4 Oct. '06

To read over a cup of coffee……..

Since 1996, the State High School track meet has been held annually at Cessna Stadium. The C.V.B. and the Sports Commission claim that each State meet has an economic boost to Wichita’s economy of $1,950,000.00 or $19,500,000.00 over the last ten years.

In addition to these monies, thousands of high school students and athletes along with their parents received a great view of the Wichita State Campus which positively influenced some to attend the University. It only takes 47 students to attend W.S.U. to graduation to equal $1,000,000.00 in tuition, surely more students than 47 out of the thousands who attended the State track meets did in fact attend W.S.U.

There have been many other groups since 1996 who have rented Cessna Stadium with the rental fees going to the University. The Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau have used Cessna Stadium in some of their proposals to attract larger conventions to Wichita.

The Rolling Stones would not have given Wichita a second thought IF Cessna Stadium had not been saved and re-furbished. It is reported WSU made $100,000 from the Rolling Stones concert. Now, there are other “major” groups considering Wichita as a tour stop.

If the Board of Regents and the KU scribblers at the Eagle had had their way in 1996 and demolished Cessna Stadium turning the area into a parking lot, there would not be a men’s or women’s track team as there would be no track. It was the Black and Gold’s idea as to how the stadium could be structurally modified to allow the track to be expanded to eight lanes.

Our little group has worked hard and has had big victories and small defeats over the last ten years and we will continue to fight until football is once again part of the sports program at our university, and WSU is again a traditional university. Even though the media, especially the KU scribblers at the Eagle, and the W.S.U. administration along with the Athletic Director, have fought us and the Mayor -- once the Mayor gave his Chamber Policy Statement for football -- every step of the way, is it suspected we will go away? The answer is no. This is our home, community, and our university, and we will continue.

                                                                                    Shocker Black & Golds

                                                                                    By: Frank Chappell