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Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2008 > March > 25 > Entry
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.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Colleges and Universities, Dayton Public Schools, Sports and Athletics
Comments
By the truth
January 29, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this
Please ask President Curran about the Parking Lot Arrangement at Welcome Stadium and who receives event proceeds. DPS (owner of all but 200 parking spaces on both properties) or UD.By Mary
March 26, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
thomas, the student athletes nor the students are the ones pocketing the millions of dollars spent on the stadium rennovations. Selfish adults are. So you are the one who needs to move on past the spin and cliches about what is good for young people, and admit who really benefits. Students are the ones getting the shoddy education and a bleak future. Athletes are the ones getting lifetime injuries (note the medical center sponsorship) and a warped sense of educational purpose and priorities. Then mdeical centers are consumers of H1B visas for importing medical knowhow, because our education system “does not provide” enough trained workers. That means more job losses for future generations. The number one priority of education tax dollars has to be education, not entertainment and after school activities when classrooms are underfunded and oversized.By thomas
March 25, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
move on, UD and DPS both benefit, the student athletes get the most when selfish adults go away and grownups get along.By Scott Elliott
March 25, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
Greener, read carefully. Curran twice denied ever having or ever expressing any past interest in buying Welcome Stadium.By Mary
March 25, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
Well, duh, why would UD pay for the stadium when they can participate in a system that has the taxpayers footing a large part of the bill for their big time sports. The taxpayers should in no way be obligated to subsidize the pennies raised in 1949 for a football stadium. That is emotional bs.By greener
March 25, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
ask the question WAS WELCOME STADIUM ever been ask to be purchased by u.d.