A new pavilion on the west end of Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium will be built and donated by Steve Craig, the benefactor for whom Craig Field and the Craig School of Business are named. Work began this past fall.
“The pavilion will provide the finishing piece to the recent improvements to Spratt Stadium, adding to the aesthetics of the stadium, providing symmetry to create a bowl effect and providing a unique game-day experience,” Craig said.
The pavilion will be built into the hillside that housed the original stadium scoreboard before the new 2,500 square-foot video scoreboard was installed on the east end of the field last year (also made possible by Craig). Among other features, the area will include an 80-foot tall flagpole, a barbecue area, two covered pavilions, and a large gathering area for groups and organizations.
Craig will lease the construction site from Missouri Western for up to one year. He will hire a contractor and pay all of the costs of construction. When construction is finished, Craig will donate all of the improvements back to the university through the Missouri Western Foundation.
The lease also gives Craig the right to name the pavilion for the person of his choice, subject to approval by the Board of Governors. It is Craig’s intention to identify a past or present resident of St. Joseph to honor with the pavilion’s name.