Heather Gorsuch
Staff Reporter
This isn’t your typical renovation. With the state of our current economy, trustees and alumni have set up a fundraising committee to raise money to renovate Bair Stadium and have raised $6.2 million in commitments and $3.8 million in cash.
The process of constructing this new state-of-the-art facility is long and tedious, but here is how it all began: A 15-year Master Plan designed to take a look at building plans for future facilities on campus was created in 2002 by the firm of Derck & Edson from Lititz, Pa.
“We really like using Derck & Edson because they work with colleges all over, both small and large,” said Vice President of Administration and Finance Dr. Ethan Seidel. Within the plan it was stated that Bair Stadium is in need of a serious makeover.
According to the master planners, “The field and stadium, while holding a strong sense of history and memories for the college, is in need of improvement.” According to Seidel, Bair Stadium is not the campus’s top priority; Decker Center is also in need of a renovation. Although McDaniel is able to borrow additional funding, the school does not wish to, according to Seidel. In 2006, the school marketed a $20 million bond, issued to renovate resident buildings, Blanche Ward Hall, the Garden Apartments, the second phase of North Village, and Gill center as part of the plan.
Therefore, when Ken Gill, class of 1961 but no relation to Gill Center, heard about the idea of a possible renovation at Bair, “he pushed for us to look at it and spearheaded it from a volunteer level to begin raising funds,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement Richard Kief. So where will the money come from?
“The money is not coming out of the operating budget, not one cent,” insisted Dr. Seidel.
According to Seidel, the New Stadium Project committee has already raised enough money to begin hiring architects, Marshall Craft & Associates, to start designing the new stadium. “I think we have made some really good progress in the design process, but we still don’t have a final design,” said Seidel.
Since the design plans are not definite or finalized, the estimated completion date of the stadium is unknown. “We are well into our discussion, but we are still discussing,” said Seidel.
The committee will not know how much money to raise without knowing the exact renovations that will be done. The architects are meeting with coaches, equipment managers, and trainers to determine what they would like to see in a new stadium. Unfortunately, Head Football Coach Tim Keating was unable to comment.
According to Athletic Director Jamie Smith, locker rooms, game- day operations, and storage units would be essential improvements to the stadium. “I think the [new] stadium will have a positive aesthetic affect on the campus,” said Smith.
Although there is a small building under the current stands for halftime locker rooms, the room is too small. Kief said another reason why designs have not been finalized is because athletic officials need to take a look at the locker rooms in Gill to see how much additional space under the stadium is needed. This will also help the architects determine the size of the new home stands, concessions, and bathrooms, according to Kief.
According to Seidel and Kief the renovation will cost broadly $6-$8 million. Kief stated that once they have a finalized design the next step is to create construction documents in order to solicit bids from contractors. From this process actual costs will be determined. There are several design ideas suggested by the master planners.
According to the Master Plan “the following issues, if addressed, would allow the stadium to be both a sense of pride for the college and a recruiting tool:”
New seating, especially for the visiting team, press box, stadium fencing, halftime locker rooms beneath the stadium, concessions, bathrooms, and equipment storage will “enhance the team and spectator experience, as well as address current code issues at the stands,” stated the plan.
Improved parking including VIP parking and accessible parking
Better lighting “to allow greater use of the stadium, especially during the late fall and early spring,” according to the plan.
Additional planting and landscaping to “accentuate key entrance points to the stadium and create a clear edge to this area,” stated the master plan.
The plan also stated that, “additional pedestrian connections to the stadium from the parking and the campus” including a pedestrian bridge through the stadium that leads to a terrace with tables and chairs, and a walk way around the hill constructed in the middle of the hill is needed.
The stadium is not anywhere near completion, but plans are underway. “It’s been announced; it is no secret. If it is successful, it will be created,” said Seidel.
Sophomore Linebacker Paul Smith believes that having larger locker rooms under the stands will be a huge benefit for the team. The team will have more time to talk during halftime, and will spend less time walking from Gill to the stadium.
“Although the stadium will not be renovated until after I graduate, I’m excited to come back as an alumni for homecoming and see the new stadium,” said Smith.