thus, a sports scribe called the stadium the “Silver Bowl,” the name which is still used today. At this time, the stadium could accommodate 10,000 fans.
In 1940, the wooden stands on the visitors side (west) were replaced with all steel grandstands, increasing the capacity to over 10,000. Also at this time, the home side was switched from the east side stands to the west side stands. In the 1950’s the end zone stands were removed, but by the 1970’s the south end zone stand was reconstructed. The press box was completed in 1972 and in 1978 the east visitors stands were replaced with the current steel grandstands, giving the stadium a seating capacity of 7,202.
The latest stadium renovation occurred in 2011 to the field house that is home to both the football and track programs as well as visiting teams when competing at the stadium. The renovation also included the entrance grandstand. The following year the field was officially renamed ‘The Joseph ‘Jazz’ Diminick Field in honor of Mount Carmel’s legendary former football coach. Later in the same year the track was rededicated to Mr. Gerald Breslin, former MCA Track Coach who compiled a record of 29 years without a dual-meet loss.
Over time, the stadium has fallen out of compliance. The famous “Creature Bleachers” (end zone bleachers) were removed in 2014 due to non-compliance. In 2016 the annual Gerald Breslin Track and Field Relay that brings upwards of 30 local teams to the Mount Carmel community every April had to be cancelled due to fears over compliance issues within the stadium and for stadium equipment.
In the spring of 2017 the school district started a “Tornado Alley Legacy Brick Project” and signage campaign. The goal of the brick project is to raise money for general upkeep and renovations to the Silver Bowl. To date, close to $30,000 has been raised and over 100 bricks were sold. Both projects are located in the south end zone of the stadium.
