Stadium project still solid

The district’s Stadium and Health and Wellness Fitness Center building process has been delayed slightly by Covid-19, but the project is on track to start at the end of January and be finished August 2021, said Milton Athletic Director Mr. Rod Harris. 

Since November of last year, the Stadium and Wellness and Fitness Center has had small disruptions in the building process, M

r. Harris said. He explained that the companies the school is working with to build the stadium have had to shut down due to Covid-19, but this hasn’t delayed anything too much, adding that overall the stadium has only been set back a month or two. 

The stadium building process went “out to bid” Nov. 30, said Mr. Harris. We are now in the waiting stage for the contractors to review and approve the bid, according to Mr. Harris. Construction of the building will start in January. 

Despite small delays, there have been no major changes in the plans for the stadium or Health and Wellness Fitness Center, according to Mr. Harris. 

One concern with building the stadium through the pandemic are availability of resources for the building process of the stadium, he said. Mr. Harris also said that he doesn’t have many concerns with the stadium going forward. 

“I really don’t have many concerns because it’s moving forward,” he said. 

Mr. Harris said the biggest challenge with building the stadium and getting it approved so far has been all the meetings to get everything planned.  

“You have to have everything picked out down to the door handles,” he said. “You have to have everything ready, color scheme, door handles. Everything you want everywhere has to be perfectly lined up.”  

One thing going well with the stadium is that its finally going “out to bid,” he said. The stadium went out on Nov. 30. We are now in the waiting stage for the contractors to review and approve the bid, according to Mr. Harris. 

Mr. Harris anticipates breaking ground in February. The anticipated finish date of the stadium is August 2021 if everything goes according to plan, he said. Although the school may close in the future due to Covid-19 Mr. Harris does not see construction stopping during any closure.  

Mr. Harris said his favorite part of the stadium is the turf field and an all-weather track. 

“No longer do our student-athletes have to train on cinders. We will now be on the same playing field as all of our competitors,” he said.  

Sophomore Dylan Reiff said he is excited for the new stadium project to be done because he is looking forward to playing football on the new turf in front of his family and friends.  

“I’m hoping the stadium will be done by my senior year so I’ll be able to play on it for a season,” Dylan said.