oldbandguy Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Congratulations Bluecoats. This should be a great addition for the corps...just hope camp stays at Denison University. (Canton, Ohio) - 3/14/2011 For the first time in the organization’s history, the Bluecoats are proud to announce the purchase of a building. On February 18, they purchased the former Knights of Columbus Hall on Mississippi St. SE in North Canton, Ohio. The 12,000 square foot building is set on seven acres of prime commercial property, and includes a large event hall, a small office building with meeting space, a 200-space parking lot, and a full-size baseball field. This property will serve as the new home of the Bluecoats organization and will continue to be a center of the community through relationships with the City of North Canton, the North Canton Knights of Columbus, North Canton Boy Scouts, and several additional local organizations. The main event hall of the building will be re-named the Champion Event Center, and by partnering with Canton-based YouthBuild organization Project ReBuild, several upgrades to the building such as new paint, ceiling tiles, counter tops, carpet, and outdoor awnings & signage are currently in process. “Establishing the Champion Event Center is one of the largest undertakings in the history of our organization, and without the community service of Project ReBuild making these necessary upgrades would not be possible,” said David Glasgow, Bluecoats Executive Director. The Champion Event Center is currently available for rental on weekends for weddings receptions, meetings, parties, sporting events and more. In addition, through a partnership between the Bluecoats and the Stark County Terriers, a local amateur baseball team, the building will serve as host to Champion Bingo, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Champion Bingo will feature brand new tables and 20-inch-wide padded chairs, as well as a full-service concession stand, flat-screen TVs, a Player Rewards Club, and more. These features will help both the Bluecoats and the Terriers to continue to utilize bingo as a successful fundraiser for their non-profit youth organizations. “It’s always been our dream to own a brick & mortar home and major asset for our organization,” stated Scott Swaldo, President of the Bluecoats Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to be the proud owners of the new Champion Event Center.” For more information on the Bluecoats, Champion Event Center, or Champion Bingo, please visit our facebook page, or reach us by phone at 330.433.9115. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piper Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 That sounds super cool. There's nothing like a corps having its own digs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Haring Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 That sounds super cool. There's nothing like a corps having its own digs. I agree.... plus the outreach to the local community. A win-win situation, it would seem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euponitone Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Well done! Like most people marching junior corps nowadays, i never really got to have a corps 'home', other than the offices, which of course moved for us. It was strange, but kind of corps going to DCA then, where we actually had a Bingo Hall and a place to practice in the winter.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rd Glasgow BB Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 a full-size baseball field. Excuse my ignorance but how would that compare to a football field, big enough to rehearse drill on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perc2100 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Excuse my ignorance but how would that compare to a football field, big enough to rehearse drill on? It can be done: I don't have the skills required to explain the geometry, but when DCI was in Orlando in 96-98 many corps (including mine)rehearsed in MLB spring-training facilities/fields. We actually stayed in the KC Royals facility, and practiced in their main stadium for ensemble. We were mostly in the outfield area, the way the field was lined. I also wouldn't be surprised if Bluecoats maybe re-do the baseball field to make it into a football field to make it easier. But even if they don't do that, they can make a baseball field work out pretty well for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perc2100 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I agree.... plus the outreach to the local community. A win-win situation, it would seem! 100% agree: anyway you look at this situation it's outstanding! Congratulations, Bluecoats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvs me sum mello! Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Excuse my ignorance but how would that compare to a football field, big enough to rehearse drill on? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecoats88 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 (edited) Excuse my ignorance but how would that compare to a football field, big enough to rehearse drill on? Since they are in a joint venture with a local youth baseball team I would guess the baseball field will stay intact for use by the baseball team. I would also guess the Bluecoats will continue to use the practice facilities they currently use. This facility sounds like it will house their Bingo operations and also be a money making venture as it will be available for rent to use for functions such as wedding receptions and such. and this technically isn't the first time the corps purchased a building. in the winter of 1981/1982 the corps purchased an old run down closed school in massillon for $1. we rehearsed there prior to the 1982 season. The place had no heat, only one working locker room (with ice showers) and it was located in a very seedy neighborhood. Needless to say the corps didn't use that facility again, and I believe the building has since been razed. Edited March 16, 2011 by bluecoats88 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rd Glasgow BB Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Since they are in a joint venture with a local youth baseball team I would guess the baseball field will stay intact for use by the baseball team. I would also guess the Bluecoats will continue to use the practice facilities they currently use. This facility sounds like it will house their Bingo operations and also be a money making venture as it will be available for rent to use for functions such as wedding receptions and such. and this technically isn't the first time the corps purchased a building. in the winter of 1981/1982 the corps purchased an old run down closed school in massillon for $1. we rehearsed there prior to the 1982 season. The place had no heat, only one working locker room (with ice showers) and it was located in a very seedy neighborhood. Needless to say the corps didn't use that facility again, and I believe the building has since been razed. I think from a convenience point of view it would be a good idea to covert the diamond to a football grid but it's an even better idea to keep the local community on side. That will benefit the corps a lot more going forward. Unless of course they can find a way to accommodate both. Corps today don't know how lucky they are with regards to practice facilities. For 3 or 4 years we practiced in old grain sheds next to the River Clyde that were infested with rats & pigeons. Not much fun in winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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