How is it looking? Any pics to post?

Coming along, I don't have any but i know that i have seen some pics on Twitter from Walton Verona Athletics.

Should be able to start having some practices in the gym in a week or so and they are saying that it will be ready for the opener agianst Cooper!

Where is Walton practicing now?

 

I assume there is an 'old gym'?

there is a small middle school gym that is used for practices right now. They are also using the Elementary school gym.

Where is Walton practicing now?

 

I assume there is an 'old gym'?

 

Yes, there is an 'old gym', but it is very small. It is considered the 'middle school' gym, however it is only used for school activities and practices, never games. It is being used pretty heavy right now for practices until the renovations are done, but mostly by boys and girls middle school teams.

 

The high school boys and girls teams are mostly practicing at the elementary school in Verona. The middle school games, that start this week, will be held there also, until the new facility is fully open come Nov. 1st.

 

To clear up any confusion on dates the new gym will be open, Walton is supposed to get a 'temporary' occupancy permit, (hopefully this week) that will allow for practicing and limited people in the building. The full permit for full use is supposed to be by December 1st.

 

Another bit of info..most of the renovations and additions are with the surrounding facilities more than the gym itself. The floor plan and location of the locker rooms, entrance concession stand, trophy cases, etc are all flip flopped and moved around. The public entrance to the gym will now be in the back by the large parking lot. Some of the additions and upgrades to the facility include two sets of locker rooms as opposed to the one set the old layout had, a large work out/training room, player meeting room, coaches offices, a designated referee facility (a locker room I think...got to take care of those folks), including many other additions for the music department. The gymnasium itself received a new floor, goals, bleachers....basically a nice face lift.

 

Like I said...I have not been inside it yet. All of this is from conversations with school employees and pics I have seen. We will see it firsthand soon enough.

So it's the same shell but a different configuration? I drove back there yesterday expecting a new building.

https://twitter.com/WVBearcats/status/525673478721396737/photo/1

I heard from Coach Bennett last week. They are delayed in getting in for practice. Was supposed to be the 5th, now looking like the 10th.

 

We'll be broadcasting their first game which will be a Boys game against Cooper.

 

We're going to shoot a video walkthru when we can get in. From the outside, looks very nice.

So it's the same shell but a different configuration? I drove back there yesterday expecting a new building.

 

Yes and no. Mainly the old shell, as you called it, still exist. It is just been added to, rearranged, and upgraded. Also, the driveway between the school and gym is now under roof and a part of the surrounding gym facility that make up the trophy cases, weight room/training facility, and lobby/ concession area.

 

As buttels mentioned, it will be available for practices on Monday (10th)

Yes and no. Mainly the old shell, as you called it, still exist. It is just been added to, rearranged, and upgraded. Also, the driveway between the school and gym is now under roof and a part of the surrounding gym facility that make up the trophy cases, weight room/training facility, and lobby/ concession area.

 

As buttels mentioned, it will be available for practices on Monday (10th)

 

The stands don't look very large, did they lose capacity?

The stands don't look very large, did they lose capacity?

 

Yes. I can't remember the exact number, but I think it was around 50. Due to codes, the old bleachers, that had more capacity, had to be replaced. All in all, the capacity will be pretty much the same.

1st practice in the New Gym is today....

Even though small, that looks like its going to be an awesome addition for the school..

 

I wonder if schools like Cov Cath, NCC and Holy Cross will ever think about building a new gym. They just can't compete with the larger schools when it comes to the income made from attendance to their home games. I think thats proof when they have to move games to larger gyms like Holmes or NKU's Bank center.

Several other pics in this feed:

 

https://twitter.com/WVBearcats/media

 

Very cool...