The Finley Stadium board of directors meeting Tuesday afternoon was upbeat as preparations are being made for football season that begins for UTC at the opening game this coming Thursday. The windows are being cleaned, the surroundings are being pressure washed and tents are being set up as the facility is being spruced up for the first game. All other games will be on Saturdays.
The 21 year old stadium has been transformed over the summer with about $1 million in investments, most notably by adding premium seating and a large video board to replace the old score board. The cost of the board, including the work to reinforce the structure which supports it, was around $612,000. Training is now being done on how to use it. The board has the capability of being designed with a different presentation for every sport. Use of the board will be different at the last games than it will be for the first ones as the programmers learn all it can do and how to use it. Auxiliary equipment that is available to make the board interface with other equipment better is being considered.
New premium seating with backs and armrests are also now available. Installation was completed two weeks ago.
Keeping the facility current for the next 20 years is the biggest challenge, said Chairman of the Board Gordon Davenport. He said that the board is trying to first make updates on what patrons can see and touch, such as the video board, the premium seating and renovations to multiple parking lots. New artificial turf was installed a year ago. Hamilton County provided a $300,000 grant to the stadium and a grant of $150,000 came from the city of Chattanooga this year as investments for the new additions. Chattanooga has the intent of giving another $150,000 this year, subject to the city council’s approval, said Executive Director of Finley Stadium Chris Thomas.
A multi-year plan to prioritize the improvements beyond the day to day running of the stadium is being worked on he said. Among other things there is an expectation of spending a lot of money on the 21 year old HVAC equipment in the next several years, said Mr. Thomas, and maintenance and upgrades are needed in the parking lots.
Use of the stadium campus is increasing and it is really a 24 hour facility with a number of activities, said the executive director. The bottom line is going up and that indicates good management, said Board Member Ryan Crimmins.
Mr. Davenport reported to the board that officials are in the process of making a number of agreements and renewals. The terms with UTC are expected to be similar to prior agreements, he said. Negotiations should be finished by the October board meeting for the board’s approval. Renewal of the naming rights for the pavilion are also in the works with First Tennessee. Mr. Davenport said is a great partnership and that contract should be ready for board approval in November.
Preliminary discussions are being held with both of the soccer organizations that are now in Chattanooga. These meetings have been positive and productive, said Mr. Davenport. A meeting is scheduled two weeks from Monday with the board regarding these partnerships.
“This place is on fire, it is a fire hose of non-stop activity,” said Mr. Davenport.
The new video board at Finley Stadium