The Dodge City Red Demons and Garden City Buffaloes have been colliding on the football field since 1903. To those close to the rival programs it would seem the event could not find a stage any bigger than the annual trek across the plains in search of a year’s worth of bragging rights. In all those years, the game has never been played at a neutral site – until now.
Riverfront Stadium – the newly constructed home of the MiLB Double-A Wichita Wind Surge will host the 85th Annual Hatchet Game on Saturday, October 15 at 6:00 pm.
Quote from Jordan Kobritz, Partner/CEO – Wichita Wind Surge: “This is the second of what we hope will be a series of football games at Riverfront Stadium this year,” said Jordan Kobritz. “The Dodge City – Garden City matchup will feature two long-time rivals from the western part of the State that each have a great following. It will also give local football enthusiasts another opportunity to watch high school football in Wichita in addition to the regular schedule of Friday night games played in the City. I want to thank the entire leadership at Dodge City and Garden City and especially the two Athletic Directors and coaches for their willingness to play the game at Riverfront Stadium.”
Quote from Drew Thon, AD – GCHS: “The Hatchet Game is the most notable rivalry in the state and it’s great that we will be able to showcase this event at an amazing facility like Riverfront Stadium. The experience that it will provide for our students, community and alumni will be second to none.”
Quote from Jay Gifford, AD – DCHS: “What an opportunity for Dodge City to showcase our football program, Pride of Southwest Kansas (DCHS Band), Drill Team, and Cheer program to the city of Wichita and state of Kansas! We were the first high school in Kansas to host a nationally televised game, our soccer program played in the first ever indoor soccer game, and now we are part of the first-ever series of high school football games to be played at Riverfront Stadium. We have a tradition of finding opportunities to showcase our many talented students. We are so excited to give our students this memory that will stay with them long after they graduate from Dodge City High School.”
The Stadium
The facility is a $75 million state-of-the-art, multi-purpose venue on the west bank of the Arkansas River near downtown Wichita, on the former site of Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. While the stadium is most widely known as the home of the Minnesota Twins minor league affiliate – Wichita Wind Surge, it was built with many uses in mind. It has hosted college baseball and football games to date.
Riverfront Stadium can seat 6,500 in the seating bowl plus 3,500 more on berms and picnic areas for a baseball game. As many as 18,000 people can attend a concert or other events when the field is used for sitting or standing.
The History
In the 120 years since that first game (followed by a rematch the same year), the two teams have met (124) times on the gridiron – the second longest running rivalry in the state of Kansas. Abilene & Chapman have played (128) times.
This year’s annual event will be the 125th contest between the two rivals, and the 85th time the programs have competed for the most iconic traveling trophy in the state of Kansas – The Hatchet. Imagine a rivalry in which even the trophy has a back story – a tradition so rich it actually takes two Hatchets to hold all the history.
The Game
The Hatchet Game is the spotlight game of the season for both the Red Demons and the Buffaloes. It is the fall festival for two communities fifty miles apart with the town of Cimarron placed between them just to keep them separated. It resembles a good old fashioned backyard brawl between brothers that will never admit they like each other, but in many ways are more similar than different.
Over the past 15 years, the rivalry has elevated itself into even thinner air as far as competitive and entertaining games are concerned. Something very few on either side thought was possible. Since 2007, the series is nearly even as Dodge City leads the rivalry (8-7) during that span. Punt blocks, long TD runs and lengthy TD passes, interceptions, fumble recoveries…You name it, and it likely has happened in just the past few years.
“It took double overtime to decide last year’s game. The year before the game was won by Garden City off a blocked punt. The monsoon game of 2019 was absolute craziness,” Gifford said. “It seems like you could write a book about just the last 15 years of the rivalry and people would be amazed at the stories. Both schools have had great teams during that era and the games have been competitive almost every year.”
The game is for everyone – players, coaches, students, community, and fans in general. It grabs the attention of the entire state – and this year it will be the only high school game being played in the state of Kansas on this particular Saturday night.
The decision to play on Saturday was based in anticipation that both fan bases will be traveling en masse to see this unique chapter added to the storied rivalry.
Additional details and ticket information can be found at www.WindSurge.com.
For questions and additional information contact:
Kylee Sorrells
ksorrells@windsurge.com
Marketing Manager, Riverfront Stadium
