Stadium High School's athletic facility closed due to sinkholes

TACOMA (AP) — Tacoma Public Schools has closed the athletic facility at Stadium High School after three sinkholes appeared in the Stadium Bowl.

The News Tribune reports that engineering tests scheduled for next week will determine whether the damage can be repaired in time for the first football game on Sept. 11.

A district news release says a recent inspection by geotechnical engineers discovered failures in the historic stadium's underground drainage system.

This is the second time in the last year that Stadium Bowl has closed because of unplanned natural events.

In November, an intense rain sent water pouring down the stairs, leaving mud up to a foot deep in one part of the field that took several days to clean up.