According to this article, Putnam City West and Putnam City North will each build a new stadium. Curious if any of you have more info. Renderings or the latest information. I live by PCW and am trying to picture how this will fit on the site. Thanks! http://newsok.com/article/5511360

Why don't more district's use shared facilities? Seems ridiculous to build every school it's own stadium.

PC schools have always shared the stadium at Putnam City. In fact, until West opened in the late 60's, it was known as Pirate Stadium and it was then renamed to Putnam City Stadium to be inclusive.

It used to be that the schools needed that big stadium but now the crowds are only a few thousand on a good night, so the on-campus option is at least doable.

Edmond was renting from UCO so it makes some sense to build their own but I don't completely understand the logic with PC schools. I suppose it has something to do with trying to build more of a community at the school itself.

Why don't more district's use shared facilities? Seems ridiculous to build every school it's own stadium.

I'm with you. Would be nice to see these districts with multiple schools build a nice shared stadium.

The PC Stadium is *very* nice and always has been, but they've continued to upgrade and improve over the years.

It's almost certainly the nicest in all of OKC, including the newly renovated Taft.

I knew that PC schools shared the big PCO stadium, I'm just curious why in these struggling times financially with the schools this is wanted. I guess it's because I grew up in Texas where any district with multiple high schools shared a stadium.

Always largely been in the case in OKC as well until recently.

I guess one exception is that Midwest City, Del City and Carl Albert have always had their own stadiums but OKC (Taft and Speegle) PC, Edmond, Norman and Moore have always shared for football games.

Then if that's the case I seriously question why they feel the need now.

I'm kind of on the other side of the fence. I like each school having their own stadium, so it does enhance the community feel. It's hard to feel like you are at "home" when you have to go to your in town rivals campus to play ball in the case of schools like Moore and PC. Now if said stadium was in a neutral area center to all schools involved, that may be a little better.

I'm kind of on the other side of the fence. I like each school having their own stadium, so it does enhance the community feel. It's hard to feel like you are at "home" when you have to go to your in town rivals campus to play ball in the case of schools like Moore and PC. Now if said stadium was in a neutral area center to all schools involved, that may be a little better.

I was more referring to neutral sites

Having gone to PC, I can tell you it really, really sucks to sit on the away side of your own stadium.

That happens every other year in the PC / PC West / PC North games.

Just seems like frivolous spending on sports to me. One stadium has worked for decades and all of the sudden they feel like each school campus needs its own stadium? There is like two or three football games per year when your playing against district rivals and having to take turns sharing the home side.

^

I don't disagree and find it strange that all the sudden this is a priority, especially since that district is no longer swimming with money.

West has been playing there since 1968 and North since 1978.

I was more referring to neutral sites

I understand, but the examples of Norman, Moore, and PCO all have the stadiums on their campus while their cross town rivals play there. I've been to the Moore/Westmoore games and I can promise you that even though Westmoore sits on the home side every other year, it's just not the same as if they had an actual home stadium. I feel bad for schools like them. It's like their football is homeless. They don't get the feel to have locker rooms that are truly theirs. I know it may not always financial sense, but football is one of the biggest most attended sports and I think they should have a home field like every other sport at the school. I know of Moore wanted to pass a bond issue so Westmoore and Southmoore could have a stadium on their own campus, I'd vote for it and I think a lot of others would too. I know both schools have "mini" stadiums where they do track and practice that could easily be upgraded to accommodate without being overly expensive to tax payers.

But instead of spending money to build two or three stadiums why not build one neutral site that fits the needs of all?

But instead of spending money to build two or three stadiums why not build one neutral site that fits the needs of all?

Maybe you are missing the point.

In the example of Moore, they already have a very nice stadium on campus. Westmoore and Southmoore have nice tracks and practice field with bleachers, that could easily be upgrade to really nice stadiums with minimal investment. I imagine it would be a lot pricier to build a big neutral stadium than upgrade existing facilities on campus, which would result in better atmospheres IMO. Now if no one had anything then yes a big one in 'neutral' area center to all would most likely be the best bet. Westmoore and Southmoore already use these fields for Junior High games at times, track meets etc, so most of the infrastructure is already there. I can't speak for the other schools, but I imagine they aren't too far off.

It's really pretty simple. 3 high schools sharing one stadium is a scheduling nightmare. Freshman, JV and varsity games for multiple schools. Not to mention girls and boys soccer and track in the spring. Plus, the middle schools that feed those schools will also utilize the facility.

Just forget it. If you haven't lived in Texas and seen what I am talking about it won't make sense. The HS still has a small stadium with a track for sub varsity events and track.

Being a John Marshall grad, I thought it was a long commute to Taft Stadium, with parking being at NW Classen it just felt like it was their stadium.

I am hoping they get a new stadium built by Lake Hefner, but just seems seems a little late now that they have a much lower student count.

Just forget it. If you haven't lived in Texas and seen what I am talking about it won't make sense. The HS still has a small stadium with a track for sub varsity events and track.

I know exactly what you are talking about, I've seen exactly what you are talking about, I can just tell you don't understand what's existing. So I will forget it.

Just forget it. If you haven't lived in Texas and seen what I am talking about it won't make sense. The HS still has a small stadium with a track for sub varsity events and track.I get it. Having been a cyclist and done the Hotter N Hell during the years it started and ended at the high school stadium in Wichita Falls I can see how one college level stadium shared between multiple high schools is a good thing. That stadium is amazing. Scheduling would have to be worked out but high schools playing in a college level stadium every week would be worth it.

I get it. Having been a cyclist and done the Hotter N Hell during the years it started and ended at the high school stadium in Wichita Falls I can see how one college level stadium shared between multiple high schools is a good thing. That stadium is amazing. Scheduling would have to be worked out but high schools playing in a college level stadium every week would be worth it.

The school districts don't get to play at those college stadiums for free. They have to lease them and in the long run having their own facilities is financially smarter.

I bet scheduling is the biggest factor, tsou89 is correct. All those levels then soccer and T&F events. I'm a Norman High graduate. We've shared the stadium with Norman North since the schools split in 1999. Although, North has their own soccer and track at their high school.

I think scheduling was more of an issue before all 3 PC schools put in synthetic turf.

Now, they can play as many games as they want and not worry about the field getting worn out.

I don't understand why after all this time this suddenly is a priority for the district. All 3 schools have been using that stadium for almost 40 years now and North and West each have their own synthetic fields and tracks, so really they all just play 1 football game a week there for 10 weeks out of the year. The necessitates one Thursday game a week... Is that such a big deal?

I don't think the middle schools are using that stadium at all any more.


I'm sure there are reasons for this, I just can't figure out what they are.

It's all for community/school pride, duh Pete. We care more about making sure Billy Quarterback and Bobby Linebacker have a true "home field" than we do making sure they can add properly before graduating.

I'm kind of on the other side of the fence. I like each school having their own stadium, so it does enhance the community feel. It's hard to feel like you are at "home" when you have to go to your in town rivals campus to play ball in the case of schools like Moore and PC. Now if said stadium was in a neutral area center to all schools involved, that may be a little better.

Agree. I went to North and going to PC for 'home games" just felt odd.

Seems like a pretty big waste of money. The current stadium is definitely large enough, has enough parking, and is well maintained. For 5 million each, you're not going to get a very good stadium, you're going to get future bond requests to keep diverting money so the new stadiums can get stuff (better locker rooms/turf/stand expansion/etc). In a time when people spend so much effort to consolidate things, this one seems silly. And to be fair, there was a fairly good sized push in Mid-Del (which is one of the few districts that's always had separate stadiums) to consolidate them to a single larger/nicer facility. You can see with Mid-Del, when you spread the money out to 3 sites, they are end up sub-par.

At both West and North, they already have artificial turf fields and synthetic tracks, plus big practice facilities / locker rooms that have been constructed adjacent to their fields in the last 5-6 years.

Really, the only thing they need to to is add more stands, better concessions and rest rooms. That's why the cost is pretty modest.

There doesn't seem to be much room at PC west to expand much around the current field.

I agree. Very nice facilities. just needs larger stands and concessions.

I don't know much about "recruitment" at the public high school level, but could something like this be an attempt to keep parents from moving away to a different district and losing their tax revenue?

There doesn't seem to be much room at PC west to expand much around the current field.

That is what I am wondering as well. The East side of the field seems to be very close to the homes behind it. Not sure how they will deal with that.

I suspect they'll just have the visitors sit on the same (west) side.

But not much room there either.

Agree. The districts in McKinney, Allen, Frisco all share stadiums. There is an $80 million dollar stadium planned in McKinney, the Allen stadium was $65 million (had some issues, but on track now) and the Frisco ISD will use the "Star" Dallas' indoor 12,000 seat stadium. Each HS does have practice fields and track as Bradh is saying.

The middle schools use the fields at the school they feed into quite a bit. The installation of the the turf certainly helped in regards to wear and tear. However, there are still a lot of events that overlap and when you consider the use from the Middle schools it's simply too much. Not to mention all the middle schools used to play their games at Capps (formerly Central) and that field is grass and not in great condition.




I think scheduling was more of an issue before all 3 PC schools put in synthetic turf.

Now, they can play as many games as they want and not worry about the field getting worn out.

I don't understand why after all this time this suddenly is a priority for the district. All 3 schools have been using that stadium for almost 40 years now and North and West each have their own synthetic fields and tracks, so really they all just play 1 football game a week there for 10 weeks out of the year. The necessitates one Thursday game a week... Is that such a big deal?

I don't think the middle schools are using that stadium at all any more.


I'm sure there are reasons for this, I just can't figure out what they are.

^

I know it's a lot of events but they've been doing it for decades.

And most that time PC Stadium did not have artificial turf as it does now, and they still made it work.

Its great they have turf and certainly helps to make sure events are able to be held. But it actually has nothing to do with the actual scheduling, which is done way in advance.

I work in the district and this is a good thing IMO.

I Contacted Globe Construction this is what they said concerning PCW Stadium...

The stadium will be directly south across NW 20th St. There will be stands and a press box on the home side (north) and if money allows, visitor’s stands on the south side.

Still not sure why they're not renovating the existing field. Perhaps they will keep if for JV football. Maybe soccer? Not sure.

The concern here is where you build the stadium(s). You don't need multiple stadiums built on each high school campus. A district needs a neutral site to build a stadium to be shared by several high schools.

Pirate Stadium @ Putnam City High was built long before West & North High Schools were constructed. Edmond would have been better off building their own stadium to serve three high schools instead of building on the Santa Fe High School campus. Now, all 3 high schools want their own stadiums on site. What's going to happen when Edmond builds a fourth high school?

Oklahoma City I-89 has 11 high schools: http://okcps.schooldesk.net/Home/tabid/68780/Default.aspx

There are four stadiums: Taft, Capitol Hill, Moses F. Miller (Douglass) & Star Spencer High School Stadium. Northeast High School has a stadium that has been totally abandoned.

Your Edmond question is easy. They would just build a fourth stadium along with a new high school. The people of Edmond would easily approve it especially when the costs are buried in a new high school budget.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcwest.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcwest.jpg

Thanks for the visual. The house in the upper left was taken out a few months ago. 20th street is a potholed mess that feels like a heavy rain could wash half of it away. I guess they will have to fix that as well.

14192
Took a pic of the sign at PCW last night.

PC West.

New baseball field and stadium to the left.

Interestingly, the home and away stands will be on the same (west) side of the field.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcwest062318a.jpg

I drove by West when I was back in town last week to see how it was going. They took out the tennis courts for the softball field and building. It will be nice on campus, the "visitor" stands always sucked for the PC and North games. That was when there would be standing room only for the PC-PC West game. I was told it was funding dedicated for the facility and it was "use it or lose it" money.

I lived in Dallas (Richardson ISD) and Austin and most stadiums were standard high school grade, some were on campus like Lake Highlands. The more affluent burbs districts are the only ones building small college level facilities but then their schools are also huge compared to most places. Here in Cherry Creek school district in the Denver area Cherry Creek HS and Cherokee Trail HS have on site stadiums, Grandview and Eaglecrest play at CT. Some of the other schools play at CC.

Pete,
Curious where you set up the drone at. Graham Ave? I grew up on Graham Circle. I now live on Markwell Place and walk around the school every day.

PC North stadium from yesterday.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcnorth082518.jpg

I’m late to this but according to the article cited in the original post this was to be open for the 2017 season. Based on Pete’s pic above - while it looks like it’s going to be a great venue on multiple levels - it won’t be used this season either. I suppose if it’s turf and not grass they might be able to get it open for a game or two by the end of the season. Any idea why the delays? If it was mentioned upthread I missed it.

The new stadium at PC West should be open for this season but they are just modifying what was the existing practice field. Most have gopne to turf because of maintenance costs. We did a number of retrofits for Denver Public Schools here.

The new stadium at PC West should be open for this season but they are just modifying what was the existing practice field. Most have gopne to turf because of maintenance costs. We did a number of retrofits for Denver Public Schools here.

Neither the West or North stadium will be open this season.

There is a slight chance North may play one game but I think that hope is fading.

But both stadiums will be completely finished for the 2019 season.

I didn't drive by it on my last trip down there a couple of weeks ago. I guess they haven't progressed as fast as I thought they would from where I saw it in June. They of course had a lot more work left on the baseball and softball facilities at that time as well.

I didn't drive by it on my last trip down there a couple of weeks ago. I guess they haven't progressed as fast as I thought they would from where I saw it in June. They of course had a lot more work left on the baseball and softball facilities at that time as well.

Yes, they had to move some things around so was somewhat complicated.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcnorth110418a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcnorth110418b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcwest110418a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcwest110418b.jpg

This might have already been discussed....but any reason they didn't build onto the existing practice field at PCN like they did at PCW? Was it simply a matter of space?

This might have already been discussed....but any reason they didn't build onto the existing practice field at PCN like they did at PCW? Was it simply a matter of space?

North has a new athletic facility directly west of the existing practice field, so no room.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcnorth040719a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcnorth040719b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcnorth040719c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcnorth040719d.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcwest040719a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcwest040719b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcwest040719c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pcwest040719d.jpg

Looking at the overhead shots of the PCW stadium, it's obvious why they had to do it that way...but that is still one of the weirdest stadium layouts I have ever seen.

Looks like the visiting team's fans seating sucks.

I wonder how much one of those stadium front homes go for lol.