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Foundation
looking to raise $2.8 million for stadium project
By MEGAN
KING
Morning Journal Writer
AVON LAKE -- One year after a community group announced
plans to raise money to renovate Avon Lake Memorial Stadium, a newly formed
foundation has announced a fundraising campaign to improve the more than
40-year-old facility.
The Avon Lake Stadium Foundation
hopes to raise $2.8 million to improve the stadium, which has not received
any major improvements since its construction in 1959, according to
co-chairman Dan Urbin.
Plans include covering the field
with artificial turf, constructing a new entrance and substantially
increasing the seating capacity.
''The community has grown, but
since 1959 that stadium's never been touched,'' he said.
The group's goal is to expand the
stadium's seating capacity from 2,300 to about 6,000, build new restrooms,
concession stands and make other improvements. It also plans to make the
stadium fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
While community members have been
working on this project for about two years, Urbin said he and varsity
football coach Dave Dlugosz got involved again about six months ago.
Urbin said the group plans to
raise the money from private donations only.
''We're a private group,'' Urbin
said, emphasizing that the project will not involve a levy or bond.
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Urbin said the
stadium will be able to host more events after the improvements are
completed.
''It's going to create a lot of
revenue,'' he said. ''We've learned others that have renovated stadiums, businesses have gained revenue from it.''
He said in the past when football
playoffs have been hosted in Avon
Lake, it has benefited
many local businesses.
They hope to raise enough money to
complete the turf in 2007, but they hope to have all improvements made
sometime in 2008, Urbin said.
He noted that at many sporting
events people are standing to watch the games.
Dlugosz said the new stadium will
benefit not only his players, but also the entire athletic program at Avon Lake.
''It is not so much for a
particular team; it's for athletics in general. Avon Lake
is competitive in boys soccer, girls soccer, football, track and field and
has an excellent marching band,'' Dlugosz said. ''It comes to the point that
the field can't take that many events, and No. 1, stay safe, and No. 2, be
convenient for the spectators that come to support the outstanding
programs.''
Urbin said the group is seeking
both monetary donations and volunteers to assist the foundation with its
efforts.
''The big thing we need more than
anything else right now is volunteers,'' Urbin said. ''We could use at least
100 volunteers at this point in the game.''
In addition to speaking to the
school board, whom Urbin said has been ''very, very supportive'' of the project, the group also hopes to hold community meetings.
''It's like everything else about Avon Lake,''
Urbin said. ''It's a first class community, and now we need to get our
stadium on the same level as the rest of the community.''
ŠThe Morning
Journal 2007
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