9/6/2002 - Football
Football: 'Fresh face' for Mids' opener
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By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
It shouldn't take long for fans to notice some of the changes at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
About five minutes before the noon start of Navy's season opener versus N.C.. State, Operation Enduring Freedom will be added to the list of battles that grace the stadium's facade.
Longtime fans should then realize that all 41 campaigns featured at the stadium stand out more thanks to new lettering -- larger and bolder -- installed as part of an extensive renovation project.
Highlighting the unveiling ceremony will be a video tribute to the Naval Academy graduates killed as part of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Their names and pictures will be displayed on the state-of-the-art video board that is probably the most visible aspect of the stadium upgrade.
"I think our fans will be very impressed with the improvements made to this great stadium and it should only whet their apetites for what is still to come," Naval Academy athletic director Chet Gladchuk said. "The facility has a new look, a clean and fresh appearance that should make the gameday experience more enjoyable."
Local residents driving around the stadium in recent weeks have probably seen another obvious aspect of the project. All 30,000 seats have been replaced with bright blue plastics seats with select seats in the upper deck done in yellow to spell out GO NAVY.
"We thought that would be a nice touch. What I like is that the Go Navy message is visible to folks driving in and out of Annapolis on Rowe Boulevard and to folks flying into BWI Airport," Gladchuk said.
The stadium wasn't simply painted, it was completely cleaned through pressure washing and -- in some areas -- resurfacing. Where needed, a concrete and epoxy material was applied to give the stadium a newer look.
"We resurfaced 60 percent of the stadium," Gladchuk said.
Another major component of the Phase I renovations, completed at a cost of $6.3 million, was the addition of ramps and seating for persons with disabilities. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, dedicated in 1959, had never been fully handicapped accessible.
Ramps have been installed in all four corners of the stadium while platforms have been created that allow for wheelchair access. Additionally, there are specially designed seats that are easier for dsabled persons to get in and out of.
"We felt the responsible thing to do was to make our stadium more accessible for the physically challenged," Gladchuk said.
Navy officials think fans will be thrilled with the 20-foot high, 60-foot wide video board, designed by Daktronics. There are two screens, one for displaying video and the other for messages and graphics.
Basic scoreboard information such as time, down and distance will appear on the one screen throughout the game while the video side will show crowd shots, replays and game action.
"This board has all the latest and greatest in video technology. It's a wonderful entertainment vehicle that will add a whole new dimension to our gameday production," Gladchuk said.
The changes and improvements evident tomorrow are only a fraction of the four-year renovation project, budgeted at around $40 million. Additional seating, a refurbished press box and a 1.25-mile track surrounding the stadium are also planned. Additionally, the concourse will be expanded while concessions and restroom facilities will be upgraded. Extensive landscaping, already underway, will help beautify the exterior.
Gladchuk pointed out that Navy's football stadium is a military memorial.
"First class facilities are the most important aspect of developing a winning program," said Gladchuk, who spearheaded stadium renovation projects at both Boston College and Houston. "I am so pleased that we have begun the process of improving this stadium, to put forth an appearance that gives the memoral the dignity it deserves."
------bwagner@capitalgazette.com
Published September 06, 2002, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright ? 2002 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
