For the 2023 season, William Jewell College’s football games are being temporarily relocated due to the construction of The Link Project, which includes the development of a new amphitheater-style stadium.

The previous Jewell stadium, Greene Stadium, was demolished in June, and while the construction is underway, football games will be hosted at Liberty North High School, according to Jewell’s Assistant Athletics Director for Communication Ellison JaeLynn. This article explores the reasons behind the relocation, the new location’s features and benefits and the anticipated return of games to the Jewell campus.

“The primary reason for moving Jewell football games off campus is the ongoing construction of The Link Project, which involves the creation of a new stadium,” Ellison said. “The demolition of Greene Stadium, the former football and soccer home since 1955, necessitated the relocation. The construction site lacks essential elements such as stadium seating, parking facilities and other amenities required for hosting football games.”

According to Ellison, for the 2023 season, Jewell football games will take place at Liberty North High School. The decision to choose this location was based on the longstanding partnership between Jewell and the Liberty Public School District. In the past, both high schools in Liberty have played their full schedules on the Jewell campus.

“Although Liberty North’s stadium does not match the exact seating capacity of Greene Stadium, it offers a high-quality facility with upgraded technology opportunities,” Ellison said.  “While the seating width may be slightly narrower, the stadium provides elevated seating and also offers seating for visiting fans on the opposite side. The locker room facilities at Liberty North are adequate and within a comparable walking distance to the field, similar to the on-campus facilities.”

Ellison also discussed the expected positive and negative consequences of this change: “The temporary relocation presents several advantages for fans and players. The partnership with Liberty North allows for an outstanding space for the 2023 season, fostering a positive relationship with Liberty Schools. The new location also provides upgraded technology and facilities compared to the aging Greene Stadium. However, there are a few inconveniences associated with the change, such as students having to travel off campus to attend or play games and the logistical challenges of transporting equipment on game days. Nonetheless, these temporary drawbacks will be outweighed by the long-term benefits of a new home stadium on the Jewell campus.”

“The new stadium on the Jewell campus is expected to be completed this winter, in time for the 2024 season. The college eagerly looks forward to returning to their familiar grounds on The Hill. The staff and players have had a positive experience at Liberty North, appreciating the accommodating and tremendous support received from the school. However, the anticipation of a brand new stadium on campus creates excitement and a sense of homecoming for the Jewell community,” said Ellison.

In conclusion with what JaeLynn Ellison said, ”the temporary relocation of Jewell Football games off campus is a result of the ongoing construction of a new stadium as part of The Link Project”. The move to Liberty North High School for the 2023 season has provided an exceptional space for fans and players, showcasing the strong partnership between William Jewell College and Liberty Schools. While there have been some inconveniences associated with the change, the upcoming completion of a new stadium on the Jewell campus promises an exciting future for football games and reinforces the college’s commitment to its athletic program.

The Link Project is part of a larger capital campaign at William Jewell College called “In Pursuit.” Other parts of this campaign that have been completed include the hillside in front of Jewell Hall as well as the renovation of Mathes Hall. The Link Project has undergone planning and fundraising for the last five years.

According to Clark Morris, The Link was originally expected to cost twenty million dollars and has gone up to thirty million due to inflation. The project has been split into two phases due to this increase in cost. Construction for the first phase will be conducted while fundraising is completed for the second phase. This project will be fully funded by donations, so there will be no need to pull money from any other source because of this.

One of the major reasons for the construction of The Link is the expansion of the Athletics division of the College. Jewell has twenty-four different sports as of Sep. 6, and as Clark Morris, Vice President for Advancement, said: “We quite literally have run out of space.”

Once The Link Project is done, different sports can practice at the same time in different areas, making time management more efficient for coaches and athletes. The Link Project will also be “a giant improvement” to accessibility, according to Morris. 

The hope is that improved parking will be available as soon as December of this year, and as late as March of next year.

For more information on The Link Project, click here: https://www.jewell.edu/alumni/pursuit/link

With William Jewell College undergoing substantial changes this year and beyond, Vice President for Finance and Operations Daniel Holt regularly reports on the nature and status of the projects that the College is undertaking. In all, Jewell is investing more than $34 million to update campus infrastructure and add amenities, according to Holt. To summarize  some key features of the project, below is a list of completed, ongoing and future changes that the community can expect to see over the next two years.

Completed Projects

1.  The four athletic fields at the Spratt Sport Complex, which are used by the baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse teams, were upgraded, receiving new turf and additional lighting this fall.

2. The Curry Hall chiller is now operational – the temporary chiller will be removed over fall break. 

3. The Student Health Center was moved to the intermediate level of Curry Hall in place of Curry Commons, next to Counseling Services and Curry Library. The room was renovated to include a waiting area, storage, two exam rooms and an office.

4. The Cardinal Bookstore was replaced with an online textbook platform in conjunction with the Cardinal Store. Students can now order textbooks online, and items previously sold by the bookstore, such as spiritwear and supplies, are available for purchase from the Cardinal Store, located on the lower level of the Union.

Ongoing Projects

1. The main floor of Curry Hall is undergoing some minor renovations in preparation for Student Life moving over from the bottom floor of the Union. After these renovations are complete – which will include such things as creating more office spaces – Curry Hall will house nearly all student service functions.

2. The College’s new sports, recreational and academic complex, The Link, had its ground-breaking ceremony over Homecoming weekend on Oct. 1. This marks the beginning of Phase 1 of the Link Project: the removal and replacement of the Pryor Learning Commons and White Science Center commuter parking lot. This phase is projected to be completed by December of this year.

3. The Pillsbury Music Center chiller replacement project was delayed as a result of supply chain issues. These two chillers serve the majority of the buildings on the quad. This project is nearly complete.

4. Audiovisual upgrades will be provided to a number of classrooms and meeting spaces around campus, such as in Yates-Gill 221/222 and Gano Chapel.

5. IT cabling and fiber throughout campus will be replaced – this project will likely take some time, as the work will circulate between residential halls and quad buildings.

6. New fire panels will be installed in Curry, Marston and Mathes Hall.

Future Projects

1. The HVAC system of Eaton Hall, which serves Eaton, Browning and Mathes Hall, will be replaced during the summer of 2023.

2. As a result of issues with parking, the college is making plans for a parking restructuring project for Greek and senior housing.

3. Phase 2 of The Link project, including construction of the building, is expected to begin in January 2023 and finish in May 2024.