by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Starting Saturday, basketball at Kansas City Kansas Community College will be played in stylish new comfort.
New bleachers including approximately 300 stadium and chair back seats have replaced the old bleachers that have been in place since the college opened on its current campus in 1973.
The first KCKCC game will be held Saturday when the KCKCC men are the host of On Point Academy at 4 p.m.
Both Blue Devil teams will be in action Wednesday when the women entertain Southwestern Iowa at 5 p.m. and the men will be the host to Penn Valley at 7 p.m.
“While we will lose some seating capacity, the new bleachers will make the Field House one of the most visibly attractive arenas in the Jayhawk Conference,” KCKCC Athletic Director Tony Tompkins said. “It goes without saying we are most appreciative of the support of the college administration and Board of Trustees.”
In addition to the attractiveness of the new bleachers, they are far more safe because of wider steps, aisles and hand rails – safety measures lacking in the 40-year-old bleachers that were replaced – and provisions for wheel chairs and handicapped seating.
The new bleachers will also feature 96 stadium seats in the center of the east side of the playing court flanked by approximately 100 chair back seats on both sides of the stadium seats. The outside of the Field House now features a large Blue Devil logo at the lobby entrance.
Replacement of the old bleachers was begun during the Thanksgiving break by Specialized Bleachers. Bishop Ward fans will get the first look at the new bleachers Friday when the Cyclones are the host of games.
