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Stadium Work Could Cost $9M

Photo by Drew Parker Plans show the design concept for the proposed, $9 million new Monarch Stadium which Marshall County school officials hope to complete by the fall of 2018.

MOUNDSVILLE — Marshall County student-athletes and fans can expect to see a new, $9 million Monarch Stadium open by the fall of 2018, according to school officials.

Assistant Superintendent Corey Murphy said the current Monarch Stadium and accompanying grass field, located near Moundsville Middle School, is safe for now, but structurally is not sound. The stadium, which has served the county for half a century, is expected to be demolished in November after the football season to make way for the new stadium.

The new facility will feature an updated ticket booth, restrooms, parking area, locker room, an eight-lane track, 3,500 seats in the grandstands, concessions, lighting and a modern turf field.

In January 2016, the Marshall County Board of Education approved a $13,500 bid by ECS Mid-Atlantic LLC for a structural analysis of Monarch Stadium, which revealed issues with the press box on the visitors’ side of the stadium and non-functioning expansion joints. Several local teams — not just John Marshall — use the stadium, including Moundsville Middle School and several community teams, plaguing the stadium with mud problems due to extensive use by mid-October each year.

Murphy said the project will be funded by proceeds from the renewal levy Marshall County voters approved last year. During an April meeting, the board set the levy at 88 percent of the maximum allowed under state law, maintaining the amount from the previous year.

The first phase, he said, will include the home seating area, track, turf and lighting. Phase two would include new locker rooms, while phase three would include the visitors’ seating area, concession stands and restrooms.

According to Murphy, this likely means there would only be seating on one side of the stadium during its first year of use.

In the past, board members considered moving the stadium to the John Marshall High School campus, at the site currently occupied by a new parking lot. However, board members decided in favor of the Moundsville location, which is surrounded by businesses, while the area near the high school is in a residential area and near a hospital.

Murphy said the contractor for the stadium project is JT Sauer & Associates of McKees Rocks, Pa. FieldTurf will provide the new playing surface.

JT Sauer, which specializes in sports architecture, also completed football fields for Oak Glen High School, Weir High School and West Virginia University.

Murphy added board members soon will need to grant final approval for the new stadium’s construction. The levy is projected to bring in about $7 million each year for all construction, with some of the funds going to school security systems.

“We have several projects that need to be done, but our No. 1 priority is school safety projects, and then we will look at the funding for athletic facilities after we have that funded.”

Murphy said the field will now also accommodate lacrosse and soccer teams from the school and surrounding communities.

“We’re a community field now and we’ve invested a lot of funds to keep that up,” Murphy said. “With a turf field there will still be maintenance, but it will allow us to maintain it at a better capability for all teams.”

Board member Lori Kestner said the new stadium, which will be located slightly east of the current stadium, will benefit the entire community.

“We were having to pay $25,000 to $30,000 each year just to keep the grass field to standard alone. There’s also a controversy surrounding kids playing on dirt related to impact and injuries like concussions. If you look at what we’ve spent over the last 10 years, long-term this new stadium will be cost effective,” Kestner said. “Just like a home, you can only remodel so many times before you have to replace.

“It’s not just about sports, it’s about teaching responsibility and work ethic to children,” Kestner added. “We’re blessed to be able to do these projects because so many counties are in dire need of the basics. Our taxpayers have supported our kids in the community for years and continue to do so.”

The board will vote to finalize plans related to the construction phases next month.

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