Officials broke ground Friday afternoon on a $7.5 million stadium project at Kansas Wesleyan University.
Demolition at Glenn Martin Stadium began on January 9th. The 73-year-old stadium had not been utilized for KWU games since 2007. The stadium, which opened back in 1940, was demolished to make way for a new sports complex.
The demolition was part of the first phase of the Sports Complex project. The next part of the phase involves completing the football and soccer fields, eight-lane track, perimeter fencing, lights and resurfacing of the tennis courts. The contractor who installed the turf at the Dallas Cowboy’s stadium will install the turf at the new stadium in Salina.
The goal is for Kansas Wesleyan’s soccer and football teams to kick off their 2014 fall seasons in the new venue. Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High and the Salvation Army football teams will also utilize the fields.
Phase II will include the grandstand-construction, which could begin as early as November 2014. Phase III will be the completion of the field house with locker rooms for soccer and visiting teams.
Sandstone from Glenn Martin Stadium was preserved for a memorial in the new Sports Complex, and for souvenirs, which will be available through the university bookstore.
