Bowers Stadium Renovations

The July 10 edition of the Item discusses some of the changes to the exterior of Bowers Stadium.

The five-year, three-phase renovation project for Sam Houston State's Bowers Stadium has been completed with the addition of an elevator to the press box for the 14,000-seat facility.

In the past few years, other changes have included a new playing surface, a video scoreboard, new lockers for the football team and dressing room improvements. The new elevator runs along the left side of the ticket booth at the main entrance. In order to even out the look of the building, a false shaft was added to the right side, providing large storage closets on each level of the press box.

The project began in 2004 when the old press level was turned into fan suites and the president's box was expanded. Those changes brought about the need to upgrade the fire codes for the facility. The second phase consisted of installing fire alarms, sprinkler systems and suitable exit doors in the building to assure it met the safety code standards.

The elevator was added to keep the press box in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The front of Bowers Stadium has a new look besides the elevator and false shaft. The ticket booth now was a metal awning and the entrance to the elevator is enclosed with numerous windows and marble flooring.