Barnitz Stadium at Cris Carter Field

In 1950, Barnitz Stadium was built the historic south end neighborhood and is now next to Rosa Parks Elementary School. The stadium was largely unaltered for its first six decades until 2014 when $1.6 million dollars was raised from local Middletown area businesses and donors. According to George Long, Middletown City Schools business manager via the Middletown Journal, major funding included $750,000 from Premier Health Services, $500,000 from the Middletown Community Foundation, $300,000 Sodexo, $100,000 from the Miriam G. Knoll Charitable Foundation and $30,000 from Cohen Brothers.

With the latest upgrades, the stadium includes a large scoreboard behind the west side end zone next to the small set of stands for the Middies Marching Band. The South sideline or the home side has a large press box. The large press box is equipped with a place for media members, stat keepers along with coaches who are assigned to the box for the home and away teams. 

The playing field is a green astroturf with white yard markers and lines. The west end zone says “Middletown” in white with a purple background and “Middies” on the east end zone in the same color scheme. Next to the west end zone is a multipurpose structure with a turf area, weight room, locker room and coaches offices.

Cris Carter played his youth football and high school career as a Middletown Middie. Carter was also a standout basketball player and was heavily recruited by football and basketball colleges before choosing to play football at The Ohio State University. Carter became an All-American at Ohio State at wide receiver, and went on to play in the NFL for the Eagles, Dolphins, and Vikings. Carter was a eight time Pro Bowler, two time All-Pro, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, NFL 1990’s All-Decade Team and Vikings retired #80. Carters outstanding career remains an inspiration to Middletown residents. In addition to Carter, the exterior of the stadium includes photos of former Middie players from their youth.

McCrabb, Rick. Barnitz Stadium ready to show off, September 4th 2014. Accessed August 7th 2020. https://www.journal-news.com/news/local/barnitz-stadium-ready-show-off/UNfqitcTA9OABTqviYar4L/.

Accessed August 7th, 2020 https://middletownathletics.com

Brady, James. Cris Carter Hall of Fame speech: WR tells family and friends 'You're in the Hall with me', August 3rd 2013. Accessed August 7th 2020. https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/8/3/4585984/chris-carter-nfl-hof-speech-class-of-2013.