Are updates a need or a want?

Proposed updates to the athletic complex are in excess of $24.6 million.

Do we really need such a large, new stadium when our class sizes are much smaller than when the existing stadium was built back in the 1960s?

Isn’t it better to build it smaller and have it filled?

Do we really need the extra frills, such as the cement stadium seating, when putting in aluminum bleachers would be much more cost effective and they can certainly be built to handicapped accessibility?

They say we need 19 women’s bathrooms based on the proposed seating for the new stadium. Do we really need this large of a stadium?

Could we build a stand-alone building for concessions and bathrooms?

It is true that the field house/locker rooms need to be updated to be in compliance with federal laws, but again, do we really need a two-story field house? Again, excessive.

How many people are really going to benefit from these updates?

What about students who are not in sports? Will this benefit music or art students?

It was said that this will bring business to town, but isn’t it jobs that bring people to town?

They say we can host Big 9 events. There are 12 schools in the Big 9, so does that mean we could possibly host any one type of sporting event once every 12 years?

Will there not be an added cost to maintain all the new facilities? Maintenance is not included in the proposed $24.6 million upgrades.

Does a fancy stadium make a better athlete?

Is this the right time for this referendum when we are concerned about our hospital? Is this a need or a want? Please go vote.

Sue Brown

Albert Lea