By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
The Canal Winchester Athletic Boosters are seeking to raise funds to help pay off the cost of the artificial turf in Canal Winchester High School’s Mike Locke Stadium.
According to boosters treasurer Paul Owens, the turf’s life span is normally 10 years, depending on how the field is maintained and used. He said a company was hired last summer to inspect the field and check for hardness and were surprised at the condition of the field.
“They thought the field was only a couple of years old,” said Owens, “not the five it has been in use. They’re ready to start the sixth season using the turf, but we still have and outstanding balance as of June 30. We’re starting a fundraising campaign to pay the remaining balance.”
The booster organization is offering opportunities for sponsorships at three different levels to help finish all the renovations that were in the original project. At the White level, a one-year sponsorship is $500 (up to $1,200 for three years) and includes a banner advertisement on the stadium fence and tickets to home games. Maroon sponsorships—$2,000 for one year and up to $4,500 for three years—also includes an illuminated sign on the scoreboard and an ad in the fall and winter sports programs.
For Maroon and White sponsors, they receive scoreboard and fence banner signs, a full page ad in the sports programs, four tickets to all home games and a public address announcement at all athletic events held in the stadium. Sponsorships are $3,000 for one year, $5,500 for two years and $7,000 for three years.
Call Activities and Athletic Director Kent Riggs at 833-2155 or email him at kriggs@cwls.us for information on the sponsorships.
It was about six years ago members of the Canal Winchester Athletic Boosters made plans and raised money for the artificial turf athletic field and upgrade for Mike Locke Stadium.
According to Owens, a group of more than two dozen citizens, including representatives from sports groups and organizations using the field, got together and solicited donations and pledges from businesses and individuals.
“We put out for bids and one of the companies offered to upgrade the turf to the same one the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints were playing on at the time,” said Owens. “The project was financed through the Canal Banking Center.”
Owens said the cost of the new turf, along with improvements to the stadium was $572,775.
Riggs said an artificial turf field affords teams the opportunity to use the surface regardless of weather conditions and to practice on the same field used for games.
“When it was a grass field, we had to save it only for games with no practice times,” said Riggs. “We know for every game we will have a great field to play on. No muddy and slippery conditions. It provides our students and community with one of the finest stadiums in the area.”
The cost for maintaining the field is shared between the boosters, the installing turf company and the school district. Riggs said the school saves money for maintenance by not cutting, spraying or watering grass, painting the field for games and maintenance personal work time.
