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December 2008 |
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School to take up stadium question |
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Saturday, 15 December 2007 |
By KAY LOUTH
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — The Skip Baughman Stadium at Memorial High School is a great source of tradition for St. Marys residents, but when it comes to what is to become of the stadium, cost may have to trump tradition.
While structurally sound, the stadium is under the spotlight because of the new school project.
“We knew that we were going to have to do something with football stadium,” said Craig Gottschalk, board of education member and member of the high school’s athletic committee. “Either keep it where it is and address the demolition of the area’s (buildings) that’s used for locker rooms and rest rooms.”
Gottschalk explained that the school has 2 or 3 years to decide to accept state money to demolish Memorial and McBroom or to do something else with the buildings. If no one steps forward to buy the buildings, they will most likely be demolished. With demolition, restrooms and locker rooms will have to be replaced. Then there’s the issue of the flood plain. Memorial and McBroom are on a flood plain, which causes problems
Regardless what happens to the two old buildings something is going to have to be done with the stadium — either build new or remodel and revamp.
‘If we build elsewhere we have to determine what and where and how much,” Gottschalk said.
The final cost depends on the number of seats, whether or not field turf will be used, locker rooms and restrooms and concession stands.
“My guess,” Gottschalk said, “a new facility will cost basically $200 a seat. My guess, if we wanted to build a new stadium we’re looking at $2 to $3 million.
Gottschalk doesn’t have any figures on the cost of renovation but did say they would need around 5000 seats, which would run about a million and $200,000 for a press box and then there’s the cost of concession stands, restrooms and lockers.
The high school athletic director Scott Schulte said the current facility seats 4,000 people and the average attendance last year was 2,784 people per game. The year before it was 3,600.
As for right now the stadium is adequate but the future is a different story.
“In terms of structure, eventually there will have to be some work done on the old part of the stadium,”
Schulte said. At this point Schulte doesn’t have an opinion on whether or build new or renovate.
It’s going to come down to cost. What’s it’s going to cost to keep it here or move it to a new location,” he said, adding, “We’ll do what’s best for the community — do what the community wants.”
The new school project has accelerated the decision making on the part of the stadium. The Athletic Committee has met with the Rider Rooters a couple of times to talk about the stadium.
“We made a commitment not to put the stadium on the levy and not to ask for another levy for a stadium,” Gottschalk said. “That’s why we got the Rider Rooters involved as soon as possible.” The school plans on any stadium project being completed with private funds.
The Athletic Committee has also met with Dave York, a stadium builder from Cincinnati who has built 30 or 40 stadiums in Ohio including in Sidney, New Bremen and Piqua.
There’s numerous options to talk about with a stadium project.
“Personally, I don’t want to move it,” Gottschalk said, “but then again, I’m not paying for it. For me, it comes down to cost. Is one site more expensive than the other?” He pointed out there was infrastructure to look at including parking and does the flood plain question come into the equation where the stadium is now and will that raise the cost.
“We have parking where we are now, drainage, lighting. We have a lot of what we need now that we don’t have at the new site. Does it cost us more to build there (or stay?)”
The Athletic Committee also talked about using turf grass as opposed to natural grass on the field.
Field turf is an artificial turf a lot like grass, he explained. It has a rubber and sand base and is useful for multiple sports. It comes pre-painted with lines and only requires minor maintenance. In addition, the field turf is unaffected by standing water so the flood plain issue doesn’t come into play.
“It lasts from 9 to 15 years,” Gottschalk said. “Based on figures we’ve seen, it’s actually cheaper to have field turf than grass -- no watering, no fertilizing -- no painting.” The initial cost is around $500,000, he said.
“One of the things we’ve considered was the ability to host high school football playoff games and right, from week three of the playoffs, the state says they have to be played on field turf. I can see the day when all but the opening day has to be on field turf.”
That decision is also based on money.
“If we can host playoff games,” Gottschalk said, “that’s a way to bring some money into the community.”
Gottschalk said they are looking for input from the community.
“Join the Rider Rooters. Come to meetings,” he said.
“It’s a tough spot to be in because there’s so much tradition with that field,” he said. “It’s a matter of weighting the pros and cons.””
Riders Rooters could not be reached for comment.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 19 December 2007 )
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