Petal's Getting a New Football Stadium?

[Conveyor Belt]

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061207/SPORTS/612070337

while reading this article, I saw this:
Watkins said the decision to play the Warriors at Oak Grove was a concession to the larger stadium on the Lamar County campus.

"We're hoping we have a new stadium on our campus by the time we play the second game of the series," Watkins said. "We're moving toward getting all of our sports on campus."

I hadn't heard of it... of course, I'm really not listening... can someone in the know let me know?

[Biggie]

Why would Petal need to build a new stadium?

[AlphaMale]

Bond Money burning a hole in their pocket.

[Conveyor Belt]

It gets pretty crowded up there... I know I like to get to the stadium about 1 1/2 hrs early to get a choice seat.

The first thing I can think of is parking. There is little to no parking for the current stadium, especially if the visiting team decides to bring some people along to watch. I don't mind walking to the game, but I don't like having to choose which business I'm going to park at and kill their business while the game's on because no one can park.

[IGID]

I always thought the high school should have their own game field. What a pain in the ass just to get all the equipment and players down the road for a home game.

[noway]

All the clearing east of herrington road is the area being looked at.. not for sure whats going on with the church.. Still looks heavily damage from katrina

[Sir Mickey Mouse]

I should hope it's not bond money, unless that was something specific in the wording of the election. How did Oak Grove finance their stadium?

I know West Jones is getting a new stadium. Trees were already cut and construction started. I was told that it was "nicer than even the new Oak Grove stadium." But, money is coming mostly from the booster club, so I was told. I don't think money for new stadiums should come from the taxpayers, or at least the major chunk.

[Biggie]

I may be wrong but I believe the Oak Grove stadium came entirley from donations and fund raising by the Booster Club. It took years to save up plus funds from advertisments from vendors around the stadium (scoreboard, etc..)

[Conveyor Belt]

I may be wrong but I believe the Oak Grove stadium came entirley from donations and fund raising by the Booster Club. It took years to save up plus funds from advertisments from vendors around the stadium (scoreboard, etc..)

I thought they got a grant, too.. I seem to remember something about them getting lots of money that could only be used for a football stadium or something to that effect and it causing an uproar from some people.

[SoMissTV]

Hubbarrister probably knows more about this than I, but I believe that each of the Lamar County schools (Sumrall, Purvis, Oak Grove) got x amount of dollars per student for improvements to the athletic facilities. Purvis and Sumrall renovated their stadiums, and Oak Grove used this money, along with donations, to build their stadium.

I think that's how it worked.

[Tommy9854]

All the clearing east of herrington road is the area being looked at.. not for sure whats going on with the church.. Still looks heavily damage from katrina

There is a 10-year plan going on at the high school. Included in that plan are new softball, baseball, and football fields (the area where the trees are cleared). The access road from Herrington is already being worked on. There are also plans for an indoor practice facility/jr. ROTC building. They are also building a new band and showchoir room and turning the old ones into computer labs. They are expanding the front part of the high school all the way out about halfway through the current parking lot. Also a new cafeteria will be built. New parking on the side of the tennis courts and behind the school will be added. Oh, and like 8 acres behind the school and baseball field will be for a farm for the FFA/Agriculture classes.

[Tommy9854]

Why would Petal need to build a new stadium?

You must not realize how many people stay home because of the parking/seating situations?

I call Petal's field the "Mini Rock". It resembles it in many ways. But if your not there early and don't have reserved tickets, you'll probably be in the student section and not see a lot of the game because of the students. A new stadium is needed very badly, and you can bet it will be just as big, if not bigger than OG's.

[Conveyor Belt]

You must not realize how many people stay home because of the parking/seating situations?

I call Petal's field the "Mini Rock". It resembles it in many ways. But if your not there early and don't have reserved tickets, you'll probably be in the student section and not see a lot of the game because of the students. A new stadium is needed very badly, and you can bet it will be just as big, if not bigger than OG's.

that's part of the reason I don't go that often(caught 2 games this year)... I don't get home on friday's til 6-6:30, and then it's almost too late to get a parking spot, plus having to get there that early and try to keep a 4 year old entertained for an hour in one spot with nothing going on is next to impossible.

[politically incorrect]

There is a 10-year plan going on at the high school. Included in that plan are new softball, baseball, and football fields (the area where the trees are cleared). The access road from Herrington is already being worked on. There are also plans for an indoor practice facility/jr. ROTC building. They are also building a new band and showchoir room and turning the old ones into computer labs. They are expanding the front part of the high school all the way out about halfway through the current parking lot. Also a new cafeteria will be built. New parking on the side of the tennis courts and behind the school will be added. Oh, and like 8 acres behind the school and baseball field will be for a farm for the FFA/Agriculture classes.

Uh, I don't know where you get your information, but about half of what you stated is not true. The only new facility being built at the existing high school will be the new band hall and chorus room. There is no plan for expansion of the building into the parking lot. We have no Jr. ROTC program and I have not heard of one being planned. Also have heard zilch about a new cafeteria.

I also have not heard anything at all about an agricultural field behind the school.

We were given the total plan before the bond issue. It includes the new band hall and chorus room, with the existing rooms being turned into a few more classrooms. The rest of the bond issue will be for constructing new elementary school off Herrington Road and the access road around the high school. May also get new parking lot, but that is not for certain.

As far as the new stadium is concerned, I wonder if the news today about Bubba leaving will impact fundraising efforts with the booster club?

[Kitty]

Hubbarrister probably knows more about this than I, but I believe that each of the Lamar County schools (Sumrall, Purvis, Oak Grove) got x amount of dollars per student for improvements to the athletic facilities. Purvis and Sumrall renovated their stadiums, and Oak Grove used this money, along with donations, to build their stadium.

I think that's how it worked.

I think you're correct.

Absolutely no bond issue money was used to build the Oak Grove football stadium.

I hope Petal gets a new stadium. They deserve it, plus when they host Oak Grove in 2008, I would like a place to sit. :) The visitors' side at the current Petal stadium fills up mighty quickly.

[Tommy9854]

Uh, I don't know where you get your information, but about half of what you stated is not true. The only new facility being built at the existing high school will be the new band hall and chorus room. There is no plan for expansion of the building into the parking lot. We have no Jr. ROTC program and I have not heard of one being planned. Also have heard zilch about a new cafeteria.

I also have not heard anything at all about an agricultural field behind the school.

We were given the total plan before the bond issue. It includes the new band hall and chorus room, with the existing rooms being turned into a few more classrooms. The rest of the bond issue will be for constructing new elementary school off Herrington Road and the access road around the high school. May also get new parking lot, but that is not for certain.

As far as the new stadium is concerned, I wonder if the news today about Bubba leaving will impact fundraising efforts with the booster club?

You actually think they are only doing that? You are falsely informed. I saw the drawings that they had AFTER the bond issue. All of what I said is in a 10-year 12 phase plan. You were correct with one thing. The bond is paying for what you stated. I'll let you guess where the rest of the $$$ is coming from. And trust me, it's a "little" bit more than 9 million.

[politically incorrect]

You actually think they are only doing that? You are falsely informed. I saw the drawings that they had AFTER the bond issue. All of what I said is in a 10-year 12 phase plan. You were correct with one thing. The bond is paying for what you stated. I'll let you guess where the rest of the $$$ is coming from. And trust me, it's a "little" bit more than 9 million.

I'm not calling you a liar, I just think you are way off base. If you want to see the sh## hit the fan among taxpayers, try to build all of that after you promised no new tax increase. Knowing the people on the board and being in the meetings where they shared all of their plans with the faculty, I think you are in possession of bad information.

Much of what you said does not make sense. There is no ROTC program. It would be ridiculous to try and "expand" the exisiting building into the parking lot, when there would be plenty of room in other areas to simply add another building as they did when they constructed the English building a few years ago?

Sorry, I don't buy it.

[Tommy9854]

I'm not calling you a liar, I just think you are way off base. If you want to see the sh## hit the fan among taxpayers, try to build all of that after you promised no new tax increase. Knowing the people on the board and being in the meetings where they shared all of their plans with the faculty, I think you are in possession of bad information.

Much of what you said does not make sense. There is no ROTC program. It would be ridiculous to try and "expand" the exisiting building into the parking lot, when there would be plenty of room in other areas to simply add another building as they did when they constructed the English building a few years ago?

Sorry, I don't buy it.
To have a ROTC program, you need a building or room right? Ding ding ding.

Like I said...I saw the drawings they had AFTER the bond issue...I know what I saw.