Lewiston-Porter opens newly renovated stadium complex

Orleans/Niagara BOCES press release & photos

Lewiston-Porter Central School District is celebrating the completion of a major investment in its athletic facilities and campus. Lewiston-Porter district personnel and community members gathered for a grand-opening of the newly renovated Blakeslee-Elia Stadium Complex on Sept. 25.

The renovation represents the culmination of several years of planning focused on addressing the long-term needs of the two stadiums.

“Today is about much more than the new turf, new walkways, lighting, fencing and improvements to our athletic fields,” Superintendent Paul J. Casseri told the community during the ceremony. “It honors our history, celebrates what we have accomplished together, and invests in the facilities that will serve generations of Lewiston-Porter students and our community.”

Among the numerous upgrades, the existing synthetic turf at Blakeslee Stadium had reached the point where replacement was necessary after years of service to Lewiston-Porter student-athletes and the community. The project provided for the complete re-turfing of the Blakeslee playing surface and improvements designed to extend the usefulness and quality of the facility.

At Elia Stadium, the project represents an even greater transformation, highlighted by the installation of a new synthetic turf field. The renovation provides Lewiston-Porter with a second, high-quality, multipurpose stadium capable of supporting a wide range of athletic programs and community events.

Elia Stadium also holds a special place in the history of the Lewiston-Porter campus and Western New York athletics. The stadium was originally constructed in conjunction with the 1993 World University Games, hosted in Buffalo and across Western New York.

More than three decades later, the renovation renews that legacy and positions Elia Stadium for a new generation of athletes and spectators.

Together, the improvements to Blakeslee and Elia create a unique, two-stadium complex that will serve Lewiston-Porter students and the community for many years to come.

“This is not only an opportunity for our student athletes that go to Lewiston-Porter, but opportunity for our recreational groups, our travel groups and youth groups to utilize these fields now and grow their programs, thus funneling towards us, so that they get to the culminating activity, which is playing at the varsity level. So, this is a tremendous opportunity for our community,” Athletic Director Bradly Halgash said.

The district said it hopes to become a destination for larger athletic competitions and special events, including Niagara Frontier League, Section VI, and New York State Public High School Athletic Association events.

The ribbon is cut. (Photo courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES)