BY NATE KOTISSO | THE MONITOR
The estimated $8 million renovation of Mission CISD’s Tom Landry Stadium has taken longer than initially thought and will not be complete for another month, at the very least.
“We had an initial due date of Sept. 1, and now we’re looking at mid-October, if we’re lucky,” Mission CISD athletic director Leticia Ibarra said.
One of the harbingers preventing the complete renovation of the stadium is the lack of an elevator.
“We thought we were going to have the elevator in mid-August, but now (it) won’t arrive until Sept. 8,” Ibarra said. “The elevator will take two weeks to install and then will need another week for inspection, so there goes September. Hopefully, it’ll pass inspection, but if it doesn’t, it might take more time to move forward.”
Windy conditions have also brought safety concerns with regards to bricklaying on the structure. The risk of dropping bricks has suspended work down below until those at the top are able to finish.
“It’s felt like one little thing after another,” Ibarra said.
The schedule for this week is the same for Mission Veterans (1-0), which will meet Mission High in the 16th Battle of Conway at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Bennie LaPrade Stadium in Donna. The Eagles lead the all-time series 9-6.
Mission Veterans’ first district “home” game will come against Laredo Martin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14 at La Joya ISD Stadium in La Joya. Two weeks later, Mission Veterans will host Laredo Cigarroa at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, back at La Joya ISD Stadium.
Mission High’s first home game of the season will be played at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at Sharyland High’s Richard Thompson Stadium against Eagle Pass Winn. Mission’s matchup against La Joya High in Week 5 will be played at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Richard Thompson Stadium.
Ibarra said the district hopes to have everything ready at Tom Landry Stadium for Mission Veterans’ home game against Laredo Nixon on Oct. 13. If not, the district will have a backup plan mapped out by then.