Putnam Commissioners Approve $2M Gift To Tucker Stadium

Putnam County Commissioners voted Tuesday night to approve a $100,000 annual allocation over the next 20 years for Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium project.

Tech President Phil Oldham asked for $2 million for the renovation, which it set to be completed in 2026. Commissioners approved the funding from hotel/motel tax revenue by an 18-6 vote. Oldham said he had no doubt the county would see this money returned “many fold.”

“I think it’s important to send a statement to everyone in the community, on campus, off campus, in the city, in other parts of the county, that we work together,” Oldham said. “That we come together to make good things happen and make the lives of everyone in Putnam County better.”

Oldham said the stadium brings sales tax revenue back to the county as well as serving as a gathering spot for community events. Oldham said the university makes the stadium available to the local school system for events.

In addition, Oldham said talks have taken place about the possibility of returning the TSSAA Football Championships to Cookeville. Tucker Stadium hosted the event for 12 Decembers before losing the event to Chattanooga.

“One reason that we don’t have the Blue Cross Bowl anymore is because our facilities weren’t up to standards,” Oldham said. “We’re convinced that we can get it back and have already been having some conversations around that topic with TSSAA, so we feel pretty good about that.”

Oldham said the most recent State Championship weekend produced some $3 million in tax benefit to the county.

Mayor Randy Porter said the county has money available in the Economic Development and Tourism fund. Porter said anywhere from $100,000-$200,000 in hotel/motel tax revenue is available annually.

Several commissioners expressed concern that the county had extra money to give to Tennessee Tech after just passing a property tax increase.

“I voted no to build a school,” Commissioner Kim Bradford said. “I voted no to build a bus garage where I came from that I know for a fact is desperately needed. I just voted in one of the largest tax increases on the people in this county. I just want you all to think about that for a minute, because this body has done a lot of no saying lately.”

“I think it’s a unique opportunity,” Commissioner Vinnie Faccinto said. “We get a lot of opportunities to make decisions about spending money. But this is the first time since I’ve been on the commission that we have a chance to make a real investment. And I think we would be very short sighted to turn it down myself.”

Cookeville has made a $1 million commitment to the $56 million stadium project. Oldham said the potential investment could grow to $4 million.

Demolition of the existing west side set to begin in April. The new facility will open for football season 2026.