New football field planned

There’s going to be a new Tiger Field.

The most sweeping change to Rockdale’s athletic facilities in 84 years is planned with the confi rmation last week that $5 million in improvements are in the works.

And it won’t require a bond issue, according to Rockdale ISD Supt. Dr. Denise Monzingo.

NORTH-SOUTH—Dr. Monzingo said the new stadium, complete with an eight-lane track, new bleachers and turf replacing the current grass, will be constructed on the same footprint as the current football fi eld, but oriented north-south instead of the current east-west.

A new dressing room is also planned.

Only accommodation for the new facilities will be a slight reorientation of the Lady Tiger softball fi eld.

In addition to improving the athletic experience for Tiger athletes and fans, it is hoped the new facilities will have some positive revenue implications for the district.

“We are such a natural neutral site for so many playoff games with our location on US 79, in between so many towns and cities,” Dr. Monzingo said. “We’ve hosted seven volleyball and basketball playoff games recently. We believe with this new facility we have the potential to host many football playoffs, too.”

She pointed out artifi cial turf replacing grass will lessen maintenance for the RISD.

“With the addition of soccer to district athletics the fi eld is now in use virtually year-round,” she said.

NO BONDS—Dr. Monzingo said the renovations plans have been in the works for a long time, even before last October’s Luminant closing announcement.

Dr. Monzingo said the district plans to fund the projects using “maintenance tax notes” which don’t come out of the interest and sinking (INS) side of budgets.

“They are part of maintenance and operation (M&O),” she said. “They don’t require a bond election.”

Dr. Monzingo said the projects should not result in a tax increase, either. Plans are essentially to take the money from fund balance then pay it back over a period of years.

In last Wednesday’s February school board session, trustees okayed a 12-year payback plan with an option to repay the funds early.

The Texas Attorney General’s Offi ce will have to approve the plan. Huckabee & Associates has been hired to represent the RISD in the upgrades project.

Dr. Monzingo pointed out the district is able to utilize the “no bonds” approach because the projects are classifi ed as maintenance, not new construction at a different location.

TIMETABLE—It’s an ambitious timetable to complete the projects.

Target completion date is to use the new facilities in this fall’s football season.

“We might have to change a couple of home games to road games,” Dr. Monzingo said.

Rockdale’s football fi eld was constructed in 1934 when board members purchased the current land. Before then, Tiger football games were played at Fair Park.

Aluminum bleachers were installed during the 1950s Alcoa boom.

All three of Rockdale’s state championship football teams called Tiger Field home during those seasons.

The 1955 Aycock Tigers played their state championship game at home on the fi eld, defeating West 21-7.

Tiger Field was also home to the 1976 and 2017 Rockdale High School state championship football teams and the 1977 RHS Tiger state track champs.