MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW)- It’s high school football season, and while coaches work to build their teams, Myrtle Beach city leaders start some building of their own.
Historic Doug Shaw Stadium is the home of the Myrtle Beach Seahawks, and for more than a year, Myrtle Beach Assistant City Manager Ron Andrews has been working to give the place a facelift.
The stadium is about fifty years old. Improvements will include new bench seating, a new press box and tower equipped with an elevator, team rooms for players and officials, a new entrance, new turf and track, new restrooms and concessions area, and one thousand extra seats on the visitor’s side.
“It’s a very expensive project, but it’s one that will serve this community for many years to come,” said Andrews.
City Spokesperson Mark Kruea says money for the five million dollar project will come from bonds backed by the hospitality fee revenue.
He says it’s an investment that will help bring more money to Myrtle Beach.
“It really allows us to bring people to Myrtle Beach, stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, and enjoy all that Myrtle Beach has to offer,” said Andrews.
The city shares ownership of the stadium with Horry County Schools.
They asked the district to put $1.2 million in the project, but Andrews says right now, district leaders are bus building new schools and haven’t given them an answer.
“It is pretty clear in that they don’t want to do anything in Myrtle Beach that they can’t do in Socastee or other high schools around the county, and we understand that and we respect that,” said Andrews.
Andrews says they hope to hear from the district by the spring on what they’re willing to offer for the project.
Regardless, he says the city is on track to start construction at the first of the year, and they plan to finish in time for next football season.
