Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium face-lift considered

Jim O’neal News Director at WITZ AM/FM contributed to this report

The Jasper Football Boosters Club is recommending about $4 million in improvements to Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium including adding artificial turf field.

President of the Jasper Football Boosters Club Richard Farr appeared before the Greater Jasper School Board last night and asked for approval to begin to seek private donations for a new artificial football surface for the football field and the improvements to the stadium.

According to Farr, artificial turf will cost between $700,000 and $800,000. Over the 10- to 12-year lifetime is would cost about $5,000 annually to maintain compared to the estimated $30,000 annually it costs to maintain the current field; not including the million gallons of water used annually on the field.

Farr is asking for the consideration based on the fact the football field is ready to be replaced before the 2015 football season begins.

But, Farr said that his club wants this to be funded completely by money through private donations and fundraising activities. In fact, he asked the board to consider what funding from area corporations might look like with names of those who donate placed at strategic places around the facility.

He floated the option that the field could even be named after a sponsor similar to IU’s Assembly Hall where the court is named the Branch McCracken Court after the Indiana Hall of Fame player and coach.

Farr also recommended updating the 50-year-old stadium with new lockers, concessions, and stadium. The improvements would also include new entrances and a pavilion.

The plans call for Phase 1, the artificial turf field, to be completed prior to the 2015 season. Phase 2, improvements to the stadium, to be completed over a period of years beginning in 2015. Farr did not present an exact timeline on the stadium improvements.

School board president Nancy Habig inquired how the improvements would be affected by the field being in a flood plain. Board member Bernie Vogler pointed out that the field had not flooded since 1965 and the artificial turf is better able to deal with water than natural turf.

He cited several reasons for the need including player safety, reduced maintenance costs, greater utilization and environmental impact.

He consulted with representatives from Southridge High School who confirmed that use of an artificial turf field increases the use of the facility. Southridge’s field is three years old and still looks great.

Farr also pointed out that an artificial surface is easier to maintain and rejects water much better than natural turf.

“The challenges we went through this year with a harsh winter and with a mild summer, it was very difficult to get the recently planted Bermuda – the recently seeded Bermuda as of a couple of years ago to grow” Farr explained.

Farr says that with the less-than-optimal weather conditions, they are grateful the field is in as good shape as it is.

Farr also said that the utilization would increase by other school teams such as the marching band.

The board asked Athletic Director Andy Noblitt to gather information on the current costs to maintain the field and facilities a Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium.

They tabled the approval decision until next month to allow for time to get information from Noblitt to examine the numbers.