Royalton hosting T-Mobile pregame tailgate party before Friday game against Paynesville

ROYALTON — Royalton High School’s football team has a big night on tap for its fans on Friday, Oct. 10.

Not only are the Royals hosting Paynesville for a 7 p.m. kickoff, but the school is also celebrating the $25,000 it was awarded for being named a finalist in T-Mobile’s Friday NIght 5G Lights competition.

The competition started with 2,100 schools in the running for a $1 million prize that will eventually be awarded to one school.

Royalton was one of 25 finalists from across the country to be considered for the $1 million prize. The Royals were already awarded the $25,000 for being a finalist.

The school also earned a $5,000 “5K Friday” award this past week, bringing their total winnings to $30,000.

Community voting determines which school wins the grand prize. The vote is open through Friday, Oct. 24. People can vote once per day during that time period. The more daily votes a school gets, the higher the chance it will have of winning the grand prize, which will be announced on Thursday, Oct. 30.

The public can

vote for Royalton

at this link.

Royalton won a paid pre-game tailgate party that T-Mobile will be running before the game against Paynesville. The game will feature giveaways, fan gear, free concessions and a halftime check presentation.

Andy Rennecke / St. Cloud LIVE

Along with the $1 million field upgrade, the grand prize winner will receive a renovated weight room from

Gronk Fitness

, a consultation with stadium experience experts, an all-expenses-paid trip to the SEC Championship Game for 16 school representatives and a tailgate party revealing the finalized upgrades in 2026.

If Royalton were to win the $1 million prize, it plans on getting new bleachers, a modern scoreboard and true track to replace the dirt ring that currently surrounds the field.

Royalton is the only school from Minnesota in the running for the $1 million prize.