High school football is returning to Fresno State’s Valley Children’s Stadium.

And for the first time, football teams from Fresno Unified School District will play on the home field of the Fresno State Bulldogs.

As part of the 2026 Valley Showcase on Friday, Roosevelt High will face Hoover at 5 p.m., followed by Bullard against Sunnyside at 8 p.m.

“We’re all really looking forward to this,” said Armen Torigian, executive officer of student engagement for Fresno Unified, who helped spearhead the event. “Walking down that Fresno State ramp. Playing on a Division I, Pac-12 football field. Getting to play in a stadium that our students either have been to for Fresno State football games or never been to before.

“We’re hoping this is a special moment for these players, and the students and families who also come out to the games.”

Highlighting Fresno Unified

Fresno Unified officials have spent the past two years working to bring high school football games to Valley Children’s Stadium.

Talks intensified in February after Fresno State released its football schedule and district officials learned the Bulldogs had a bye week during a stretch of the high school season when most Fresno Unified teams were playing district opponents.

The four teams were selected because their scheduled matchups featured only Fresno Unified programs during the Bulldogs’ bye week.

Other Fresno Unified teams also have games Friday. Fresno High will play at Central East of Central Unified School District, McLane will host Torres of Madera Unified, and Edison will travel to Sanger.

“The whole vision was to just have Fresno Unified teams play,” Torigian said.

Torigian added that the district’s cost to hold the doubleheader at Valley Children’s Stadium, including security, is about the same as hosting both games at one of its two football venues, McLane Stadium or Sunnyside Stadium.

Costs and Benefits

Torigian declined to disclose specific costs associated with the event.

Fresno Unified, meanwhile, has kept ticket prices for the Valley Showcase the same as they would have been had the games been played at a district facility.

Adult tickets are $11. Students with identification from one of the four participating schools who meet minimum campus requirements will be admitted free. Parking is $5.

“We didn’t want to increase the costs of tickets or parking, because we want to encourage everyone to come and check out the games,” Torigian said. “Some people might want to talk about costs. But can you really put a price tag on the impact the games could have on the students and the community?

“We want to transform culture, inspire leaders and build champions. An event like this helps grow all of that – for our football players and staff, our band, our students, our staff.”

Could Fresno State Host More High School Football Games?

Fresno State has hosted other high school sporting events at its facilities, including boys basketball games at the Save Mart Center and softball all-star games at Margie Wright Diamond. However, high school football games are believed to have last been played at Fresno State in the 1990s.

In 1997, Clovis Unified held a tripleheader at the facility, then known as Bulldog Stadium.

The City/County All-Star Football Game also was played at Fresno State during a seven-year stretch from 1982 through 1988.

Fresno State installed artificial turf in 2011, helping ease concerns about the playing surface getting worn down by events outside Bulldogs athletics.

In recent years, Fresno State has become more open to hosting non-Bulldogs events at its facilities.

Shakira performed at Valley Children’s Stadium in August 2025.

It remains unclear whether Fresno State plans to make high school football games at Valley Children’s Stadium a regular occurrence. A message left for Athletic Director Garrett Klassy was not immediately returned.

Valley Children’s Stadium has a maximum seating capacity of 40,727. However, fans attending Friday’s games will be restricted to the east side of the stadium.

myTV 53 Sports (53.1) will broadcast both games live.

 

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