The Ottumwa Community School District unveiled its new High School Gymnasium to the public Saturday morning.
Visitors were ushered to the new gym from the high school by the newly built skybridge that goes over Second Street.
The new facility will be able to host basketball, volleyball, and wrestling contests, something the district has not been able to do since the 1970s. It also boasts what school officials say is the largest indoor video board in the state of Iowa. There is a barrier that can turn the facility into two separate gyms which, if the need arises, can allow the district to hold two separate, simultaneous events.
Superintendent Mike McGrory talked what he fells is the important aspect of the new building.
“Having it at the high school and that component of that high school experience in having your varsity sports up here will really add a lot to the high school experience.”
One little known fact about the new gym is that when nature calls, guests will not have to endure a long wait.
“We have 73 bathrooms. So you never have to worry about waiting in line,” McGrory said with a laugh.
It’s estimated the new gymnasium has a maximum capacity of 1,500. McGrory says the first official event will be Meet the Bulldogs. The date for that event has not been announced.
Ottumwa High School Volleyball will play the first varsity contest in the new facility. The Bulldogs will host a triangular versus Davis County and Mount Pleasant on August 28th.
