Welch Stadium’s seating configuration will look quite a bit different for the upcoming football season and beyond.
ESU Athletics says the east side seating will be shut down immediately. “During a continuing evaluation of our athletic facilities, we identified some structural deficiencies on the east side of Welch Stadium that, for the safety of our fans, could no longer be delayed,” says Director of Athletics Steve Rodecap.
The nature of those deficiencies has not been announced.
There will be temporary bleachers for ESU students on the north side of the stadium, allowing about 700 fans to sit in that area. ESU will also have an adjacent VIP tent for another 75 fans. Plans for seating the ESU Marching Hornets have not been finalized, but there is a chance the band could sit in temporary bleachers near the south side.
Total capacity at Welch has been listed at 7,000 fans under the original seating arrangement. The new configuration will put capacity at 4,419, near the average attendance of around 4,533 people the last 5 years. Fewer than 400 reserved seats remain available as of Wednesday.
Fans of visiting teams will sit in Section Q, or the far south end of the main stands. Recommended visitor parking lots will be along Merchant Street, just west of Cremer Hall and Science Hall, in addition to the large lots between Market and Highland on the east side of campus.
ESU fans can still use the paid game-day parking on Morse Drive on the west side of Welch Stadium. Live at the Hive will remain at its regular space near Kossover Tennis Center and Visser Hall.
For designated entrances, the general public can use the west-side gates. Students can enter in the northeast corner near the Police & Safety Building. Visitors can use the double gates in the southwest corner of the stadium.
Fans are encouraged to get their tickets in advance with the changes announced Wednesday.
There is currently no word on when construction will begin.
Welch Stadium has been busy with football and other activities over the last 2-plus years, including 11 ESU football games, 8 Emporia High School football games, 7 regular-season ESU track & field meets, 6 Kansas State High School Activities Association state championship football games, 2 NCAA Division II National Track & Field Championships, 1 Kansas Shrine Bowls for football and an MIAA Track & Field Championship meet.
