Delayed Opening of Athletic Complex

Please see the letter below from Superintendent Taylor:

Dear Akron Community,

We know how excited our students, athletes, coaches, families, and community have been to see our new Athletic Complex come to life. After years of planning, it has been incredibly rewarding to watch this project take shape, and we were hopeful that the complex would be ready for use during the week of August 31.

Unfortunately, the opening will need to be delayed.

The final track surfacing process has been significantly impacted by weather. Six working days have been lost due to rain since August 10. This is approximately 40% of the expected installation time. The polyurethane used in the track surfacing system is highly sensitive to moisture and cannot be installed during rainy conditions.

Moisture during installation can interfere with the chemical bonding between the track layers and lead to delamination, bubbling, blistering, soft spots, pitting, and other issues that could compromise the finished surface. While we are disappointed to have to wait, allowing the work to proceed under unsuitable conditions could create problems that would affect the track for years to come.

This delay is not the result of an issue with our contractor or project manager. The installation schedule has been affected strictly by weather, and the project team has been diligent in making decisions that protect the quality of the finished product.

The delay will affect some scheduled athletic competitions, including a varsity football competition and Girl’s Soccer competitions. Coaches will be in direct contact with the athletes and families regarding any changes to the schedule. 

We know this is not the update anyone was hoping to receive, particularly after seeing so much progress at the complex this summer. However, we know that taking the time necessary to complete the final work properly is the right decision for our students, our community, and this significant investment in our facilities.

We will continue to provide updates as the installation schedule becomes clearer. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support. 

Andrea Taylor