A decade after opening, the Robert W. Plaster Center at Pittsburg State University continues to serve as a major catalyst for regional economic activity and community engagement. Since its inauguration in spring 2015, the $13 million, 154,000-square-foot facility has drawn thousands of visitors through athletic competitions, academic ceremonies, and large-scale public events, significantly benefiting local businesses and municipal revenue streams.
The center features the 300-meter Harvey Dean Track, a 100-yard turf field, a 11,000-square-foot strength training area, locker rooms, and seating for up to 1,500 attendees. It has hosted 87 track meets and five editions of the NCAA Division II National Indoor Championships, attracting athletes, coaches, and spectators from across the country. These gatherings have led to increased occupancy in hotels, higher sales at restaurants and retail outlets, and boosted tax collections, supporting employment across Southeast Kansas.
Beyond sports, the venue plays a central role in civic life, accommodating the annual Four State Farm Show, Pitt State’s commencement exercises, the Gorilla Kickoff Party and Auction, Special Olympics events, career fairs with Midwest recruiters, and the state-level To The Stars awards organized by the Department of Commerce.
“Each major event brings visitors who spend locally, strengthening our economy,” said Jim Johnson, Vice President of Athletics. “This facility has positioned Pittsburg as a destination for high-profile gatherings, and the upcoming outdoor complex will extend that momentum.”
The next phase of development is already underway: a $10 million outdoor track and field facility located between the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts and the Crossland Technology Center. Constructed by Mammoth Sports Construction, the project includes an eight-lane Beynon surface, fencing, storage units, practice zones, and seating for 1,700. Completion is expected by March 2026, in time for the MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
While primarily funded through private contributions, the City of Pittsburg has allocated $1 million from its Revolving Loan Fund—approved on the recommendation of the Economic Development Advisory Committee—to support seating and lighting infrastructure. These enhancements will enable the site to host up to 14 multi-day events over five years, drawing an estimated 36,000 attendees who are projected to spend $88 per day over stays of three to seven days.
According to Michael Davidsson, director of the Business & Economic Research Center, these events could generate $3.4 million in new sales, create 37 jobs yielding $1 million in total wages, and contribute $137,000 in production and import taxes.
“This outdoor addition will activate the local economy during traditionally slower months,” Johnson noted. “It reflects a strong collaboration between the university, city officials, and private supporters, with benefits reaching well beyond campus boundaries.”
The Plaster Center’s indoor track, featuring a Mondo Super X Performance surface used in nine Olympic Games, has already established Pittsburg State as a premier host for national competitions, including four NCAA Division II and four NJCAA National Championships. Together, the indoor and future outdoor facilities will form one of the most comprehensive track and field complexes in the United States.
“This combined infrastructure will sustain athletic excellence and economic vitality for generations,” Johnson added.
— news from Pittsburg State University
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A decade of impact: Plaster Center spurs millions in economic activity, paving the way for next major project
Ten years after the completion of Pittsburg State University’s Robert W. Plaster Center, it continues to prove itself as one of the region’s most powerful economic drivers. Now, university and city leaders are looking ahead to the next transformative project: a new outdoor track and field complex located just south of the Plaster Center. n nA destination n nThe $13 million, 154,000-square-foot Plaster Center opened in Spring 2015 and has since become a hub for athletics, community events, and national competitions. n nIt includes the 300-meter Harvey Dean Track, a 100-yard turf field, an 11,000-square-foot strength facility, locker rooms, and seating for up to 1,500 spectators. n nTo date, the Plaster Center has hosted 87 track meets and the NCAA Division II National Indoor Championships five times, drawing tens of thousands of people to Pittsburg. The influx of athletes, coaches, and fans has boosted local hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and shops, and generated sales tax revenue and sustaining local jobs. n nThe center also hosts the annual Four State Farm Show, serves as a staging area for PittState Commencement ceremonies, is the site of the annual Gorilla Kickoff Party and Auction, welcomes numerous community events such as Special Olympics, was recently the venue for the statewide To The Stars awards event hosted by the Department of Commerce, and provides space for large career fairs that draw recruiters from across the Midwest. n n“Every major event we host brings in visitors who spend money right here in Pittsburg and Southeast Kansas,” said Vice President of Athletics Jim Johnson. “The Plaster Center has helped establish Pittsburg as a true destination for athletic and community events, and the new outdoor complex will build on that success.” n nNext big step: outdoor track & field complex n nConstruction got underway this fall on the university’s next major athletics investment: a new outdoor track and field complex being built between the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts and the Crossland Technology Center. n nThe $10 million project is led by Mammoth Sports Construction. It features an eight-lane Beynon track, fencing, storage buildings, a practice area, and seating for up to 1,700 spectators. Completion is scheduled for March 2026 in time for Pittsburg to host the MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. n nThe project is being largely privately funded. n nFor the next phase, the City of Pittsburg has approved $1 million from the Revolving Loan Fund at the recommendation of the Economic Development Advisory Committee. This funding will assist in completing the project, to include seating and lighting. Such amenities will allow the facility to host up to 14 multi-day events over the next five years, with an anticipated 36,000 attendees spending an average of $88 per day for three to seven days. n nAccording to Michael Davidsson, director of the Business & Economic Research Center, hosting these large outdoor meets could generate big benefits for the region: up to $3.4 million in new sales, 37 new jobs with a combined $1 million in income, and $137,000 in production and import taxes. n n“The new outdoor track will open the door to events in months that are typically slower for Pittsburg’s economy,” Johnson said. “This project represents a powerful partnership between the university, the city, and private donors, and it will create ripple effects that extend far beyond campus.” n nLegacy of excellence n nThe Plaster Center’s Harvey Dean Track set the standard for excellence when it opened, earning Pitt State the opportunity to host four NCAA Division II Indoor Track Championships (2016, 2018, 2019, 2022) and four NJCAA National Championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022). n nThe track’s Mondo Super X Performance surface — the same used in nine Olympic Games — and its flexible event space have made it one of the premier indoor facilities in the Midwest. n n“Together, the Plaster Center and the new outdoor complex will give Pittsburg State one of the finest combined track and field venues in the country — and continue to generate economic, athletic, and community impact for decades to come,” Johnson said.