Missouri Western State University will celebrate the grand opening of the new Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium and the completion of Victory Plaza with a St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Ribbon-Cutting ceremony at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The ceremony is free and open to the public. It will be held at Victory Plaza, between the Spratt Stadium concourse and the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

Workers install a sculpture at Victory Plaza on Friday, Aug. 26.

E.L. Crawford was the general contractor on the $7 million construction project that began in May 2015. The project included:

  • Demolition of the previous concourse, concessions area, restrooms, Stadium Club and press box
  • Construction of a new concourse, concessions area, restrooms, team store, club level (including suites) and press box
  • Repairs and improvements to the home grandstand seating area
  • Removal of the old track and relocation of the field closer to the home stands
  • New field turf
  • The installation of a 2,500 square foot video scoreboard, the largest in the MIAA and one of the largest in NCAA Division II
  • Victory Plaza, featuring a sculpture representative of Missouri Western’s “Victory Tree” tradition designed by Sara Hunt ’12 and fabricated by Hausman Metal Works & Roofing, with landscaping provided by Lawns Unlimited

Victory Plaza also includes commemorative bricks purchased by Missouri Western supporters.

Missouri Western football will open the 2016 season at the new Spratt Stadium at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 vs. the University of Nebraska-Kearney. For ticket information, visit gogriffons.com.

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.