November 13, 2023
Tonight, the City of Portsmouth will begin consideration of a property transfer that includes Branch Rickey Park, Spartan Stadium, and several acres of adjacent fields and parking from the City to Shawnee State University.
The project presents a significant opportunity for Shawnee State to develop an athletic complex for its varsity team sports, intramural and student recreation, community outreach, and youth sports leagues. Such a project would provide much needed facilities to support SSU and improve a large area on the City’s waterfront ripe for development, said SSU officials.
“Renovation of Branch Rickey Park and construction of a world-class softball stadium are immediate objectives of the University,” SSU President Eric Braun said. “We are committed to exploring uses for Spartan Stadium that include soccer, track and field, and stage performances. We are not pursuing football at this time.”
SSU announced that, should the project move forward, its Center for Public History will be engaged to balance the interests of appropriate preservation and modern use for all existing structures, allowing the university to both honor and build on a tradition of professional sports in southern Ohio.
“We very much appreciate SSU’s partnership with the City of Portsmouth and respect its process to deliberate and negotiate this transaction,” President Braun said. “In the event a transfer is consummated, Shawnee State will share plans to make the project a premier destination for team sports and a source of pride for the region.”