Press box in place at Barrington stadium

With the first kickoff less than three weeks away, construction crews are doing some heavy lifting at the new Barrington High School athletic stadium.

Using a giant crane, crews on Friday installed the stadium's new press box, which stands 48 feet long by 12 feet wide by 12 feet high. It was installed in two sections, each weighing 22,000 pounds each.

The work is scheduled to be finished in time for the first football game against Libertyville High on Aug. 29, Barrington Area Unit District 220 spokesman Jeff Arnett said.

"The weather is cooperating," he said. "Everything is on schedule."

The synthetic field turf has been laid, the bleachers installed and the track close to being finished, Arnett said.

"There is a lot of vibrant colors," he said. "It is going to be a festive setting for athletic events."

In April 2007, voters agreed to spend $4.4 million to rebuild the stadium, which had a torn-up track, dirt infield and stands that weren't up to the Americans With Disabilities Act guidelines.

The new stadium has an eight-lane track and a larger field surface for football, soccer and lacrosse. New seating will accommodate 2,500 for home fans and 1,500 for the visitors.

A Jumbotron video scoreboard will be installed around Aug. 20.

The scoreboard, the field's synthetic turf and restrooms have all been paid for through private donations raised by the Friends of the Stadium group.

It has amassed more than $1 million, including a combined $475,000 from Wickstrom Ford, Cancer Treatment Centers of America and the Wiseman family. For 10 years, their donations will be acknowledged with signs at the stadium.

Since there won't be an opportunity for fans to get on the field and explore the stadium during the first football game, the school is hosting a community open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 31.

"This belongs to the community and we want to make sure they can touch and feel all of it," said Superintendent Tom Leonard, adding fans will be able to get on the field, as well as inside the press box and concession stands.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=19&type=video&item=64">New pressbox </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>