Upperman High School Quarterback Club funding the construction of a new visitor press box to alleviate overcrowding and better accommodate visiting media and coaching staffs.
Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Jimmy Maynord said the booster organization agreed to absorb the entire cost of the project through its fundraising efforts. Maynord said the school currently struggles to find space for visiting film crews, radio broadcasters, and coaches because the existing infrastructure was built over 20 years ago before the rise of modern digital media.
“Every week that we when we have an opponent coming in, and even with our, some of our local people,” Maynord said, “Our press box is not large enough to to handle everything that we need to handle and and I have to turn people away or tell them they just they have they have to find a place to do their broadcast or do their filming or whatever it is.”
Maynord said the new structure will be located behind the visiting bleachers at the 50-yard line. Maynord said the design will be an 8-by-20 metal structure that mirrors the appearance of the current home press box.
“We have to put them out on the ledge that goes into the press box, and they have to do their filming from there,” Maynord said. “And then their coaches, we have a, just a small space for their coaches to to sit in our press box.”
Maynord said the Putnam County Board of Education has already approved the project and the structural drawings. Maynord said a licensed contractor will manage the construction process and the necessary permits.
“I know other schools have the same issue as having enough space because, you know, like I said, many years ago, there, you didn’t have all the media attention that you do have now, in high school athletics,” Maynord said. “And this will just really help us alleviate some of the issues that we’ve had and I’m excited about that to be able to have space.”
Maynord said the school has outgrown its original facilities as the football program transitioned from a 1A or 2A classification to a 4A program. Maynord said the school is also working to move additional bleachers to the visitor side to handle overflow crowds that frequently fill the stadium.
“I like I said, when we go to other places, they accommodate us, and I and I really hate that we’re not able to accommodate other schools,” Maynord said. “And and now that that if once we get this thing built, I think that’s going to be, very rewarding for our program to be able to accommodate, the needs of of our opponents.”
Maynord said he hopes construction can begin within the next week.
