EOU Athletic Department | athletic@eou.edu
29 March 2007
LA GRANDE, Oregon - Rob Cashell, director of athletics at Eastern Oregon University, announced today that construction work has begun on a major renovation project to Quinn Coliseum.
New bleachers, energy efficient lighting, repainting the entire gymnasium and installing electric batting cages for softball are all on the list for the projects. The lighting project alone will cut energy costs to EOU by approximately $25,000 over a 10-year period.
"We've had a needs list for quite a while," Cashell said. "The primary reason for moving ahead on renovations was a recent examination of our bleachers by a certified inspector. The inspection report indicated many serious code violations and safety issues related to the current bleachers. Combined with other long-standing needs in Quinn, the issues with risk management and public safety are too important for us not to take on this project."
The current bleachers are approaching 40 years old and would have required nearly $100,000 to repair, with no assurances that they would meet Oregon's International Building Code. The code requires annual inspections of telescopic bleachers. The evaluation included EOU's risk manager, the director of plant services, former vice president for business, finance and facilities and athletic staff.
"These improvements are long over due and will make our facility one of the best in our conference for EOU and visiting athletes, officials and fans," Cashell said.
The project is being funded by resources identified in existing budgets and from bonds obtained through the Oregon University System. The bonds will be paid back on a 30-year note from gate and reserved seating revenue.
NORPAC Seating out of Kent, Wash., will replace the bleachers. NORPAC is the regional dealer for Hussey Seating, the leader in the telescopic seating industry. The new system will allow the bleachers to be extended for games or retracted for other events. Seating arrangements around the floor of the basketball court will allow for better access and reserved seating sections will be made available on the east side of the court.
"The reserved area will be prime seating, and has already proven to be very popular," Cashell said. "We've already sold one hundred spaces to alumni, boosters and friends of EOU."
For more information about reserved seating call the athletic department at (541) 962-3497.
Eastern Oregon University - One University Boulevard - La Grande, OR 97850-2899 - Phone: 541-962-3672