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| Subject: Re: Goblin Stadium's last game | |
Author: Richie Poe | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 23:47:24 11/06/06 Mon In reply to: Richie Arnold 's message, "Goblin Stadium's last game" on 08:15:15 10/30/06 Mon There have been lots of issues with the new stadium. Initially planned as a huge upgrade to the existing stadium and spearheaded by the Goblin Booster Club, Fed Ex got the ball rolling with a million dollar donation (100,000 per year/ten years). Even though there was an outpouring of pledges from the community, the project looked dead in the water for a while, just too many wants (better track, soccer use of field, indoor facility,etc etc) for the sixe of the property, plus still not enough money (mostly pledges, not cash in hand). Also, Arkansas school law made it illegal for the Club to renovate Goblin Stadium since it is owned by the district (the school itself had to do the improvements). Many in the Booster Club preferred to oversee the details rather than donate all money to the district and hope for the best. Probably a good decision (once off-site land was obtained), it kept the Booster Club in charge of details and kept the school board from having to plan and answer for every little aspect of the project (it's not your typical stadium, pretty upscale). Sheridan Garrison stepped up and appeared to adopt the entire project, and everybody got excited. His tragic death hit everybody really hard, and the project lost momentum. His sons, however, made good on his pledge by purchasing and donating 30 acres (plus Dr. Chamber's donation of 10) just behind the high school, site of current construction. Mosco Cash donated a huge chunk of money to help with he indoor facility. Plans are to finish the project and donate it, with the remaining land, to the school district. The school will then build a new high school (grades 9-12) on the land (after a millage vote), Jr. High (7-8) will move to the high school bldg and all will be beautiful. Several issues remain: Will there really be enough money to pay for it? Will the pledges come in? The school can't accept the "gift" if there are outstanding debts on it. Substantial expenses also loom ahead for the school....new astroturf in 10-12 years, maintaining the facility, etc. Part of me wishes that the project had been kept smaller and left at the creek, but I'm sure when I see the new place I'll be excited, and ten years from now, we'll all be very proud of it and not wish for the creek at all. Hats off to the Booster Club, they have REALLY persevered and carried this project. important disclaimer: I was on the School Board when this started, but am not now. This was my own personal rambling, not in any way "insider knowledge." It's probably not even factual, since it's pretty late at night. I just wanted my old classmates to have some history of the project. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: Re: Goblin Stadium's last game | |
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Author: Bob [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 18:14:11 11/08/06 Wed Thanks Richie for the inside look. School projects are quite intricate and to realize the completion of a project as large as this is not for the faint of heart. Guess the field must at least be ready for next season? What kind of timeline are they looking at? Thanks again Richie Poe! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |