Reserved Football Seats at Jamison Field Going Fast; Only 35 Remain
By Jeff Toquinto on August 14, 2012
If you want one of the 130 reserved seats at Wayne Jamison Field for the 2012 football season, it may be wise to make a visit or a phone call to the school shortly. After being on sale to the public for a little more than a week, only 35 of the original 130 seats remain, said Bridgeport High School Assistant Principal Matt DeMotto, who also handles the school’s athletic director duties.
“At this point, any number can be purchased, even if someone wanted to buy all of the remaining seats. It’s open to larger blocks at this point,” DeMotto said.
For the first time, there is now no limit on the amount of seats and individual or entity can purchase. Prior to today, there was a maximum of six seats that could be purchased at one time.
“At this point, any number can be purchased, even if someone wanted to buy all of the remaining seats. It’s open to larger blocks at this point,” DeMotto said.
The reserved seats, which are not cushioned but do have backs on them and arm rests, cost $100 and are what DeMotto called “prime seat” locations. The cost reserves the seat for the five Bridgeport High School home football games in 2012, but does not include the cost of a ticket to get into the game.
Funds raised from the seats will be put into an escrow account. The account will be utilized to help offset the eventual need to replace the existing artificial surface at Jamison Field. Although the replacement will not be nearly as significant on the financial front as the past due to items such as grading and infrastructure not being included, the new surface still figures to easily be a six-figure project.
“The seats have been very well received and the comments range from hearing that it’s a great idea to do this for new turf to someone realizing that they can come to the game five minutes before kickoff and have a good, comfortable seat waiting for them,” DeMotto said. “I’ve seen the seats and they look good and they will definitely be comfortable. They’re also wide so it won’t be a tight fit. The seats will accommodate various shapes and sizes. Although they’re not cushioned, bringing a cushion is certainly an option.”
The seats are currently on site and being put together, but they have not been installed, DeMotto said. Once the proper flooring is in place on the new bleachers, they will be carried over and installed. DeMotto added that the contractor handling this portion of the project said it will take less than a day to move the chairs and install them once they’re all put together and that he’s been assumed that the bleachers will be game-day ready when the August 24 home and season-opener against Buckhannon-Upshur takes place.
DeMotto said inquiries have already been made regarding the ability to renew the reserved seats for upcoming years. He said that will be allowed to happen at a time that has not yet been determined.
“We’ll put up a window of opportunity for that purpose … It will probably be toward the end of the season and if those wanting to renew have the ability to make another payment then those seats will be their seats for the following year,” DeMotto said.
One local business has made a very recent inquiry – and plans to purchase – 10 seats to give out to clients and employees on a regular basis. DeMotto is encouraging businesses that may be interested in doing this to take advantage of the opportunity while there are seats left.
“Our hope is that we are able to sell all of the seats and also that the individuals or groups responsible for the seats attend the games or provide their pass to someone who is attending the game,” DeMotto said. “We obviously want this to raise money to replace the turf and we appreciate the generosity of those that have purchased the seats, but it’s also important that we have someone is sitting in the purchased seats because they’re prime seats We don’t want a big gap in the seats during games primarily due to the prime location of them.”
Empty seats will remain empty, however, in the event the person that has reserved them does not show up or provide their pass to another individual. DeMotto said that would “not be fair to others that have paid” for anyone to sit down in a vacant seat.
Those looking to make a purchase are asked to call the school at 304-326-7121 or to stop by the school on Johnson Avenue.
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