Published: July 06, 2009 12:23 pm      

Column: Is 2009 a farewell tour for Leeper Stadium?

By DARIN ALLRED

Register Sports Editor

Last year, baseball fans got to say goodbye to one of the game’s most historic ballparks as the old Yankee Stadium closed and the team moved across the street to the new stadium.

Football fans did the same with Texas Stadium, the former home of the Dallas Cowboys, although that stadium didn’t have quite the history of Yankee Stadium.

Perhaps this fall, Gainesville Leopards fans will have a chance to say farewell to Leeper Stadium.

While construction is currently underway on a turf football field and eight-lane track at the new high school, Gainesville Independent School District trustees have appointed a facilities committee to study the construction of a new stadium around the field and track.

According to reports, it would take approximately $1.5 million to build the stadium. That money would come from GISD reserve funds. That would not include the $1.1 million the district is spending on the new turf field and track. That money is coming from leftover money from the last bond election.

Back in May, GISD superintendent Bill Gravitt recommended the district go ahead and start construction of the new stadium now so that it could be ready for play this fall. He outlined several dangerous problem areas at Leeper Stadium as he made his case for the new stadium.

While most trustees agreed that the district needs a new stadium and does not need to spend any more money on an antiquated Leeper Stadium, they didn’t want to rush things. So now it looks as if Gainesville football and soccer teams will play at Leeper Stadium for one more season.

Perhaps we will learn more about the district’s plans when trustees meet Monday for a regular meeting.