DeVore Stadium, home of the South Bay Bowl a few years ago, is now the site of Dust Bowl II, a major construction site that ushered in parking issues, traffic on H Street and a long green fence that delays students entering and leaving campus.
Fear not, said Terry Davis, Southwestern College dean of the school of Health, Exercise Science and Athletics, the inconvenience will be worth it.
“We’re hoping that the new facilities, which are intended for students, would create a new passion for our area,” said Davis. “Not only for athletics but also because our new building will be housing our health science classes and our exercise science classes.”
Football head coach Ed Carberry said the athletic department will be centralized around the new stadium. It will include a state-of-the-art 20,000 square-foot building, which will include locker rooms, a weight training facility, offices and classrooms, and will serve as the home for football and soccer games.
“As we create new buildings we need to look at new (areas of) instruction for students,” said Davis. “We’re going to start exploring new areas such as martial arts and students will take what you put out for them, it will bring out our creativity.”
A new stadium also helps the football team.
“It brings new players,” said Carberry. “Players go where the newest facilities are and every year the most important thing to do is recruit.”
From a player’s perspective, it is something to look forward to and to be excited about.
“A new field can do a lot,” said Eddie Vega, 20, a kinesiology major and member of the football team. “When we got a new field at Eastlake High School it brought more inspiration because the fans come in and fill the house and it’s a good new environment that adds to the swagger of the team.”
Devore’s new weight training facility will serve more students.
“The weight room is going to give an opportunity to have more space rather than trying to fit 151 people into two racquet ball courts,” said Carberry. “People are going to be more effectively trained and increase the competition level due to the access of the weight room.”
A costly $33 million revamp will include synthetic turf, which is easier to maintain, said Davis. He predicted the remodel will be a great investment.
“The programs need to be for instruction first, athletics second and then eventually for fundraising purposes to supplement the areas we are short on money,” he said. “All three areas will be to support students and we are being funded by the community so we should be doing everything to support our community.”
Only time will tell when the community will get to see if DeVore Stadium will live up to its expectations.
“It’s going to be the best facility in the state of California,” said Carberry. “It’s going to be exciting.”
