REGENTS APPROVE HOUCK STADIUM WORK

Seating in Houck Stadium will be upgraded under a plan approved last week by the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents.

The regents authorized university officials to seek bids on the project.

The project, estimated to cost $104,500, will involve filling in the south side center section entrance, located at the 50-yard line, and installing chairback seats. It also will involve replacing surrounding bleacher seats with chairback seats in that center section of the stadium.

University officials said 386 chairback seats will be installed. About 150 of those seats will be in the new seating area, with the remainder replacing existing bleachers.

Also as part of the project, the concrete center section will be cleaned and repaired, and some painting work will be done.

Athletic Director Richard McDuffie said Friday that the work would be done this summer and should be completed prior to the start of the football season. "We would like to have it completed in time for the opener Sept. 3 with Murray State."

In a memorandum to the regents, university officials said the project is just the first step in refurbishing the stadium and preventing further deterioration of the aging structure.

"The stadium needs some structural improvements," said McDuffie.

More than half of the cost will be paid with private funding. "The vast majority of funds are private," he noted.

The plan envisions raising $61,800 through leasing of chairback seats to Booster Club members. The institution will contribute $20,000 to the project and the athletic department, $22,700.

Rights to purchase season tickets in the chairback section will involve a one-time charge of $160 per seat to help offset project costs. The $160 per seat is in addition to the cost of season tickets. Those wishing to purchase such seats must be Booster Club members. Individuals will be allowed to pay the $160 over a two-year period.

Money from a quasi-endowment will be obtained from the Southeast Missouri University Foundation to cover some of the costs until revenue from the chairback leases is obtained, university officials said in a report to the regents.

McDuffie said he hopes in the future more chairback seating will be installed at the stadium. He said that if there is the demand for such seating, the reserve section of the bleacher seating might be replaced with 1,200 chairback seats.