East Union will be playing their last two regular season football home games at home.

The Lancers — who are using Manteca and Sierra high school stadiums as their home fields in the coming weeks — will be able to host Sierra High on Oct. 20 and Kimball High Oct. 27 on their own field.

Manteca Unified officials confirmed the current phase of stadium upgrades  including the critical maintenance contract period for the establishment of new turf — will be completed by Oct. 20 to allow football to again be played at the Lancers’ stadium.

The work that has been done includes  correcting drainage problems that have plagued the stadium for years.

Those problems have flooded the track with standing water for days after storms and related issues with the playing surface.

Track upgrades have been done as well.

Work that will be completed before Oct. 20 includes a new track surface.

The changes made to the East Union playing surface is being done elsewhere within the school district as well as Manteca High. Those changes include more durable turf that consumes less water to reflect the new reality of miserly water use.

A future phase yet to be scheduled will include American with Disabilities accessible pathways,  pedestrian lighting, track and field event upgrades for discus and shot put as well as high jump, and landscaping.

The work is being paid for using a special reserve where the district sets aside money to fund long-term maintenance needs so it doesn’t impact classroom funding or take away from bond money.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com