We deserve better than old-fashioned design

It was good to see the Sandpoint City Council approved the design for the new grandstands at Memorial Field. However, why would they approve such an old-fashioned design with vertical supports supporting the roof that is very similar to what exist and what Kim Woodruff seems to think we currently enjoy?

Obviously Kim Woodruff has never had to sit behind one of those vertical supports during a football game or a show at the Festival at Sandpoint. Why build new seating that is almost the same as the existing seating that was constructed in 1946? That was 67 years ago!

I have done scoreboards and replay videoboards at stadiums all over the country during my 40-plus years in this business. Some were older stadiums but most were new stadiums. Never, have I ever seen a new stadium built where the seating has vertical supports to hold up the roof. Why would anyone build something like that which would block the viewing from any person who had to sit behind one of those vertical supports? It makes zero sense.

With today’s construction methods and new materials that new grandstand could be built without any vertical supports and still be strong enough to support the roof and new press box. I would bet the cost would be less as well if Kim Woodruff would check around with other venues about who built their grandstands. Who wants new grandstands at Memorial Field that look like it was built 67 years ago anyway beside Kim Woodruff?

LEN GOLDING

Sagle