Never made it to a game there' date=' but was always told this was a great place to see a game. Do you think after all the renovations that it will be worse, the same, or better place to catch a game?[/quote']

 

 

Once all three phases are completed I expect it to be better than before. I didn't catch my first game at Putnam until the late 80's, so I can't speak for what it was like when it was in its prime.

 

Regardless, the renovation had to be done, the concrete foundation was crumbling, it was becoming unsafe. The old locker rooms, if you could call them that were terrible. The new locker rooms should be a huge upgrade for both teams, even the fans for that matter since there will be concession and restrooms on the second floor of the locker rooms. I believe the winning bid for the locker rooms came in around $650,000, for that kind of money they should be nice.

 

As for the rest of the stadium it is basically the same configuration as before, however the west side seating now stops at the 15 yard line instead of going to the goal line. That space is where the locker rooms, concession, and restrooms will be built. They lost 500 seats there but bowled in the east endzone to make up for the lost seating, I believe capacity will be around 6,000.

Never made it to a game there, but was always told this was a great place to see a game. Do you think after all the renovations that it will be worse, the same, or better place to catch a game?

I think it depends on your point of view: The renovation looses some of the nostalgia, in my opinion, I really like the all concrete stadium. On the other hand, everything that is new looks good. I think it will not be as historically nice as it once was, but I think it will be a very nice high school stadium. Seating is fine, the stadium is packed with people standing on the landing behind the seats for all the big games, the entrance way is full of standing people, it is a packed house for those big games which gives a great atmosphere for a football game. Personally, I think it is the perfect size for the number of fans that attends most games at Ashland. If it was bigger it would seem less full, if it was smaller it would not hold everyone.

 

Personally, I like Putnum Stadium better when it is full of Orange on the visitor side, but that's just me.

I think it depends on your point of view: The renovation looses some of the nostalgia, in my opinion, I really like the all concrete stadium. On the other hand, everything that is new looks good. I think it will not be as historically nice as it once was, but I think it will be a very nice high school stadium. Seating is fine, the stadium is packed with people standing on the landing behind the seats for all the big games, the entrance way is full of standing people, it is a packed house for those big games which gives a great atmosphere for a football game. Personally, I think it is the perfect size for the number of fans that attends most games at Ashland. If it was bigger it would seem less full, if it was smaller it would not hold everyone.

 

Personally, I like Putnum Stadium better when it is full of Orange on the visitor side, but that's just me.

 

I agree about the old stadium being all concrete, a lot of Ashland fans have an issue with that. In fact when I heard they were going aluminum I though , oh no. But after seeing it in person, I think it will be fine. They're boxed in bleachers so they still look nice, the boxed in part is maroon all the way around the stadium. They are supported by large concrete footers and still have the concrete walkway around the top of the stadium, with handicap accessible areas.

 

I will miss the concrete bleachers like most, but in the end it would have just been too expensive, probably tripple the money they are spending now. I think the fold down chairbacks will satisfy the season ticket holders, as will the hard back bleachers across the rest of the home side. When I think about the concrete being gone I just tell myself "Maybe it will be even louder with boxed in aluminum."

I stopped by the stadium this morning to get a look and although there will things we wish were different, I find it to have a very classy look and believe all will be very pleased

with the final result. The complete horseshoe look is awesome for a high school venue.

 

PS--great pictures!

Edited July 24, 201412 yr by ACE
to add a line

Always enjoyed my visits to Putnam Stadium. Great place to watch a game!

Looking forward to seeing it first hand in a couple of weeks when NewCath comes to town.

Looking forward to seeing it first hand in a couple of weeks when NewCath comes to town.

 

Oh no those poor people.

Not alot of seats?

 

I guess it depends on what is considered a lot of seats for a high school stadium. It should seat around 6,000. You can probably squeeze another 500-1000 in as standing room only along the upper walkways and enterance.

I stopped by the stadium this morning to get a look and although there will things we wish were different, I find it to have a very classy look and believe all will be very pleased

with the final result. The complete horseshoe look is awesome for a high school venue.

 

PS--great pictures!

 

Has work started on the locker rooms yet? Once they make some progress on those I plan on going back to get some more pics, assuming they will let me in.

Has work started on the locker rooms yet? Once they make some progress on those I plan on going back to get some more pics, assuming they will let me in.

Wear a hard hat, they will think you belong there and will be embarrassed to ask you who you are. Always look like you belong, first rule of going in places you aren't allowed.

Wear a hard hat, they will think you belong there and will be embarrassed to ask you who you are. Always look like you belong, first rule of going in places you aren't allowed.

 

Haha that would probably work

Rode the bike over to the stadium this morning. Looks like they are pouring the foundation and footersfor both locker rooms. Also noticed pallets of cinderblock lining the sidelines, no where near enough to build a complete wall, but probably enough to run one level the lenghth of the sidelines.

Was told yesterday that there is a life size bronze statue of Herb Conley that is being donated. Herb Conley was a former tomcat and went on to become the Tomcats coach. Conley coached the Tomcats from 1968-1976, as a former player that became a coach he is considered to be the empitome of a Tomcat.