The Elida Fieldhouse was first erected in 1973.
ELIDA — The Elida school board has taken another step to make improvements to the Elida Fieldhouse.
“We’re doing a small addition at the east end of the building which will take our concessions down there,” Elida Superintendent Joel Mengerink said. “We’re also remodeling the bathrooms, locker rooms and adding a couple of locker room spaces to give us more space for all the tournaments we host.”
The cost of the remodel for the 1973-built fieldhouse is not to exceed $1,769,055. The cost is to be shared by a number of entities. An unnamed donor has given $501,000, while the athletic department will contribute $150,000. The boosters are contributing $300,000. Facilities fund, Permanent Improvement and ESSER funds complete the funding for the fieldhouse enhancements
In an article written by Bob Seggerson in 2017, he shared that in 1985 when Chris Adams was hired as the boys’ basketball coach, it was the Elida Fieldhouse that captured Adams’ attention and sold him on taking over the Bulldog program.
“When I came up for my interview I was driving through Elida looking for the school and came upon the fieldhouse,” Adams said. “I remember pulling into the parking lot and being shocked at its size. I walked inside and looked around and immediately started to imagine what it would look like filled with fans for a big game. I was sold.”
There have been a number of different uses for the fieldhouse. The Tip-Off Classic began in 1989. The court was one of the first high schools in northwest Ohio to sell naming rights to the gym floor. In April 2009 the Christian rock band Skillet performed in the fieldhouse. The Lima Explosion semi-pro basketball team played in the field house during its 2011-2012 season.
