Contractor Stadium naming rights approved

Another element of the Warren C. Whitney Complex has a new name. The Norwalk City Schools board of education, during Tuesday's meeting, agreed to the naming rights for Contractor Stadium. This follows the naming of the Fisher-Titus Track after Fisher-Titus Medical Center made a $100,000 donation. The school board accepted it without discussion in mid-December. Josh Schlotterer, Norwalk High School director of student activities, declined to say the number of contractors involved in the stadium naming rights, but said there were "many discussions with many different people." "There are other negotiations ongoing," he added, referring to further naming rights and donations at the Warren C. Whitney Complex. Whitney Field is where the NHS and St. Paul football teams play their home games and host track and field events. Representatives from both schools are on the Whitney Field Improvement Committee. One of the many discussions by committee members and the marketing committee has been what the site ultimately will be called. Without going into details, Schlotterer said there won't be multiple names, but once the naming rights process is completed, "it will be stated a certain way." "We've been talking about that," he added. Ultimately, Schlotterer said the committee wants to honor the partnerships and "history of Whitney Field." "It's been great working with St. Paul, community (members) and the businesses. … They have rallied together," he added. St. Paul athletic director John Livengood couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday. During the football season, Steve Traczek, representing the NHS athletic boosters, and Will Chandler, from St. Paul, presented respective checks of $300,000 and $100,000 for the Whitney Field improvement and renovation project. They made their presentations prior to the Truckers' Oct. 11 football game against Sandusky and the next night before the Flyers' game vs. South Central. The original plan was replacing the football field and then installing a new track after it is used this school year. Now, Schlotterer said "we are hoping to do the track and field at the same time." "I have a time frame, but I don't want to put it out there until we're finished," he added. "We are working on getting it finished." During the December school board meeting, Corey Ream, director of operations, said the committee should have about $675,000 in donations by about Dec. 20. Regarding the design of the football field and the estimated color of the turf, he has said they will be similar to those at Port Clinton and Willard. The committee has a wish list of improvements for the Warren C. Whitney Complex renovation project. One of those is replacing the scoreboard. "It depends on the funding; it's not firm," said Schlotterer, who noted it's the same situation for press box and fencing improvements, and making the ticketing entrance area "more welcoming." "Our priorities now are the field and track," he added. "We've been working on getting it done as soon as we can. We are not rushing things." The last scheduled track meets at home for the Truckers and Flyers are slated for May 5 and May 7. The first scheduled regular season home game is the Truckers hosting Mansfield Senior on Friday, Aug. 28. The Flyers are scheduled to play their first home game the following Saturday against Fremont St. Joseph on Sept. 5. Committee members want to think through the situation, Schlotterer said, and not come back to the community with a need for more money. "What we want to do is improve our facility for the community," he said. "We want to be able to show off Norwalk the facilities we have here. It's a great project; it's what needs to be done for our community."