Updated stadium set for opening

The school district is officially opening the newly renovated, $2.02 million stadium Sept. 11.

BY RICK ROUAN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

POLAND — Season tickets are still available for the inaugural season of Poland Seminary High School’s new football stadium.

The school still has 31 of its 456 chair-back reserved seats available for the season’s five home football games, said Athletic Director Brian Banfield. The seats, which fill the top eight rows of the stadium’s new home bleachers, cost $8 for each game or $40 for the season.

The school district is officially opening the newly renovated, $2.02 million stadium for the high school’s first varsity football game Sept. 11, when the Bulldogs play the Thomas More Catholic High School Knights from Canada.

The district will rededicate the stadium and honor former Athletic Director Myron Stallsmith during halftime at the game, Banfield said.

“It’s not only a facility for the Poland community. It’s a great venue for the entire Valley to come out for a small-college atmosphere,” Banfield said.

The renovations included updated locker rooms, extra storage and the addition of a training room. In November 2007, voters passed a 1-mill, five-year replacement levy for permanent improvements; those funds are contributing to the costs. A nonprofit organization raised more than $700,000 for new field turf last year.

The stadium also features more concession stands.

Perhaps the most important addition is more seating. The project increased stadium seating from about 3,400 to about 6,000.

Reserved seats cost $8. Presales of adult seats and student seats cost $6 and $4, respectively. All tickets purchased at the gate cost $6.

The new stadium also features 234 reserved parking spaces, which cost $25 each for the season. Banfield said 120 spaces are still available. The school is giving hang tags for those with reserved parking spots.

Banfield said the additional seating will eliminate the need to stand outside the end zones and that the school will block those areas off during games.

The school also is trying to bolster attendance at other sporting events through a student- activity pass, Banfield said. Students in grades nine through 12 can purchase the $50 pass and attend any home sporting event for the entire school year.

The stadium is still undergoing its final touches as Pennsylvania-based Butch & McCree pave the reserved parking lot, and the school district will not obtain its official occupancy permit until Aug. 28, Banfield said.

Still, the school’s band and various athletic teams have started to use parts of the new stadium that are open.

“Our responsibility is to thank the community and school by representing Poland to the utmost,” said head football coach Mark Brungard. “Look at what has been given to us.”

rrouan@vindy.com