New Carthage Stadium ???
- Thread starter wcfanfourever
- Start date
The same day Springfield voted down the $189 million Bond, Republic voters approved the money for the new football field. The renderings of it look great.
All of the COC places I have been were nice in different ways, with the exception of the one Carthage is replacing. WC is large and has a good crowd/atmosphere. I like the new stuff CJ added last year. It gave some character to a stadium that was otherwise pretty plain. Branson and Ozark are almost over the top in my opinion, from a taxpayer perspective. Nixa is nice and well maintained, though not particularly memorable. I haven't been to Neosho, Republic, or Willard. When Joplin joins, I really like their stadium as well.
Willard has a grass surface but their facility as a whole is still nice. Good concessions, seating, nice fieldhouse, etc.
Looks great! Reminds me of the Waynesville stadium. I like the drop off and courtyard area, although it looks like it may have the same problematic layout as Webb City where the concession lines completely block the sidewalk. Although Republic may not have the crowd to make that an issue.
What I think everyone is forgetting or overlooking, Willard has the best concessions in the entire state. This is due to the fact that they SERVE FUNNEL CAKES!!!!!!
I don't think Willard is bad by any means . Its a nice place , but compared to the rest of the COC its in the bottom two. (once republic gets theirs done anyways)
I think it's funny how often I hear about the funnel cakes at Willard!
Willard is a nice set up but the field is one of the worst I have been on. The other knock I have is the visiting press box in the backside of the softball complex, way too far from the action.
I like the entrance to the stadium a lot. Visitor side is adequate You will never be able to satisfy Webbies on seating, restroom, or concessions!
Carthage and Republic with new stadiums. Webb City with new turf, a red track, and a bigger bird in the middle of the field. Interesting that the Carl Junction Bulldogs, who travel well, get to help each of these 3 teams christen their new or updated stadiums.
August 11 – CJ at Carthage’s jamboree
August 18 – CJ at Webb City
August 25 – CJ at Republic (Republic is on the road for their season opener)
(the above isn’t quite accurate if either Webb or Republic is hosting a jamboree themselves)
August 11 – CJ at Carthage’s jamboree
August 18 – CJ at Webb City
August 25 – CJ at Republic (Republic is on the road for their season opener)
(the above isn’t quite accurate if either Webb or Republic is hosting a jamboree themselves)
I just had lights and bleachers installed. $150,000 for lights. $100,000 for bleachers. (Small school) Add another concession stand and restrooms, etc. The cost grows quickly.
That is one thing that was awesome about playing Har-Ber . Fans right on top of the field . Coaches probably hate it but the atmosphere was electric . I thought Carthage had a perfect chance to do that and add some home field advantage with ke baker already having a decent track but they chose not to. I get their reasons and logistics for it but it would have been cool to keep the track at KE
The track at Baker was one of many problems. It wasn't compliant with state or district finals competition... for one--not enough lanes. I agree with you--it would have been nice to be closer.
I didnt know that but they had the opportunity to correct that and be one of a kind in swmo. Would have been cool. I equate it with Joplin not making two high schools after the tornado. It would have done wonders but they passed on it.
From a cost perspective it is a bad idea but, I think we have lost a little perspective on that front anyway; video boards, mid season cross state travel, etc. If we are spending this kind of tax money on football anyway it would be nice little perk for the fans.
I totally get that argument and definitely agree that football is better without the track, however I don't think that approach was ever a consideration and probably rightfully so in this case. Although the tigers have a good following, Carthage is not particularly a big "football town" and there were many that were advocating for a performing arts center instead of a football stadium as the next phase in developing the high school campus. The track was one of the selling points in making it a "multipurpose" complex in getting support from other groups besides football, although football is certainly the primary interest. Selling a $10m football stadium is somewhat of a tough proposition in Carthage but a multi sports complex is somewhat less difficult.
I actually had a chance to check out the place the other day and it's pretty neat. I was hoping for more of the character/details like what you see in the Republic renderings, but it's a really good facility, maybe more details will be added later. The press box is particularly impressive inside, though most fans will probably never see it. Restrooms, concessions, locker rooms are huge upgrades and the field and scoreboard look really nice as well. The entrance will be much nicer as well. The blue section in the center with the backs is reserved seating for season tickets.
The only thing that I think Baker had over this place is that fans could easily watch from the grassy areas on the sidelines. At the new place I think it will be very difficult to get a good view from anywhere except the bleachers. I am not sure where the canon guy will setup his rig!
All things considered it's a great facility and a long time coming for Carthage fans. Visitors have a lot to look forward to as well because the visitor facilities have been so poor for so long. Now that it's nearing completion and the first game is approaching, the community is pretty excited about it, even many of those who were initially opposed to the direction of the project (new build vs remodel).
I actually had a chance to check out the place the other day and it's pretty neat. I was hoping for more of the character/details like what you see in the Republic renderings, but it's a really good facility, maybe more details will be added later. The press box is particularly impressive inside, though most fans will probably never see it. Restrooms, concessions, locker rooms are huge upgrades and the field and scoreboard look really nice as well. The entrance will be much nicer as well. The blue section in the center with the backs is reserved seating for season tickets.
The only thing that I think Baker had over this place is that fans could easily watch from the grassy areas on the sidelines. At the new place I think it will be very difficult to get a good view from anywhere except the bleachers. I am not sure where the canon guy will setup his rig!
All things considered it's a great facility and a long time coming for Carthage fans. Visitors have a lot to look forward to as well because the visitor facilities have been so poor for so long. Now that it's nearing completion and the first game is approaching, the community is pretty excited about it, even many of those who were initially opposed to the direction of the project (new build vs remodel).
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I just wonder what they will do to accommodate large crowds?? At Baker you could stand on the track or the grassy areas like you said. At the new stadium I doubt they will allow that. Visitors bleachers wont hold many people I guess that visitors will have to sit on the home side???
I don't think they will do anything to accommodate large crowds. The new place will accommodate regular games much better than Baker but large crowds will continue to be problematic like they have always been and are at most other places. People will still stand around the fence, they just won't be able to get as close as before. There is virtually zero street parking, so hopefully the parking lot is sufficient. It may be gridlock after a big game.
I think the administration has taken some criticism over the size of the stadium because he made a statement in a recent story about it not being a prudent use of taxpayer money to size the stadium for one or two opponents that only visit once every other year. Most of the COC brings pretty small crowds he mentioned. Even when Nixa came to town for the district title, the visitor side wasn't full.
Personally I think a stadium that is adequate most of the time and overflowing occasionally provides a much better atmosphere than one that is too big and empty at every game.
Hopefully Joplin will bring big crowds. I really don't understand why the COC doesn't travel any better than they do
Sounds great! It will be wonderful to have a new visitor section no matter what the size! Baker was a killer on the knees.
I hope Joplin brings good crowds too. I've only been to one game at Joplin and the stadium wasn't full, but Junge is a large stadium. They brought a pretty respectable group to a basketball game in Carthage, and since no one brings a crowd to basketball, I thought it was a pretty good sign.
Joplin probably hasn't had a local road football game in who knows how long. So they will either be aching for one, or they will be so out of the habit that no one travels, even 15 miles. But I think they are pretty excited about coming to the COC.
I think Joplin will travel well especially if they are competitive. Regardless if they are a football town or not when you add the element of rivalry people become interested. When all of a sudden you have friends, family, coworkers, etc from Carthage, CJ or Webb on the other side of the field the casual fan becomes interested. All it takes is a big win over one of those teams and someone who had never been to a game before is loading up the car and heading for Nixa. The casual Joplin fan could care less if the football team beats Rolla, Waynesville, Kickapoo, etc.
Yep as long as Webb beats Cj, Carthage, and Neosho its a winning season. All the rest of the games are just gravy
Will be interesting to see if Joplin sees an increase in player turnout and an uptick in competitiveness with local rivalries now playing in football as of '18.
I toured the stadium today. You are right--it's a wonderful upgrade and the press box was very impressive! Glad they left room for an elevator. Visitor section was great. We couldn't help but laugh--went into locker room and on the white board was written--"take white practice jersey home", but written underneath it in larger writing was "AND WASH IT". Only boys! LOL
Because I have to stand up every other year . At least they did put in restrooms on the visitor side and we don't have to take Porta Potties any more
Sorry to tell you that--those aren't restrooms on the visitors side--I wish they were! That is the locker rooms for the soccer teams. Restrooms are next to concessions stands, southwest corner. It's set up like Joplin. As someone else posted about not building bigger--Carthage says it's not spending money for 2 games every other year (which neither CJ or WC varsity play at this year). SorryBecause I have to stand up every other year . At least they did put in restrooms on the visitor side and we don't have to take Porta Potties any more
Here is a video preview from KOAM of Carthage with some shots of the stadium:
http://www.koamtv.com/story/36059069/carthage-
football-season-preview
http://www.koamtv.com/story/36059069/carthage-
football-season-preview
