Newton Nite Hawks get another season at H.A. Lynn Stadium

Newton Nite Hawks will be playing their 2023 home games yet again at H.A. Lynn Stadium. The Newton school board on Dec. 12 approved an agreement between the school district and the amateur football team, which would allow use of the stadium for the upcoming season.

According to the agreement, the exact dates for the season will be provided to the school board at a later date. The schedule shall be subject to the approval of the Newton Community School District. This past year was the first time the team was allowed to play its summer home games on Cardinal turf.

Similar to the 2022 agreement, the Nite Hawks will have to pay $700 per game to lease the stadium. The team gets four hours to use the stadium. Any additional hour would cost $175 and would be billed after the event. The team shall also pay the school district $300 per game for an event manager.

Lastly, the Nite Hawks shall pay $160 per game for the school district to provide a custodian for four hours. Additional custodial use would be $40 per hour. The team does get to retain any and all gate receipts and revenues collected as ticket income for any games held at the stadium.

Also part of the agreement was the acknowledgement that school district events have priority over Nite Hawks events, the team is also responsible for cleanup and cannot sell, distribute or permit alcoholic beverages or tobacco products at the stadium, among other things.

Newton Nite Hawks debuted in the 1970s but was reformed in 2019. The revived team saw early success and garnered a dedicated community following. The team plays under the Heartland Football Association alongside teams from Omaha, Neb.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Saint Joseph, Mo.; and Kansas City, Mo.

To learn more about the Newton Nite Hawks, visit the club’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheNewtonNiteHawks.