in the spring of 2007 the lighting system for hoffman stadium was deemed unsafe by the school district. due to financial restraints, the district was unwilling to pay for the repairs, instead turning to the school community to raise the funds. the football booster club raised $67,000 through donations to repair the system, notably receiving checks from notable football alumni kwame harris and the national football league. newark was one of the first high schools in the state to install stadium lighting in 1987 and friday evening football has become a tradition at the school. similar renovations, largely made through donations from boosters and notable alumni, improved the baseball field in 2007, installed a new basketball court floor in the west gym in 2010, and installed new sports bleachers in the west gym in 2012.