Unity Seats Brings Adams County Neighbors Together for ThunderRidge-Riverdale Ridge Football Game

ThunderRidge High will visit Riverdale Ridge High on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, for a football game that will bring more than two school communities together at 13380 Yosemite St, Thornton, CO 80602. The event is scheduled for 5 p.m., with Unity Seats activities beginning at 6 p.m. and kickoff set for 7 p.m.

Sheriff Gene Claps and members of his Adams County Office command staff will take part alongside other first responders and families from ThunderRidge and Riverdale Ridge. Through the US United Unity Seats program, participants with different backgrounds and viewpoints receive tickets and sit together, sharing the excitement of the game as neighbors rather than adversaries.

Unity Seats is a national initiative built around a simple and important message: People do not have to agree on everything to treat one another with respect, find common ground and strengthen their community. The energy surrounding a High football game provides a welcoming setting where conversations can begin and connections can form among people who might not otherwise spend time together.

The gathering also reflects the Adams County Office’s commitment to safety and security through proactive policing and community partnerships. With a focus on accountability and innovation, the sheriff’s office works to protect and serve every resident with professionalism and integrity. By being present with the ThunderRidge and Riverdale Ridge communities at 13380 Yosemite St, Thornton, CO 80602, the office will put its values of Dependability, Collaboration, Compassion and Unity into action.

Under the Friday night lights, football will provide the shared experience, but community bridge-building will be the larger purpose. Sitting side by side, cheering for their schools and talking across differences will give first responders and local families a chance to strengthen relationships that can continue well beyond the final whistle.