ThunderBowl construction remains on schedule

Visitor's locker room is the most notable recent change.

By JOE E. CERVI, THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Nick Pannunzio picked up trash and scrap lumber in front of the field house connected to the Neta & Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl on Thursday.

Even with bulldozers and dump trucks traveling in and out of the multi-million dollar project, Pannunzio wanted every impression to be a good one.

"I'd hire someone to do this (pick up trash), but everyone's already got a job," the contractor joked. "I can handle this."

Pannunzio, the general contractor for the $13 million stadium complex that sits next to Colorado State University-Pueblo, said work remains on schedule.

"We haven't lost any days to the weather; everyone just works right through it," he said. "Things are pretty much the same schedule-wise. The field house should be done by the end of April so they (football and track coaches) can move in."

The complex will serve as home to the ThunderWolves' football and track programs, as well as an expansive weight room and state-of-the-art training facilities.

CSU-Pueblo plays host to Panhandle (Okla.) State on Sept. 6 and Pannunzio said the stadium will be ready for opening night.

The field house is approximately 28,000 square feet - 14,000 feet each on two levels. The top floor contains an open-air deck, coaches' offices and meeting rooms.

The ground floor contains the football and track locker rooms, the weight room, a laundry room and the training area.

The most notable change in the complex landscape is the addition of the visitors' locker room and storage area. It sits just to the east of the field house.

"They started framing the visitors' locker room on Tuesday and they about got it done," Pannunzio said. "That entire part of the project should be done by June."

The visitors' locker room with have two separate locker areas as well as a storage area for track and football equipment. Teams who visit the ThunderBowl, or high school teams using the stadium, will be housed in this area.

"The main field house is for CSU-Pueblo only," said Pannunzio, a former CSU-Pueblo quarterback and immensely proud alumnus. "It's got a room for officials, but all visitors will use the visitors' locker room."

The artificial playing surface already has arrived. But Pannunzio said installation - or rolling out the green carpet - remains three weeks out.

"They are still getting the prep work done, and then they pour the track before they lay the carpet," he said. "It's a pretty impressive process. I'm learning more about how they do things every day."

Work on the press box/concession stand areas on both sides of the field should begin in May and take approximately three months to complete.

Head football coach John Wristen and the ThunderWolves began spring drills this week at Dutch Clark Stadium. While he appreciates the hospitality of Jeff Kochenberger and the staff of Pueblo City Schools, Wristen can't wait to sit in his new office that overlooks the field.

"It's pretty awesome. I go by there at least once a week just to stare at the place," Wristen said. "Nick and the city of Pueblo have done an outstanding job with what they've accomplished. It's a showcase of Pueblo."