Reserved seating proposed at Lions Field
Chrystal Doucette/Columbia Basin HeraldNew grandstands are under construction Tuesday at Lions Field in Moses Lake.
MOSES LAKE - A club approached the Moses Lake school board with a proposal to offer reserved seating at the remodeled Lions Field stadium.
Representing the Moses Lake High School Quarterback Club, Brian Dano asked the school board last week to consider an arrangement in which the club could sell reserved seats as a fund-raiser.
The club proposed the school district obtain and install 300 reserved seats.
For $50, a member of the public could reserve a seat for the season, Dano said. Any left over seats could be reserved for $12.50 per game, Dano said.
The school district would receive $15 per seat to repay the cost of the seats, while the club would keep $35 for equipment acquisition and program costs.
When the school district is fully reimbursed for the seats, then the district would receive a reduced amount of money per seat, Dano said.
The cost to build 300 seats is an estimated $15,000, Dano said.
"These tickets would be available to the general public, not just to members of the QB Club," he noted.
He said the seating would reduce the amount of time people wait for seating, generate money and provide a comfortable place to sit.
Assistant Superintendent of Business & Operations Monte Redal said he spoke with the state auditor to find out whether the district could make such an arrangement. Redal said it could appear as though the district is extending credit to a club.
He said if the school board supports the idea, then there is likely a way to make it work legally.
All board members expressed support for reserved seating. The district agreed to conduct further work to make the seating a reality.
"(Head Coach Greg Kittrell) has been talking about this for a long time, and it's a wonderful idea," said board member Vicki Groff.
"I don't have any problem with this concept and I think it's a great idea," echoed Steve Chestnut.
Board member Randy Bruce said he would like to see more than 300 seats, possibly 600.
"I really think it would sell, and I think it would be a great boost to our team and program," Bruce said.
Redal said attendees would be required to show a laminated card to sit in their reserved seat.