LeBard Stadium getting face-lift

A renovation of Orange Coast College’s 50-year-old LeBard Stadium

recently began on the Pirates’ campus.

The stadium, which has hosted more than 750 high school and

college football games over the past 50 seasons, plus numerous

community college bowl games, CIF playoff games, soccer matches, band

competitions, Fourth of July fireworks shows, Easter sunrise services

and a variety of concerts, is a community asset. The stadium has even

been home to several Big-10 teams preparing for the Rose Bowl, and to

the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants preparing for the Super Bowl.

The renovation project, which includes taking the crown off the

field, putting down a new artificial surface, widening the field to

accommodate a full-size soccer field, and improving handicapped

access, is scheduled for completion in early fall.

Later, a new fieldhouse will be constructed at the north end of

the field, and a new scoreboard and press box will be installed.

The remodeling project is being funded through the passage of

Measure C on the November 2002 ballot. That ballot measure succeeded

with a 64.8% voter approval.

Originally called Pirate Stadium, construction on the 7,600-seat

facility began in 1954. The structure was constructed at a cost of

$296,650 by Parker, Zehnder and Associates. The stadium was

officially dedicated on Sept. 16, 1955. OCC’s football team has won

more than 58% of its games played in the facility.