So far, estimates for the cost of Missouri Southern’s weather shelter/ indoor practice facility put the ‘ideal facility’ of 100 yards beyond the University’s reach. The ideal facility includes a full-sized practice football field along with storage space and bathrooms.

“I don’t think that $2 million is going to get a full field,” said Head Football Coach Bart Tatum. “Time will tell.”

Despite current price quotes exceeding the state allocated $2 million, the administration continues to work towards the largest facility possible for the budget. While the facility would serve as a practice field for the football team and others, Tatum said it’s first use will always be as a weather shelter for athletes and fans at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

“All sports would benefit from this,” he said. “But it’s about getting 5,000 people inside and out of a lightening storm.”

Currently, Bob Harrington, director of the physical plant, is preparing to put out a bid for a prefabricated metal building with bids for engineering and turf going out separately. The structure, when completed, will consist of the metal building built over a concrete pad with the synthetic turf field in the middle. Astroturf is laid over compacted rock and gravel, which Harrington says will reduce the cost of concrete.

“Once we accept a bid for the building, it’s going to take three to four months to get it on site, so while that’s going on we can get the engineering work done,”

Harrington said. “This one [project] is kind of a moving target that we’re chasing; it’s moving all over the field.”

The exact location, south of the stadium, selected for the building will also have an effect on price due to the cost of land work and running plumbing.

“If we put it on the far east end of that parking lot, we can use part of that land that’s already flat,” Harrington said. “The more site work I have to do the less money we have to work with.”

Though Southern may have to downsize the facility from a full 100-yard field with end zones to a 75-yard or 55-yard field, Harrington says construction could begin as early as the first of the year.

“I think we can certainly do something for two million,” said Sallie Beard, director of athletics. “That’s yet to be determined, now if we want to do something more than the $2 million we’d have to go out and find a donor.”

Beard also said there may be naming possibilites for the facility, should a donor emerge.

“My guess is we’re going to have to scale back our expectations for this facility, I have no idea as to what extent that will be,” said Rob Yust, assistant vice president for business affairs, “Unless somebody comes forth with some additional funding.”