Boardman school district, stadium committee dedicate band shell before kickoff

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The school district and stadium committee will officially dedicate the new Boardman Spartan Band Shell during the pre-game ceremony starting about 6:30 p.m. before the kickoff of the 2016 football season tonight between the Spartans and Youngstown East High School Panthers.

The shell will protect the uniforms, instruments and the 175 members of the Spartan marching band from the elements during home games. It also will allow the band to have a location to organize themselves in the stadium.

Superintendent Tim Saxton said the shell will be dedicated to the community and recognizes those who made its construction possible. The ceremony also will recognize the district’s gratitude to William and Karen Veri, who volunteered to fund construction, estimated at $150,000.

Groundbreaking for the shell took place June 23 and was added to the stadium, which was built in September 2015 to replace the old Spartan Stadium on Market Street behind Center Middle School.

The stadium project was divided into three phases, which started six years ago. The first phase included purchasing and laying the turf for $1 million. The second phase included construction of the home and visitor stands, press box and scoreboard, costing $2.5 million.

The band shell is the first part of the third phase, which will cost $1.2 million altogether, including a wall of honor, ticket booths, a third building for restrooms, locker rooms and several improvements to the parking lot near the stadium.

Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m.