A NEW DENNY STADIUM? South River, It's Time
- Jon Harder
- Oct 31
- 5 min read
Up until a few years ago, I was a South River resident. However, I am back to town as frequently as I can.
Within the Borough, turnover and change is always inevitable as it comes to small businesses and families coming in and out. However, the unique identity of the town never truly left. There is just a vibe about South River that just feels…different.
Until 2023 with the demolition of Denny Stadium.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The stadium, for as vintage as it was, needed a renovation. But when the demolition began at the end of the year, a piece of South River was lost that day, maybe even deeper than people realize.
It was where I, and my two brothers, graduated high school. It’s where I spent countless hours on the track, exercising and, most of the time, kvetching with friends. Personally, it holds prestige for me as it was where Brian Belzer and I filmed the first vignette of Project: Diverge with “Tough” Tim Hughes.
But most of all, it was the long standing home of South River Ram High School Football.
Eight state championships combined from Central Jersey Group I and II, last being in the undefeated season in 2001. Multiple Pro Football Hall of Famers (which I will get to in a little bit) played on that field. Countless student athletes throughout the decades put on the uniform and stepped foot on that field.
It wasn’t just the football that made Denny Stadium; it was the community. Every Saturday afternoon in the Fall, plenty of South River residents went to the field, sat in the bleachers, and cheered on the team, no matter if they were good or not. The Booster Club always turned out, selling raffle tickets, food, and merchandise.
I can vouch for this atmosphere. Although I was a Varsity Soccer player, I went to several games and, in 2004, was the voice of Denny Stadium during all home Ram football games.
Driving by the new Primary School, where the old Campbell School used to be, and not seeing the Stadium standing truly leaves a hole not just in my figurative heart, but South River as a whole. It just feels empty, like something is missing.
A few years ago, I helped with an article on this site, which you can read HERE regarding the experiences I had regarding this stadium, adding these comments:
In the next few years, we will see what the next steps are as it comes to how South River will handle that land. Will there be a private investor that puts money into building a new one? Could the town and townspeople come to a comfortable solution that would raise funds to a massive upgrade? Hell, will the Board of Education put the money down for this? These are all questions that will be answered eventually.
Well, I think it’s time to ask the same questions again.
As we all know, Denny Stadium is, technically, property of the South River Board of Education. There have been multiple votes and referendums on trying to have the taxpayers fund this stadium, bundled with other school properties, and was ultimately rejected.
From an average Joe’s perspective, I truly don’t think this should be a taxpayers issue. With the amount of money that has gone into massive projects around the South River Education Campus (not official, just sounded cool when I wrote it), residents have been footing the bill for that, on top of countless other amenities around town.
Is there a way that this stadium can be funded by either private investors?
It’s not like there haven't been attempts at small business and privately funded growth in town before. To me, the last real boost of revenue within town was the early to mid 2000s. I distinctly remember Don Brown trying to rejuvenate Main Street with a revamped Ram Head Tavern, turning the old Area 51 into Hummers Nightclub, and plans to build a restaurant on the South River Waterfront. At the same time, Ecko Unlimited was a thriving clothing brand, providing jobs and credibility to the town, even getting the town recognized in Madden 2002.
Although things fell through on multiple fronts for multiple reasons on both, I admired the attempt of trying to provide the town with vision and a small time destination spot for locals.
The best chance at gaining an opportunity for a new Denny Stadium might be this route, PLUS it 100% saves the South River Board of Education from working to get the funds to build it and puts more into educational programs, while avoiding taxpayers to foot the majority of the bill.
A big question to ask: how can we get to a point of trying to find a private investor to get this done? I have an answer.
Leverage Drew Pearson and Joe Theismann’s hometown legacy.
As I mentioned earlier, South River was home to multiple pro football Hall of Famers. Although Alex Wojciechowicz was South River’s first homegrown professional star, the two most popular and best known within modern football spheres were Mr. Pearson and Mr. Theismann. If you invoke their assistance, or at least support, there would be more interest than you’d think.
For example, my pal Ed Scanlon went to an autograph signing a few years ago and got the South River holy grail: an autographed football with both Mr. Pearson and Mr. Theismann's autograph on it, inside of an awesome case. They both, separately, discussed their time growing up in South River and how they enjoyed giving back to the town.
Maybe the promise of two statues of the duo outside of a freshly built venue, perhaps, if their assistance gets the ball rolling on gaining a few investors? I know there are streets named after the pair, but maybe just one last blast of nostalgia with the ultimate honor.
I understand totally that, in 2025, this is a massive “What If” scenario. There are plenty of obstacles to clear to even reach that point. But it really makes you wonder if there can be alternate routes, other than my own, that can get this to happen.
But for generations before, during, and after mine, I would love to see something done to help provide a new Denny Stadium. As silly as it might sound, the football team needs it. The town needs it.
I put the figurative kick in the air. It’s up…is it good, or is this just a wide left miss?
Jon Harder
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PREVIOUS SOUTH RIVER DISCUSSION:
Bankie’s Hot Take #35 - Denny Stadium
FOR REDZO
UNFILTERED #22 - The Ecko/South River Urban Legend
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