Unlike the ribbon cutting for the gymnasium, the rededication ceremony for Alamo stadium was very different. First, there was no ribbon cutting…LOL!!! Second, rather than introducing former players and teams, the football players, bands, and dance/cheerleaders for each SAISD school were introduced and they marched around the brand new track. I must admit, that I got goosebumps!! It was really awesome to see that and also the fans in the stands and people in the press-box!!
Gregg Simmons, a former Jefferson High School graduate, was the Emcee. Greg is one of the sportscasters on KSAT 12. The SPEAKERS were: the Superintendent Dr. Sylvester Perez, the President of the SAISD Board of Trustees Ed Garza, the Interim Athletic Director Frank Arnold, and two students.
I was kinda disappointed that former Athletic Director, Gil Garza, was not there. He accepted the same position for Dallas ISD and his last day with SAISD was August 11th. Gil sent me an email on June 28th telling me the date of the ribbon cutting and he wanted me to be there guest on the field. How cool is that?
Well, to make a long story short (which is hard for me to do because I like to write), I was a spectator in the stands…I even had my wife, my mother-in-law, and my parents come with me (and I really appreciated that…it was HOT). But, as I sat in my seat, I knew I had to be on the field to take pictures and that is exactly what I did. I didn’t need a chair on the field…I was having the time of my life snapping away and enjoying the celebration. I have already gotten a lot of recognition for my photos and I was just glad to be there.
Oh, while I was on the field, Oscar Perez, the Facilities Director for SAISD, found me and told me they want to use my photos for another project…I was like absolutely!! Oscar introduced me to Don Aird, the Project Coordinator in the Facilities department for SAISD (I think I met him previously on one of site visits at the gymnasium) and also Gary Joeris, from Joeris Construction. I did see Brian Clancy, the Assistant Athletic Director for the district (he was my chaperone for most of the site visits).
Had this been my first time walking into Alamo stadium, I definitely would’ve been WOWED by everything and the amazing transformation, but it wasn’t. I got to see the renovations from start to finish. For a list of all my BLOG articles for the Alamo stadium/Alamo Convocation Center renovation, please visit: http://www.mdlblog.com/p/alamo-stadium-and-convocation-center.html
Hey, my photos have been published on several websites, a book, on television (during the CW35 Thursday Night Lights games last season), on television (on KSAT 12 as a featured story), and again on television (they will be featured on a local sports show in a few weeks). I even got to talk about them on a podcast.
I have said this many many times, but I am so damn lucky that I got to photograph this historic renovation and it was my pleasure to share it with you. Thank you!!!
For the complete 8/16/14 rededication ceremony photo album, it can be viewed on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.690207084405796.1073741845.549116061848233&&uploaded=220
I will have stats, pics, and stories for every High School football game I work this season. Please follow me on Twitter@mdlblog and also like mdlblog on Facebook for updates throughout the season.
WEEK 1
8/28 – Clark vs. Churchill - The Gucci Bowl – (Comalander Stadium) — KMYS.TV/TNL (CW35)
8/29 – Judson vs Pflugerville Hendrickson (Pflugerville Stadium) —TSRNSPORTS.COM
