Donors, fans, students, faculty, community leaders gathered yesterday to christen the newly renovated Bracewell Stadium, a facility that Burlington Superintendent Pat Coen calls a “Gift to the Community”.
“This is a great gift to our community. It’s a gift from the Purple and Grey [Foundation]. It’s a gift from everyone who donated,” Coen said, “Students brought in pennies….this is something we will benefit from for years to come.”
The new Bracewell stadium features a new Press Box, scoreboard, and sound system, along with repaired retaining walls, and other updates to meet ADA requirements. It’s also the first stadium in the country lit in full LED light–matching a historical moment 86 years ago in 1929 when Bracewell stadium hosted the first lit night game under incandescent bulbs in high school football history.
The field itself is new as well, utilizing what’s called “Fieldturf”–an artificial turf that looks and feels like grass.
Is it grass? No. Its fieldturf. High-Tech artificial turf.
The Purple and Grey Foundation raised almost $5 million for the project with the help of hundreds of donors. Kevin Mueller is the Foundation’s chair, he says that renovations still aren’t completely finished.
“We’re one year ahead of schedule. The renovations are completed except for phase three, which is the reconstruction of the locker rooms [and the fieldhouse],” Mueller said.
The Burlington Greyhounds get to break in the new stadium tonight. They play Davenport West for their first home game of the season.
The Greyhounds take the field.
