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Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2008 > March > 25
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Curran: UD has no interest in buying Welcome Stadium
This has been one of the most enduring rumors I have heard in my time covering Dayton schools — that the University of Dayton has its heart set on buying the district-owned Welcome Stadium and was trying to find a way to pull off such a deal. A couple years ago we actually had to write a story saying the rumors were not true.
At today’s announcement of a major renovation for Welcome, I again asked UD President Dan Curran if the university ever has had interest in buying the stadium, if it has interest in it now or if it might have an interest in Welcome in the future.
Curran’s answers were no, no and no.
Curran actually turned to Dayton Superintendent Percy Mack and asked, “Percy, have you ever received any communicaiton from Dan Curran that he wants to purchase this stadium?”
“Not at all,” Mack replied.
So there you have it, conspiracy theorists. The univesity and the district are on the record saying a sale of Welcome will never happen.
Here’s the rest of what I’ve written so far on today’s Welcome Stadium announcement:
A $3.6 million sprucing up designed “restore Welcome Stadium to its full glory” will be completed over the summer with the help of a $1 million gift from Kettering Health Networks.
The school district-owned stadium, originally built in 1949 with money that was raised entirely from community giving, will keep its name but the playing surface — new Field Turf artificial grass installed for $500,000 — will carry Kettering’s name.
“We are restoring this facility as the area’s premiere outdoor sports venue,” school board President Yvonne Isaacs said.
The $1 million contribution will allow the district to do a full external rehab, rather than scaled-down options it was considering. Among the new elements will be a $400,000 two-tier press box, a distinctive brick gateway and new spaces for sponsored advertising.
About $1 million in renovations already was undertaken— to upgrade seats, repaint and remove asbestos and lead paint — with a state grant shepherded by Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, a former UD football player.
A second state grant of $1.6 million will help with the next renovation phase, which will begin in June and be done in time for football games in late August.
“The city of Dayton schools were not in a financial position to secure funds to upgrade this facility,” Husted said. “I knew they would need some help. Taxpayer dollars from this community we are bringing back to invest in the community.”
The deal includes a maintenance fund and shared responsibilities for the district and the University of Dayton. The college will run parking operations for the stadium and its own next-door arena, banking some of the revenue for lot upgrades. The district will do the same with stadium revenue.
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