In a telephone poll, the Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University awarded a contract to E.L. Crawford Construction of St. Joseph to renovate Spratt Stadium for $6,995,108. Ground will be broken in early May.

“I’m pleased that we’re able to move forward on this badly needed project,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “Spratt Stadium has served Missouri Western well for 36 years, and these renovations will make sure it continues serving us for years to come.

Bids from three construction companies were opened on April 2. They were significantly higher than anticipated, leading Missouri Western and architect Jeff Ellison to work with the low bidder, E.L. Crawford, to make cost-saving adjustments to the project. Changes included reducing the size of the club level and press box, changing the type of air conditioning unit for the suite level, changing light choices, changing from vinyl wall coverings to paint, reducing the amount of brick façade in various areas, and other minor adjustments.

The adjustments reduced the cost by 15.6 percent from E.L. Crawford’s original base bid of $8.288 million.

“These adjustments did not substantially change the project and did not sacrifice quality or fan experience,” said Dr. Cale Fessler, vice president for financial planning and administration. “As our recently concluded master planning process confirmed, the planned improvements are long overdue, and it will be good to see them get underway.”

The renovations covered by the bid include:

  • Demolition of the current concourse, concessions area, restrooms, Stadium Club and press box
  • Construction of a new concourse, concessions area, restrooms, club level (including suites) and press box
  • Repairs and improvements to the home grandstand seating area, including more chair-back seating
  • Removal of the old track and relocation of the field closer to the home stands
  • Relocation of the visitors’ side grandstands to be closer to the field
  • New field turf to replace the current surface, which has been in use for nine seasons

The field and grandstand components of the project are scheduled to be completed before the fall sports season. The press box and suites are scheduled to be completed in spring 2016.

“When it’s finished, this project will provide a better game-day experience for everyone attending an event at Spratt Stadium,” said Kurt McGuffin, director of athletics. “For all of our fans, there will be new concourse amenities and seats; for donors and sponsors, an enhanced club level; for journalists and game-day staff, a more spacious and up-to-date press box; and for our student-athletes a new playing surface and a more intense game atmosphere with fans so much closer to the action.”

A video board is included in future plans for Spratt Stadium, but was not included in the current bid process.

The Board of Governors also approved a contingency budget of approximately 3 percent, or $209,853, in case costs exceed the contract amount.

Last fall, the board authorized a $5.5 million bond issue to finance the project. The university will pay for the remaining cost (approximately $1,495,000) out of auxiliary budget reserves.

Spratt Memorial Stadium was completed in 1979, and first used for Spring Commencement that year. The stadium is named in honor of avid Griffon supporter Elliot “Bub” Spratt and was constructed at a total cost of $850,000.

The first football game was played on the field Sept. 8, 1979, a 44-0 victory over Dana College. Lights were added six years later, and the Griffons won the first night game over Missouri-Rolla 24-15 on Sept. 4, 1985. Griffon soccer played its first match at Spratt Stadium on Sept. 3, 2006, a 3-2 win over Concordia-St. Paul.

Spratt’s natural grass field was replaced by ProGrass synthetic field turf in 2006. The visitors’ grandstand was remodeled and expanded in 2009, increasing the seating capacity to 7,200, plus ample standing room and hillside seating.

The largest crowd for a football game at Spratt Stadium was 10,129 when the Griffons took on Northwest Missouri State on Oct. 3, 2009. Griffon football hosted its first NCAA Division II playoff game at Spratt against Northwest on Nov. 19, 2011, and celebrated its first home playoff victory with a 57-55 triple overtime win over Minnesota-Duluth on Nov. 17, 2012.

Griffon football is 129-69-3 in 36 seasons at Spratt Stadium, a winning percentage of 64 percent. Griffon soccer is 20-46-9 in eight seasons at the facility.

In addition to Griffon football and soccer, Spratt Stadium hosts the St. Joseph High School Football Jamboree and the Missouri Western Department of Music’s annual Tournament of Champions High School Marching Band Competition, and was previously home of the Missouri State High School Eight-Man Football Championship Game. It hosted Spring Commencement ceremonies from 1979 to 1981, a tradition that was revived in May 2014.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.