Ammons Family Athletic Center & Meares Stadium

With the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, Meares Stadium, home of the Mars Hill University Lions, is one of the most scenic college football stadiums in the country.  The stadium has been the home of Mars Hill Football since 1965. 

Meares Stadium is named after Carl Whittier Meares.  A plaque bearing Meares’ likeness is located outside the stadium at the main entrance gate.  Meares was born in Fair Bluff, North Carolina in 1907.  He passed away in 1993 at the age of 85.  Meares was an alumnus, trustee and benefactor of Mars Hill in addition to being a successful businessman, legislator and public servant.

In April of 2007 renovation began on Meares which resulted in an upgraded facility ready for the Lions’ 2007 kickoff.  The Ammons Family Athletic Center features state of the art synthetic turf, renovated seating in the home grandstand and new visitor seating.

In June of 2020, brand new turf and lights were installed.

To view more photos, please click here.

The W. Scott Merrill Press Box is a two story brick structure which houses a President’s box featuring 31 theatre seats plus hospitality areas, two radio booths, two coaches boxes, a film box and a general game operations box which will accommodate all game operations personnel and the media.

                These improvements are the first phase of the Meares face lift followed by other renovations to include a new entrance plaza, new ticketing areas, new concessions, new rest rooms and development of a VIP parking area.