OPELIKA, AL (WTVM) -
Next fall the Opelika High School football team and their fans will be treated to an updated Bulldogs Stadium, and the community could not be more excited for this long overdue facelift.
"We just needed a place that was more inviting, not only for our own fans, but for our visitors when they come," explains Brian Blackmon, OHS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach.
Around 1,000 seats will be added to the 40-year-old venue, as well as synthetic turf, a new scoreboard, and a brand new indoor athletic facility.
The boys' locker room will move to the indoor facility. It will also house 40 yards of practice turf, offices, and weight training rooms.
"In the 17 years I've been here our team as had to go out in the back parking lot at halftime, so now we'll actually have a place to we'll be able to go at halftime," says Blackmon.
The renovations are Phase II of the $40 million school-wide construction project that started last May at OHS.
School officials know that the added space will not only benefit high school athletes, but the community at large for other athletic activities.
"I think it's going to be a big community pride thing. Our school is the hub of our community and what you see is really just a small part of the overall building program that is taking place at Opelika High School. The entire facility is going to be a place where this entire community will come up with ways to use it," explains Blackmon.
Stadium renovations are scheduled to be finished in May, just in time for graduation ceremonies.
The indoor facility is expected to be finished in July.
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