$3 Million for Soccer field; $5 Million for Events Center
The Wills’ administration has included in its most recent five-year capital development plan expenditures of at least $3 million for a “multi-use field” and $5 million for an Events Center. There is no suggestion that the College “needs” to expend this money. It is simply a “want” and the Wills’ folks have their hands on the money. They don’t know where else to use all this money other than to put it into more and more buildings and athletic fields.
Vice President Clint Ewell tried to justify the multi-use field at the February 9 Boar meeting as necessary to hold graduation ceremonies. This, of course, is nothing more than an effort to disguise the real reason the College wants this field, which is for its soccer team. The College now leases two soccer fields: one in Prescott and the other in Prescott Valley.
As further proof of the deception, one needs only to look at phase one of the Master Plan where you find the following: “Multi-Purpose Field with Locker Rooms and Concessions.” This is consistent with the real plans to build a field for the soccer team—something Wills’ has publicly supported.
Apparently, the subsidized Perform Arts Dinner theatre, with 1,000 seats is not a sufficient venue for special events, at least in the eyes of the Wills’ administration. It intends to spend another $5 million on a new facility.
Board representative Deb McCasland pointed out that the baseball field was originally created out of a grant that promised it would be a “multi-use field.” President Wills’ made no response to that statement at the Board meeting.
