The Holy Trinity Academy Knights are working to have more fannies in the seats by adding more seats.
The Knights kicked off the Holy Trinity Academy Grandstand project in an effort to put in seating for 1,070 people at the school in northeast Okotoks.
“We are doing a seat drive,” said Knights football coach Matt Hassett. “We’ve been told it would come in at around $350,000.”
The stands would be just another component of the always-improving friendly confines at Knights Field.
“It’s always been on my mind, but it is also one thing at a time,” said Hassett, who also is a co-sports athletic director at HTA. “We have the tower, the lights, the concessions and the next thing is the bleachers.
“And maybe outdoor locker rooms and turf after that, who knows?”
The present stands have been around, seeing action in the south part of town in the past.
“They are basically what we had from the old school,” Hassett said. “The school board was great about re-landscaping and putting them on the side of the hill.
“It’s a great atmosphere for a game, we just want to make sure everyone who comes to the game has a seat.”
The present seats came from the former HTA — now St. John Paul II Collegiate — when the current campus on 32 Street opened in 2006.
To sponsor a seat, the cost is $327. All donors will be recognized, either on the press box or on the respective seat.
While it’s the gridiron boys who get the lion’s share of the publicity, there is plenty to see at Knights Field throughout the year.
The field is home to the provincial powerhouse rugby teams, soccer teams and the rubberized track and jumping pits has made HTA the place to go for divisional track and field meets.
As well, the Foothills Eagles program uses the field from time to time.
“The Knights football team’s coaches, players and parents are spearheading the campaign,” Hassett said. “We think other outdoor sports will help with the seat sale once it’s presented to them… This is a project that will benefit all outdoor sports at Holy Trinity Academy and the community.”
The Knights will also be trying to raise funds through grants once some money has been raised.
A website for the project should be available by Feb. 1.
