Ryan Glavey
Sports Editor
Keene State College’s Spaulding Gymnasium has undergone some long over-due renovations this past summer, installing new bleacher sections and a new basketball court in the main gym.
“It’s been on the sport department’s long-term agenda for eight or nine years now,” Athletic Director John Ratliff said, “and we’ve been talking about renovating it since I’ve been here, so around 16 years now.”
KSC women’s basketball head coach, Keith Boucher, said until now, the floor was sanded down and refinished every year to preserve the court.
[singlepic id=373 w=320 h=240 float=right]
However, he said the floor was plagued with numerous dead spots, where the ball wouldn’t bounce very well, and the floor was running out of surface wood, so something had to be done.
The facility has featured its original basketball court and bleachers since the building was constructed in 1968.
“The bleachers were so old, they weren’t really safe anymore,” Director of Campus Purchasing and Contract Service, James Draper said. “So when we decided to put in the new floor, we figured it would be a good time, and might as well replace the bleachers as well.”
Ratliff said the department put in a bid to do the renovations hoping to take advantage of the beneficial state the market is in.
Draper said the original target price for the product was $750,000. However, Draper said the bid for the project came in at $400,000, a staggeringly lower price.
“Not only were the renovations much needed, but it was financially beneficial to do [the renovations] now, because it was just so much cheaper than we envisioned,” KSC men’s basketball head coach Rob Colbert said.
Draper said the money for the project came out of the athletics and recreational sports money reserve pools.
An interesting setback arose once the original floors were pulled up, and the concrete subfloor was inspected.
“Anywhere within a five foot diameter the concrete varied in height by as much as a half inch,” Ratliff said.
This unexpected turn of events caused the original floor plan to be scrapped, in place of a new plan to level off the subfloor. Ratliff said the new plan cost approximately $10,000 more, but overall wasn’t very detrimental to the project.
However, now the floor sits half an inch higher than originally figured, so now the baskets have to be adjusted to reach the regulation ten feet requirements for the height of the rim from the floor.
The department is trying to raise funds to pay back into the pools they initially took the project money from by selling the naming and advertising rights of the seats, sections, and rows of the bleachers.
“We’ve sold probably 25 seats so far, but we’re really just getting started,” Director of Development Ken Goebel said.
Goebel said the department started this campaign a few months ago, and hopes that once people start going to volleyball and basketball games, they’ll be interested in purchasing their own seat.
Goebel said the department is sending fliers to alumni and contacting KSC’s athletic sponsors. Names will potentially be put on the arm of each chair, on the step of each row, and advertising banners above each section of the stands.
“With these improvements, vwe have one of the nicest, if not the nicest DIII facilities in New England,” Colbert said, “and like any addition to a college athletic facility, you hope it helps retain and attract high quality student athletes.”
Boucher said the new additions will have a big initial impact, creating a lot of buzz and enthusiasm among the players. He said it will be a nice novelty to begin with, but eventually the players will get used to it and those initial effects will wear off.
“My hope is the new stands will have the same effect as Cameron [Indoor Stadium] at Duke,” Boucher said, “And when the fans get in there they’ll get excited and really get into the game.”
Colbert said the bleachers will be great for the fan base, and the new floor should help the players.
Colbert said not only has this new floor done away with the annoying dead spots, but the new floor is springier, and should help reduce the strain on players’ knees and backs.
“Next on the agenda is building locker rooms out by the athletic complex, put up lights on the baseball field, and continue our development of the Expo Center,” Ratliff said.
The Spaulding Gymnasium’s new bleachers and basketball court were just the most recent additions in the department’s long-term plan to continue to improve KSC athletic facilities.
Ryan Glavey can be contacted at rglavey@keene-equinox.com
Philadelphia party bus rental
Tim McCarver has said that more than a few times.
QuickBooks Hosting
great post, very informative. I’m wondering why other experts in this sector never notice this. You will need to continue your writing. I am sure, you’ve got a huge readers base already!
mcdonalds menu
stupefaction goombay murdstone Concetta breese veruca husk camembert tot
webmaster resources
Your website written piece author includes a specific innate skills to portray unquestionably good topics. Reads the web website content is undeniably huge and you’ll unearth unquestionably many standard guests. It’s no surprise that, when using the quality posts. In any circumstance, it absolutely was a pleasure to commit time with your website and look at the attention-grabbing content.
QuickBooks Online
Go to iphone4ever.info to have a free iphone
Lorita Higley
That was type of inspiring! Completely sudden. Now I am aware what I am going to perform tomorrow 🙂
play heli attack 3
F*ckin’ amazing issues here. I’m very happy to see your post. Thanks a lot and i’m having a look ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
Scrapebox
Im not sure why but this weblog is loading incredibly slow personally. Is others with this problem or possibly it a issue on my own end? Ill visit down the line if ever the problem still exists.
wii unlock software
Its everything here just what exactly I’m looking for 🙂 Im so happy we step in the following.
Chase Soellner
Thank you for taking time to write down this article. It’s been incredibly useful. It could not have come at a greater time for me!
Terrell Byerley
Many thanks for taking the time to write down this write-up. It’s been very helpful. It could not have come at a far better time for me!
Mora Sleiman
Which was sort of inspiring! Totally unexpected. Now I’m sure what I’m going to complete tomorrow 🙂
Kimi Filsinger
Thank you for taking the time to write this post. It’s been incredibly useful. It could not have arrive at a greater time for me!
government credit card debt relief
“I’ve gone ahead and bookmarked http://keene-equinox.com/?p=850 at Digg.com so my friends can see it too. I simply used Spaulding Gymnasium gets a new look | The Equinox as the entry title in my Digg.com bookmark, as I figured if it is good enough for you to title your blog post that, then you probably would like to see it bookmarked the same way
slot machine games
Whats up, I just hopped over on your site by means of StumbleUpon. Not one thing I’d most often read, however I appreciated your thoughts none the less. Thank you for making something value reading.
juicers consumer reports
Many thanks for taking the time to examine this, I feel strongly about it and love finding out a lot more on this matter. If possible, as you achieve knowledge, would you brain updating your website with more details? It can be incredibly beneficial for me.
slow cookers recipes beef
Pretty! This was a very great post. Thank you for your offered information.
debt relief help
“I’ve gone ahead and bookmarked http://keene-equinox.com/?p=850 at Digg.com so my friends can see it too. I simply used Spaulding Gymnasium gets a new look | The Equinox as the entry title in my Digg.com bookmark, as I figured if it is good enough for you to title your blog post that, then you probably would like to see it bookmarked the same way
watch easy a online for free
I like this blog very much, Its a real nice place to read and find information. “Education is the best provision for old age.” by Aristotle.
watch inception online
Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
watch i am number four online
I love your writing style truly enjoying this site. “I’ve wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it.” by Jimmy Stewart.
watch hall pass online
Its good as your other posts : D, thanks for putting up. “Even Albert Einstein reportedly needed help on his 1040 form.” by Ronald Reagan.
Coconut Creek chiropractors doctors
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for! debt relief
Matthew Moisa
Aw, this was a really quality post. In theory Id like to write like this too taking time and real effort to make a good article but what can I say I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.
handjob escort
Thank you for one more fantastic blog. Where else could one get that sort of information written in such an ideal way? I actually have a presentation that i am presently engaged on, and i have been craving for such info instead.
search engine optimisation kent
Very interesting topic, thank you for posting.
Cletus Neisius
I am a very long time watcher and I just assumed I’d drop by and say hello for your first time. I seriously take pleasure in your posts. Thank you
QuickBooks Hosting
I used to be really pleased to learn your internet site, it features specifically the content I’d been wanting to locate.
penis
Simply, admirable what you might have done right here. It truly is satisfying to appear you express from the heart along with your clarity on this considerable subject material may be simply looked. Outstanding post and can search ahead in your long run update.
hooker voyeur
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% certain. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate it
Shoes for Mens
I admire the useful data you supply with your articles. I will bookmark your blog and have my children check up right here frequently. I’m quite positive they’ll learn tons of new things right here than anyone else!
sex article directory
Aw, this was a really fantastic post. In concept I’d like to compose like this also – taking time and true energy to produce a fantastic article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and in no way seem to get a thing done.
sex blog network
Let me start by declaring good post. Im not confident if it has been talked about, but when using Chrome I can never get the entire website to load devoid of refreshing numerous times. Could just be my computer. Thanks.
Delicia Vizarro
Substantially, this publish is really the sweetest on this notable topic. I harmonise with your conclusions and will thirstily look ahead to your incoming updates. Saying thanks won’t just be enough, for the phenomenal clarity in your writing. I will right grab your rss feed to remain knowledgeable of any updates. Admirable work and significantly accomplishment in your company dealings! Please excuse my poor English as it truly is not my initial tongue.
sex web article
Resources like the a single you mentioned here will be quite useful to me! I will post a link to this page on my blog site. I’m positive my visitors will find that quite useful.
scrapebox list
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
sex web profile
I thought it was going to be some boring old publish, but it really compensated for my time. I will publish a link to this page on my weblog. I am positive my visitors will find that extremely useful
king web article
Thank you for one more vital article. Wherever else could anyone get that kind of information in this kind of a comprehensive way of writing? I have a presentation incoming week, and I am on the lookout for this kind of info.
king web 20
Hey, just looking around some blogs, seems a pretty great platform you are using. I’m currently using WordPress for a few of my sites but looking to change 1 of them over to a platform similar to yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it?
Pingback: Google