by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
It took City Hall nearly two months to approve $13 million in improvements to Alltel Stadium, but once the green light was given, The Haskell Company had shovels in the ground the next day.
As the debate between Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver and Mayor John Peyton dragged on, the team’s season opener drew closer. By the time terms of the deal settled April 27, Haskell had no time to lose, said project superintendent Rusty North.
“The City Council kind of took its time and left us with a real narrow window to get everything done in time for the first exhibition game,” said North. “We had to be ready to go.”
As Haskell’s team of 50 workers began tearing apart Alltel’s east and west Touchdown Clubs, North said the design/build firm’s engineers started putting in overtime on electrical and structural drawings. Because Haskell draws its own plans, North said the local firm was able to hit the ground running.
“We’re used to working under the gun,” he said.
Off-season construction at Alltel Stadium is becoming a habit at Haskell. The firm worked off a much more extensive work list at the stadium last summer when it built new escalators, luxury terrace suites, three new practice fields and a sports bar.
The scope of what North called the “phase 2” improvements is much smaller. Haskell will expand the Touchdown Clubs and build the foundation for the team’s entertainment zone at the south end of the stadium.
The Touchdown Clubs will receive more floor space, new televisions and new bars and lighting. For the entertainment zone, Haskell will install restrooms to accommodate tented tailgate parties.
Despite the smaller size of the project this time around, North said construction will likely extend “to the last minute.” He said the work list changes as the project moves forward.
“We make changes right up to the last second. We have our architects, engineers and (Jaguars owner) Mr. Weaver walking through the site, and they’ll tell us they want this or that added.
“That’s the value of a design/build firm,” he said. “We’re not constrained by a set of prints. We’re able to adjust on the fly.”
If the impending arrival of 70,000 fans didn’t provide enough deadline pressure, North said the project has a very interested observer in Haskell’s executive offices. The firm’s chairman, Preston Haskell, is part-owner of the team and a board member of the Super Bowl Host Committee.
“We’ve got Mr. Haskell looking over our shoulder on this one,” said North, chuckling. “He has a vested interest in this project and he has an office nearby.”