With the new Lion football stadium delayed indefinitely, Livingston ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Pack said he has received a few answers after discussions with firms involved in the project.
What is known is that the football season will move back to “old” Lion Stadium, which the team has called home for several decades. What is yet to be determined is when work on the new athletic dwelling will be concluded.
Pack said recent phone conversations with leadership at Claycomb Associates Architects was “productive.
“They took ownership of the issue,” Pack said. “They admitted that, yes, there was an issue – a mistake on their part that led us to where we are today. They wanted to reassure me that they’re committed to seeing this project through, getting it done as soon as possible, and all the things like that.
“Again, they told me that they’re still in the design phase with Sturdisteel, trying to get everything finalized.”
Pack also received a call from the president at Sturdisteel, apologizing for the delays.
A difference in measurement for the height of the press box is where the miscommunication and subsequent delays seem to have occurred.
That problem arose in May, as construction crews were preparing to lay the foundation. Manufacturing the grandstands is said to be a process of around 10 weeks. Once that could not occur in May, construction was not going to finish in time for the season.
On May 22, a meeting took place where Pack was presented with the different options to redesign and fix the issue. The superintendent chose the one that he felt looked the best in hopes of playing the season on campus. He received no word that completion would not be in time for the first kickoff.
“So we kept calling; we had meetings. It was like, ‘OK, where are we?’”
In a July 13 meeting, the district was told that only the replacement fix that connected the press box was needed. Pack said that again the response was that architects were waiting on Sturdisteel.
“But, they weren’t,” he said. “They had told us that everything was manufactured. We were just waiting on that last little bit.”
Yet, on July 30, Pack was told nothing was manufactured and nothing was ready.
When the superintendent asked about the July 13 meeting, representatives for Claycomb said they didn’t remember making that comment. The architectural firm is the district’s only direct communication for the project in the meetings.
Pack’s assumption is the truth was not revealed until recently because those involved believed they could rush the work to meet the deadline. Still, the district has not received a date of completion for the job.
“I think the thinking was that they maybe could get it done behind the scenes. But then, it was finally at a point where it was like, there’s obviously no way that this is going to happen. To me, the obvious date would have been earlier than that, but it is what it is now.”
Pack said if, by some chance, the stadium was to be completed before the football season ends, he would like to see the final contests played in the new facility. However, it should be noted that no one at the school is assuming that will happen.
“I think we’re saying that it’s not going to be done by the time football season’s over. If it were finished and it was turned over to us, we would (play in the new stadium). If the stadium is done and turned over to us in time for a game or two, most certainly.”
A discount was discussed during the recent talks. Pack relayed that Claycomb representatives said they would “entertain those discussions about what it’s going to be.”
At a price tag of around $16 million, there is plenty that could be reduced, including the disappointment of not being in an on-campus facility, lost revenue from renting it out for playoff games, and upkeep on the old stadium.
“There’s those expenses. I don’t have a hard number right now. But yeah, significant is what I’m looking for.”
