Niles North Press Box Goes Big Time

One part of the huge athletic renovation of Niles North High School was the construction of a new press box atop the Chuck Pos football stadium.

It is among several projects at the stadium and elsewhere on the school's grounds. There are new bleachers on the west side for home-team fans, a new entrance and a new ticket booth that will allow for easier in and out foot traffic during sports events.

The press box has been a focal point of the renovations. A fiberglass construct, it replaces a structure that Niles North Athletic Director Karl Costello called "an eyesore."

The old box, much smaller than its replacement, was built during the 2000-2001 school year. Its predecessor was renovated at the turn of the century and caught fire nearly 100 years later.

"It was an embarrassment to the community and substandard,'' Costello said. "It was an eyesore, along with the bleachers. There was no doubt who had the worst bleachers or press box [among teams in the Central Suburban League]. When we were trying to operate out of it, that is when you realized it needed to be replaced."

The press box is used by game management personnel, such as clock operators and announcers, as well as coaching staffs, camera crews and reporters. The present facility can accommodate all the personnel from both home and visiting teams and a few reporters as well.

There is a crow's nest on top of the box for any overflow. Eventually that crow's nest will have a canopy in case of inclement weather, according to the school.

The athletic makeover included the relocation of a fitness gym and physical education classrooms to create a much larger weight room for Viking athletes.

"That will double and nearly triple the space we have,'' Costello said earlier in September. "That is going to facilitate more athletes being able to train more frequently and service a larger number."