LONG BEACH, Calif. – As Long Beach City College (LBCC) begins a historic transformation of its athletics facilities, a new partnership with St. Anthony High School will allow Viking student-athletes to continue training and competing right here in Long Beach. During the 2026 season, St. Anthony will serve as the home site for LBCC Football games and provide practice space for the college’s men’s and women’s track and field programs while Veterans Memorial Stadium is closed for construction of LBCC’s new Stadium Athletic Sports Complex.

“As a former Viking football player and St. Anthony High School alumnus, this partnership is especially meaningful to me,” said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, President of the Long Beach Community College District Board of Trustees. “St. Anthony is part of my story, and I am grateful that my alma mater is opening its doors to today’s Vikings student athletes during this important transition. While LBCC builds a new home for Viking Athletics, our teams will remain connected to the Long Beach community and continue competing on a field that holds special meaning for generations of local families.”

“This is what partnership and community look like in Long Beach,” said Dr. Mike Muñoz, Superintendent-President of LBCC. “St. Anthony stepped forward at an important moment for our college and made it possible for Viking Football to stay right here in Long Beach. That means our families, alumni and fans can continue showing up for our student-athletes while we make this historic investment in the future of LBCC Athletics.”

The arrangement ensures Viking Football remains in Long Beach throughout construction, keeping LBCC student-athletes connected to the families, alumni and supporters who have helped make Viking Athletics part of the fabric of the community. The collaboration also reflects LBCC and St. Anthony’s shared commitment to supporting student-athletes and strengthening the Long Beach community.

The move comes as LBCC turns the page on more than 75 years of history at Veterans Memorial Stadium. On Aug. 29, the Vikings played their final football game at the historic venue as part of LBCC’s Final Farewell celebration, which brought together student-athletes, alumni, employees and community members to honor generations of memories created at the stadium.

Viking Football now begins its next chapter just a few miles away at St. Anthony, where the team will continue competing in front of the Long Beach community while LBCC builds the future home of Viking Athletics.

“We are excited to welcome Long Beach City College Football and the Viking community to the St. Anthony High School Athletic Complex this season, Home of the Saints. This partnership is what makes Long Beach special— coming together to support students, athletes, and our community!  We look forward to welcoming Viking fans and creating a great environment for both LBCC and our St. Anthony High School community this season,” said Dr. Adán Jaramillo, Principal.

For LBCC Athletics, finding a temporary home was about more than securing a place to compete.

“Veterans Stadium has been home to generations of Vikings, so we knew this transition had to be about more than finding another field,” said Kal Stewart, LBCC Associate Dean and Director of Athletics. “We wanted to keep our student-athletes in Long Beach and give our community a place where they could continue showing up for them. St. Anthony understood that immediately. They didn’t just provide us a facility. They welcomed our Vikings into their home while we’re building our next one.”

The temporary move to St. Anthony comes as LBCC begins construction on its new 285,453-square-foot Stadium Athletic Sports Complex, which will replace Veterans Memorial Stadium and create a new home for Viking Athletics. The complex will feature a 10,000-seat outdoor stadium, 2,500-seat indoor arena, football and soccer fields, track and field facilities, basketball and volleyball courts, training and sports medicine facilities, classrooms, offices, concessions and a Hall of Champions. Designed to honor the look, feel and history of Veterans Memorial Stadium while creating a state-of-the-art facility for future generations of Vikings, the complex is anticipated to open in summer 2029.

Viking fans are encouraged to support both LBCC and St. Anthony throughout the 2026 football season and help make the Vikings’ temporary home a true home-field environment.