Press box completed at Knology Field

“Something had to be done,” City of Dothan General Services Director Larry Muench said.

And it was. A new press box is completed, has been inspected, and is ready for full occupancy at Rip Hewes Stadium. The press box, built by Faulkner Construction in five months, carries a price tag of $518,000.

“It is a great project,” Leisure Services Director Elston Jones said last week. “I have not seen anything that nice on the high school level, or on some college campuses. It has partitions, restrooms, and central heat and air.”

The city sought and received sponsorship to help defray costs. Knology paid $244,000 in exchange for 10-year naming rights. The field is now called Knology Field at Rip Hewes Stadium.

The cost of the new facility has been a source of controversy in the community, as some think the money could have been better spent.

Work needed to be done on the press box because it was unsafe and too small. Had the city opted to make repairs and expand it, the cost could have been comparable to the replacement.

“The old press box was built in 1964 and there were some serious structural issues with the steel floor,” Muench said. “You could stand and see the floor underneath. Sections had rusted out.

“I am not a structural engineer. I don’t know if you could have repaired that floor or what it would have cost to go in and to bring it back to a sound facility. Something was going to have to be done.”

He compares it to trying to fix a 15-year-old Volkswagen with a failing transmission that’s burning oil. Not only does the car need replacing, but the family has grown during that time.

“You have to ask, ‘does it make sense to repair the car or spend a little more money and replace it.’”

The other issue was the lack of facilities. The old one had little room for game officials and there was only one broadcast area.

“The coaches for both teams and anybody videoing, as well as any media, were standing outside.”

The new press box is 1,300 square feet compared to 600 in the old facility. Capacity increased from eight to 10 to two dozen.

The new facility has two downstairs broadcast rooms and three roll-up doors for video. The second floor can accommodate radio broadcasters, coaches, game officials, and announcers.

The facility, projected to last at least 40 years, can be an asset for attracting other events like outdoor concerts and more college games.

“There are a number of things that have been talked about,” Muench said.