EVANSVILLE - After a fire destroyed the Evansville High School press box, school officials are not sure if Evansville-Albany will play at home as scheduled in the season opener Friday, Aug. 23.
The fire broke out at the Evansville High School press box at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. Evansville School District Superintendent Jerry Roth said the press box is a total loss and some of the bleachers were damaged.
Roth said the Evansville-Albany middle school and youth football programs lost all of their equipment in the fire. The press box collapsed and the only remnants are the east wall facing the field and the west wall, Roth said. The cause of the fire has not been determined. A Rock County fire inspector was in Evansville Sunday to investigate further.
"It's too early to tell if it was foul play," Roth said. "It's our hope to play the home game Friday. We would like to maintain our home football schedule for the seniors. We may have to bring in some more bleachers.
"We would like to make a decision by Wednesday."
The press box was built in the mid-1980s and the district added lights and made electrical upgrades eight years ago, Roth said.
Lights for the football field were tested and they still are in working condition.
District officials will be contacting their insurance company about the equipment damaged in the fire.
"We will make sure we get equipment for our teams," Roth said.
The fire broke out at the Evansville High School press box at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. Evansville School District Superintendent Jerry Roth said the press box is a total loss and some of the bleachers were damaged.
Roth said the Evansville-Albany middle school and youth football programs lost all of their equipment in the fire. The press box collapsed and the only remnants are the east wall facing the field and the west wall, Roth said. The cause of the fire has not been determined. A Rock County fire inspector was in Evansville Sunday to investigate further.
"It's too early to tell if it was foul play," Roth said. "It's our hope to play the home game Friday. We would like to maintain our home football schedule for the seniors. We may have to bring in some more bleachers.
"We would like to make a decision by Wednesday."
The press box was built in the mid-1980s and the district added lights and made electrical upgrades eight years ago, Roth said.
Lights for the football field were tested and they still are in working condition.
District officials will be contacting their insurance company about the equipment damaged in the fire.
"We will make sure we get equipment for our teams," Roth said.