Goodman Stadium receives upgrades for 2019 season
8/28/2019 4:42:00 PM | Football, Tickets
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Fans attending Lehigh football games at Goodman Stadium this fall will experience several new enhancements to the game day experience.
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The Skybox on the stadium's west (home side) has been renovated with suites added to the upper level. With those renovations, the press box, housing game operations, media, television and radio and the coaches' booths, has been relocated to a new structure on the stadium's east side. Both the Skybox and the Press Box will have elevator access with newly constructed towers that feature Lehigh branding. The original concept for these enhancements was studied and proposed by a team of students participating in an integrated learning experience course four years ago.
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The Skybox and Press Box renovations were made possible through gifts from the family of alumnus, fan, friend and benefactor John J. Harmon '59, who passed away in September 2017, while the elevator project was supported by the Merksamer Family in honor of Norman Merksamer '52.
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A lifelong fan of Lehigh sports, especially wrestling and football, John attended hundreds of games, matches and events over his lifetime. His loyalty, love of Lehigh, and generosity in supporting the university were exemplary and distinctive. Among the projects and initiatives that were realized because of commitments by John and his wife of 58 years, Elaine, were the wrestling scholarship program, the Grace Hall and Caruso Complex facilities, an endowment fund to support Wrestling Assistant Coaches, the Press Box/Skybox in Goodman Stadium, the Annual Fund, the renovation of Williams Hall, and more.
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Humility defined John Harmon throughout his lifetime. He never sought and would not accept visible recognition for his commitments of time, talent and treasure. Despite all of the financial support and time devoted to Lehigh, there had previously been no facility dedicated in his name --- because he would never permit it. Thus, it is most appropriate that with the support of his wife Elaine, and daughters Wendy and Debbie (Lehigh '83) and their families, the home side Skybox on the west side of Goodman Stadium be named for John J. Harmon. The Skybox includes an elevator, rest rooms, private suites, a large entertainment suite and enhanced amenities. A railroad theme will distinguish the John J. Harmon '59 Skybox, a tribute to John's lifelong love of rail travel and railroads.
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The relocated and reconstructed press box on the east side will continue to bear the name of John's father, Herbert G. Harmon '27.
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While John will be missed dearly by the Lehigh community and the Lehigh Athletics family, and his passing leaves a void that cannot be replaced, his memory will live on through the impact he had on the lives of so many others and through these significant stadium enhancements.
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Additional stadium upgrades for the 2019 season include a new sound system and a visual display board, which will be located below the current scoreboard. These enhancements were funded by Lehigh trustee emeritus Ron Ulrich '66. The new video board is expected to be permanently installed in late September, with Lehigh utilizing a temporary visual display for its first two home games.
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Other changes for the 2019 season include the inclusion of the LEHIGH athletic word mark in both end zones, Lehigh's primary L-Hawk logo at midfield now facing the east side of the stadium for television purposes and the 50 yard line being denoted with the CFB 150 logo, celebrating the 150th anniversary of college football in 2019. With the addition of the visual display boards, Lehigh's championship signage, honoring our rich history and tradition, will be expanded and relocated to the brick façade of the stadium house.
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Lehigh opens the 2019 season at home on Saturday August 31 when the Mountain Hawks host Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dog Day with game time set for 12:30 p.m.
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Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
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Fans planning to visit Goodman Stadium on Saturday from points east should be aware that the span of Water Street between Creek Road and Front Street in Hellertown will be closed for all of August and most of September. PennDOT anticipates it will open again by Sept. 27, though additional work will last into October, according to a news release from the agency.  Fans are advised to follow posted detour signs to get to the Goodman Campus.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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The Skybox on the stadium's west (home side) has been renovated with suites added to the upper level. With those renovations, the press box, housing game operations, media, television and radio and the coaches' booths, has been relocated to a new structure on the stadium's east side. Both the Skybox and the Press Box will have elevator access with newly constructed towers that feature Lehigh branding. The original concept for these enhancements was studied and proposed by a team of students participating in an integrated learning experience course four years ago.
Â
The Skybox and Press Box renovations were made possible through gifts from the family of alumnus, fan, friend and benefactor John J. Harmon '59, who passed away in September 2017, while the elevator project was supported by the Merksamer Family in honor of Norman Merksamer '52.
Â
A lifelong fan of Lehigh sports, especially wrestling and football, John attended hundreds of games, matches and events over his lifetime. His loyalty, love of Lehigh, and generosity in supporting the university were exemplary and distinctive. Among the projects and initiatives that were realized because of commitments by John and his wife of 58 years, Elaine, were the wrestling scholarship program, the Grace Hall and Caruso Complex facilities, an endowment fund to support Wrestling Assistant Coaches, the Press Box/Skybox in Goodman Stadium, the Annual Fund, the renovation of Williams Hall, and more.
Â
Humility defined John Harmon throughout his lifetime. He never sought and would not accept visible recognition for his commitments of time, talent and treasure. Despite all of the financial support and time devoted to Lehigh, there had previously been no facility dedicated in his name --- because he would never permit it. Thus, it is most appropriate that with the support of his wife Elaine, and daughters Wendy and Debbie (Lehigh '83) and their families, the home side Skybox on the west side of Goodman Stadium be named for John J. Harmon. The Skybox includes an elevator, rest rooms, private suites, a large entertainment suite and enhanced amenities. A railroad theme will distinguish the John J. Harmon '59 Skybox, a tribute to John's lifelong love of rail travel and railroads.
Â
The relocated and reconstructed press box on the east side will continue to bear the name of John's father, Herbert G. Harmon '27.
Â
While John will be missed dearly by the Lehigh community and the Lehigh Athletics family, and his passing leaves a void that cannot be replaced, his memory will live on through the impact he had on the lives of so many others and through these significant stadium enhancements.
Â
Additional stadium upgrades for the 2019 season include a new sound system and a visual display board, which will be located below the current scoreboard. These enhancements were funded by Lehigh trustee emeritus Ron Ulrich '66. The new video board is expected to be permanently installed in late September, with Lehigh utilizing a temporary visual display for its first two home games.
Â
Other changes for the 2019 season include the inclusion of the LEHIGH athletic word mark in both end zones, Lehigh's primary L-Hawk logo at midfield now facing the east side of the stadium for television purposes and the 50 yard line being denoted with the CFB 150 logo, celebrating the 150th anniversary of college football in 2019. With the addition of the visual display boards, Lehigh's championship signage, honoring our rich history and tradition, will be expanded and relocated to the brick façade of the stadium house.
Â
Lehigh opens the 2019 season at home on Saturday August 31 when the Mountain Hawks host Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dog Day with game time set for 12:30 p.m.
Â
Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
Â
Fans planning to visit Goodman Stadium on Saturday from points east should be aware that the span of Water Street between Creek Road and Front Street in Hellertown will be closed for all of August and most of September. PennDOT anticipates it will open again by Sept. 27, though additional work will last into October, according to a news release from the agency.  Fans are advised to follow posted detour signs to get to the Goodman Campus.
Â
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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