Dillon and his team inspected the outside and inside of the press box on Monday morning. He said he believes the box is a safety hazard.
Springfield City School District did not make a statement Monday on what Dillon’s inspection results mean for the Wildcat’s 2019-20 football season.
MORE: Community divided over possible move from Evans to SHS stadium
Springfield Superintendent Bob Hill said in a statement Thursday that if additional reports from structural engineers match those of initial discovery, the Wildcats will be forced to play the upcoming football season at the SHS stadium, located at 701 E. Home Rd.
Excessive rain and wind damage to the press box forced the district to consult with an engineering firm to assess the damage. Damage occurred during the month of June, a statement from the district said.
According to the statement, an initial inspection of the press box on June 28 produced a recommendation that says, “The storm damage assessment showed that the structure suffered from water damage to the interior stud framing to the point of structural failure. It is recommended that you prohibit any further access to the press box structure until necessary repairs or complete replacement of the structure can be made.”
Hill said previously that while the decision to move stadiums is not ideal, the district always makes the safety of students, staff and the community a priority.
“Our district is fortunate to have another modern turf field available for use by our football Wildcats this season,” Hill said.
The news was a disappointment to Springfield High School alum and football player, Dorian Hunter - who called Evans Stadium historic.
MORE: Springfield may play 2019-20 football season at SHS stadium due to damage to Evans
“I felt like Evans is only place where football should be played in Springfield,” Hunter said. “Of course the press box is important, but at the same time there’s other places where the games can be filmed.”
Evans Stadium was the former playing field of the South High School Wildcats before South High School and North High School combined in 2008 and relocated to East Home Road to form Springfield High School.
In 2015, Springfield City School Board member Chris Williams cited several reasons he wanted to move the games from Evans to the high school, including expenses for busing students and equipment from the high school for every home game.
Jennie Colvin, a teacher at Springfield City Schools, agreed with Williams when she spoke to the News-Sun last week.
She said the way things are set up doesn’t make sense anymore, and moving the games to the high school would create a better sense of identity and belonging.
“Meeting back here to get on a bus to go across town is kinda of like going to an away game,” Colvin said. “Now it’s our school, this is our community. They play soccer games here [at the high school]. They do everything here but play football games.”
Due to different needs, the middle school Wildcats football program will continue to compete at Evans for their 2019-2020 season.
5,241: Capacity at Evans Stadium
$908K: Cost to install turf at Evans Stadium and Springfield High Stadium in 2017
2008: Year North and South High School consolidated into Springfield High School
The Springfield News-Sun has provided in-depth coverage of changes to Springfield High School’s athletic facilities and any conflicts from community over the years.
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