Riley High in South Bend named Midwest finalist for T‑Mobile’s $1M stadium upgrade

WVPE reports T‑Mobile selected South Bend’s Riley High School on 2026-10-08 as one of 40 Midwest finalists in the company’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest. The linked report says Riley received $25,000 for being a finalist and is competing for a $1 million stadium upgrade grand prize.

Riley Athletic Director Seabe Gavin told WVPE the school — which applied but missed the cut the prior two years — hopes to use a $1 million upgrade to add new bleachers, upgrade the audio system, redo the press box and expand locker rooms. WVPE reports students and staff held a pep rally; Gavin told WVPE staff are contacting personal connections and notable alumni, including NBA players Blake Wesley and Javon Small, and that winning “comes down to who can go viral.” Gavin also told WVPE that Jackson Field won a national award two years earlier for its new playing surface.

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