The renovation of Spratt Memorial Stadium is on schedule and looking great, according to Kurt McGuffin, director of athletics. The three-story building and concourse should be completed in early April, with the large video scoreboard completed in May.
McGuffin noted that the weather in the fall allowed the contractors, E.L. Crawford Construction, Inc., to complete a lot of the outdoor work and then work inside once winter arrived. “It’s going to be beautiful and a very nice stadium.”
The new field turf, removal of the track and moving the field closer to the stands were all finished in time for football and soccer last fall. McGuffin said fans have told him how much they enjoy being closer to the field.
“It’s been a positive experience for fans. Moving the field closer lets everybody be a part of the game and action.” He said when he was on the field on gameday it was definitely louder.
Fans also enjoyed watching the progress of the building throughout the football and soccer seasons. Because there were no lights on the field throughout the season, some games and matches had to be rescheduled to make sure they were over before dark.
McGuffin said he appreciated how the Gold Coat fans have supported the program this year, even though the Stadium Club, one of the perks of Gold Coat membership at a certain level, was a tent set up on the northwest corner of the stadium.
“They know in the future it is going to be so much better,” he said. “It will be worth the displacement.”
Along with new restrooms, concourse area, press box and a larger Stadium Club, new features of the building under construction include a Hall of Fame room with a kitchen area, and suites.