SWLA High School Football Program Could Win a Massive Football Field Makeover

This football season, a high school in Southwest Louisiana has the chance to score big, both on and off the field. T-Mobile is launching an exciting new competition called Friday Night 5G Lights, offering one small town's high school football field a massive technology makeover.

It doesn't matter which school you call home, from Lake Arthur to Vinton, and even bigger programs like Barbe, Sam Houston, and Sulphur, could be in the running for this incredible opportunity.

T-Mobile is known for its commitment to improving rural wireless service, and now they’re bringing that same dedication to the football fields of small-town America. The Friday Night 5G Lights competition celebrates the community spirit that high school football brings out in small towns, where Friday nights are all about cheering on the home team.

Jon Freier, President of T-Mobile's Consumer Group, expressed his excitement about the competition: “Growing up in West Texas, I’m no stranger to Friday night lights. I’ve always loved how those bright stadium lights bring families together from all corners of the community to cheer on and support their beloved high school. It’s why I’m so excited to provide a platform to recognize and highlight small towns from all over the country.”

The competition offers a grand prize worth $2 million, which includes a $100,000 cash grant, a brand-new scoreboard, 5G network upgrades, the ultimate tailgate party, and even a 5G-powered halftime drone show. Plus, there’s a special gift from NFL legend Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski — an upgraded weight room from GronkFitness.com. In addition to the grand prize, 16 finalists will each receive a $25,000 cash grant.

Schools in Southwest Louisiana are eligible to enter by sharing their story about why their football field deserves this Un-carrier-style upgrade. T-Mobile will choose finalists based on the impact the upgrade would have on the school, its football field, and how well the school shows its spirit on social media. The finalists will be announced in early October, and the public will have the chance to vote for the grand prize winner on Instagram.

But that’s not all. Every high school that enters will also be in the running to win $5,000 in T-Mobile’s $5K Fridays sweepstakes. Each week, 50 schools will be selected to win, making for a total of 300 lucky schools by the end of the contest. Students, teachers, and the entire community can boost their chances by posting about their school spirit on Instagram.

Entries are open now and will be accepted until September 20, 2024. So, it’s game time, Southwest Louisiana! Whether you're from Welsh, Iowa, Sam Houston, Barbe, Sulphur, or any other local school, this is your chance to show off your community pride and potentially win a once-in-a-lifetime football field makeover.

For more details and to enter, visit Friday Night 5G Lights.