Posted: 11/16/05
Stadium Field is changing, just not right away
|
|
 |
Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
Forest Lake High School sports fans will be entering Stadium Field (thatís the official name to the football/soccer field) through a brand new ticket stand that will also feature a concessions stand.
The foundation for the new ticket/concession stand was donated by Dave Schultz Construction. Dave Schultz Construction poured the foundation and did the excavating.
FLHS students in Keven Rivardís carpentry two class are handling the construction of the ticket/concession stand.
ěThe kids did an outstanding job,î Rivard said. ěThe local building inspector said the kids did a really good job when he came to inspect the framing.î
The carpentry two class did the framing, roofing, siding and installation of windows and doors. Electrical work was done by a professional.
Rivard said that the real life application of building the ticket/concession stand was good for the students since many of them are interested in pursuing careers in construction.
The ticket/concession stand has four windows facing the parking lot that will be used for ticket sales, two wings that come off the structure that will be gates that fans will pass through as they enter events, and windows on the rear of the structure that will be used for a concession stand.
Materials for the ticket/concession stand were either donated or bought at cost with funds that were generated from new advertising signs lining the fence of Stadium Field.
Other field improvements this offseason include yearly maintenance that includes a few loads of black dirt that will be spread out on the field to help fill low spots and smooth out rough spots. Fertilizer will also be added.
Some people believe the home fans bleachers will be moved from the east side of the field to the west side, eliminating the need to squint as the sun goes down.
ěThe bleachers are not moving contrary to some rumors,î FLHS Activities Director Joel Olson said. ěOur long term goal does include adding bleachers on the west side of the field and making them the home bleachers with a press box though.î
Other long term goals for Stadium Field include repairing the track, making it a nine lane track that FLHS could host track and field events on.
ěThe track is our number one priority,î Olson said. ěThe question is do you do the track without the field, or the field without the track?
ěWeíve got our goal to make this into a first class facility that the community and students can be proud of.î
Olson says the field will need to be renovated to deal with drainage issues and to upgrade an aging sprinkler system. The current field has no drain tile and all the water rolls off the field and over the track.
Of course the question to how all of these upgrades will be paid for is something Olson and the school board is thinking about. Olson says that most of the larger improvements will be sparked by larger donations to the school, but some of the smaller stuff is budgeted for from year to year.
One way the school district has worked to help offset any improvement cost is to add signs to the football field fences. This season only a handful of signs appeared as the school district approved the decision too late to fill the 40 spaces Olson hopes to fill for next season.
Proceeds from the signs at the football field helped pay for the materials for the new ticket/concessions stand. Future proceeds wonít be restricted to just Stadium Field, but will go to helping improve all school district facilities.
Olson says there is a possibility that signs could grace the outfield fence at the softball fields if the program really takes off. There will also be a banner hanging in the FLHS gymnasium with the list of sponsors that appear on the Stadium Field signs.
Donít plan on seeing any signs lining the outfield fence at The Ballpark at Schumacher Field any time soon though.
ěIt was never a thought on my part,î Olson said. ěI thought about the ivy and thatís something we donít want to cut down.î
Signs could possibly end up along the first base fence that shields the bullpen though.
The idea of selling sign space on the boards at the Maroon and Gold arena is still an option, but Olson stresses the school district is only focusing its energies on signs at Stadium Field right now and other venues are simply a possibility.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605