The $1.1 million project is being paid for with a lease-purchase agreement, similar to a loan.

The $1.1 million project is being paid for with a lease-purchase agreement, similar to a loan.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CHAMPION -- Golden Flashes football fans will be greeted this season by a stadium with a whole new look.
The bulk of the work on the new Champion High School athletic complex is expected to be completed in time for Band Night on Aug. 22.
The dedication ceremony will be Aug. 23, just before the first football game.
Superintendent Pam Hood said the $1.1 million project is being funded through a lease-purchase agreement. Similar to a loan, it will be repaid over 15 years.
The payments won't be an added burden because the district recently paid off a 10-year loan for lighting and other improvements, the superintendent said.
The old stadium was built 30 years ago. "It lived a good life, but it needed to be retired," Hood said.
School board member Linda Ashelman concurred.
"The bleachers on the visitors side had been deemed unsafe," Ashelman said. "Nothing had been done other than regular small maintenance stuff since the stadium was built 30 years ago."
Facilities
The new complex behind the high school has two concession facilities rather than one, a press box, an eight-lane all-weather track, visitor and home team locker rooms, an expanded weight room, new bleachers, a band shell, new ticket booth and handicap-accessible restrooms.
The band shell might not be ready for the August festivities.
The playing field and stadium lighting, both completed within the last few years, remain from the older facility.
The district also received a $50,000 state grant to make the facility handicap-accessible.
Hively Construction Inc. of Green Township is the general contractor, and Ricciutti, Balog and Partners of Youngstown is the architect.
The school board approved plans for the complex in December.