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LEOMINSTER-- Mayor Dean Mazzarella will recommend keeping Doyle Field open for some football games this season, at a meeting today with the field's commission.

Mazzarella said he now believes construction and football fans can co-exist, despite previously saying otherwise.

"I want to attempt to try and keep some games at home," he said Thursday. "We'll just have to work it out."

The mayor does not have final say on the decision, but he feels confident Doyle Field Commission members will go along with his recommendation.

Doyle Field has been home to the football team for generations, but the first stages of a multi-million dollar renovation project -- which include a $900,000 reconstruction of the bleachers -- are slated to begin this fall.

If the commission does approve some games for Doyle Field, football fans won't face some inconveniences.

"Some bleachers will be gone," Mazzarella said. "Part of the visitors' section will be up, but the wings will be gone," he said. "There'll be some fencing and entrance could be moved. It's won't be perfect. It'll be makeshift. People may have to bring some lawn chairs."

But without holding a few home games in Leominster, the team would only see two "home games" more than 10 miles away in Gardner.

City officials are trying to figure out a solution after Leominster High School football players, cheerleaders and parents of students confronted the School Committee Tuesday, angry at the prospect of playing the whole season on the road.

"It's a difficult situation," said Coach John Dubzinski Tuesday after practice. "Some things happen that you just can't change. Everyone is trying to do the right thing. ... Everybody is working hard to come up with an acceptable solution to get the kids on the field for at least a couple of games."

Robert Burgess contributed to this report.
 
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