Friday Night Lights are coming to St. Paul’s

St. Paul’s School recently announced, via a social media post, that it will be lighting up Tullai Field in Mitchell Stadium, beginning in the fall of 2026.

According to the post, a handful of generous donors quietly committed $795,000 to fund the installation of stadium lights for the Tullai Field, as well, as Levering Field, the primary varsity field for St. Paul’s School for Girls. 

The project is expected to be completed this summer in time for the fall football and soccer seasons. The Crusaders’ lacrosse program will make its home debut under the lights next spring. The school also plans to use the lights for community gatherings and other special events.

Tullai Field was dedicated in 2003, in honor of long time faculty member and coach Martin D. “Mitch” Tullai. Tullai taught history and coached football and basketball at St. Paul's, as well as serving as the school’s athletic director and admissions director. His impact was so great that he was named an honorary alumnus of the school by the St. Paul’s Alumni Association in 1992.

Mitchell Stadium, named for 1944 St. Paul’s graduate George L. Mitchell, was dedicated in 2018. Mitchell spent 32 years on the school’s faculty, teaching history and economics, in addition to coaching lacrosse, football, tennis and basketball. In lacrosse, he won more than 200 games and 10 MSA A Conference championships.

The stadium construction included the creation of plazas on the north and south sides of the venue, locker rooms under the viewing areas, an expansion of the seating area to accommodate about 1,000 spectators, a new press box, and a new sound system.

St. Paul's has played home football games under the lights in the past, using portable rented lights. Now, Friday Night Lights will become a regular feature for the Crusaders and the St. Paul's student body.