City provides FUSE preview

Sixteen months. That’s how long it is until the projected opening of Gastonia’s new multi-use stadium on West Franklin Boulevard -- a stadium that will be the beating heart of the Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment District, FUSE.

Sixteen months. That’s how long until the opening of the Atlantic League baseball season, with a new franchise set to take the field on the FUSE stadium’s artificial turf and begin a 70-game home schedule that will stretch into September.

Sixteen months. That’s how long the Rodgers Builders construction team has to pour concrete, raise steel girders, and transform what is now a field of dirt, mud, and standing water into a $26.2 million showplace.

Can it be done?

“We’re pretty much where we need to be,” answered Marcus White of Rodgers Builders, who is serving as site superintendent. “We’re at the starting point for the foundation and the walls. Soon, you’ll be seeing lots of steel.”

White and Kathy Noe, site project manager, as well as Gastonia City Manager Michael People and other city staff were on hand at the construction site Monday afternoon to provide a quick update on the stadium’s progress.

After an extremely hot and dry September and October, the last six weeks have brought a lot of rain to Gaston County, but, White said, “We have plans in place to deal with the rain as effectively as possible.”

Certainly the evidence of that rain is easily visible around the construction site. Much of it is covered by a layer of Carolina red clay mud and any low areas remain filled with excess water.

Despite the rain and mud, however, 25 to 40 workers are on the site each day, working basically from sunrise to sunset. Of course, at this point in December, that’s less than 10 hours of effective daylight.

“As the days lengthen after the first of the year, we’ll be lengthening our work hours also,” White explained. “We’re at the tough portion of the project right now. But you’ll see the steel starting to rise by the end of January, first of February.”

As Rodgers Builders focuses on building the stadium, which can accommodate a variety of sports in addition to baseball, Peoples said city staff are working on continued development of the area around it.

“Work should begin on the Trenton Mill apartments soon. We’re looking at possibilities for the old Coca Cola building. FUSE is not just the stadium. It’s a whole collection of projects running simultaneously,” he said.

Bill Poteat, who is struggling to survive without baseball of any kind in his life, may be reached at 704-869-1855 or at bpoteat@gastongazette.com.