From the Bench: BHS Championship Program Project at Jamison Field with Hefty Cost Quietly Nears Finish
By Jeff Toquinto on May 24, 2026 from Sports Blog
Usually, the summer months see a major athletic facility upgrade at Wayne Jamison Field. And with the videoboard or scoreboard project still coming close to fruition that will be the case once again.
However, expect the completion of a substantial project at the complex to be done during the summer months, or sooner. Bridgeport Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Tom Sears recently talked about some of the construction many may have seen near the entrance
to Jamison Field.
to Jamison Field.
Work is progressing, and nearing completion, on a project that is in the tens of thousands of dollars that the bulk of which has been done through donation. Sears said, at the latest, by the time August rolls around that there will be a new soccer locker room facility for the boys and girls teams.
It will replace the existing facility in the original fieldhouse, which is prior to the new press box. That building is also home to the recently renovated Bridgeport Middle School football locker room that also is utilized by the track 
program.
program.
The new location? The former storage space attached to the concession stand right at the main entrance at Wayne Jamison Field.
Like all past projects, it was not as simple as finding a location.
Seeing the need is one thing. Knowing how to do it, where to do it, and how to fund it are different hurdles.
“We first looked at upgrading the existing area and had conversations about building in a new area. The new area downside is you would take away space from parking and other things, and that space is already at a premium,” Sears said.
Eventually, a pair of storage bays, including a garage door, in the building housing the concession stand was considered. Officials needed to determined if the space could be converted and found out it was more than adequate.
“Once we figured that out, we needed to figure out funding and figure out a way the finished product would be something everyone could be proud of,” said Sears.
The answer to the funding came through Applied Construction Solutions (ACS) and the Alvarez Family. While Sears said there was school funding involved, he said the bulk of the bill was picked up by ACS.
“ACS and the Alvarez family have been so kind. They’ve done all the work. They’ve donated a great deal of material to make this locker 
room state of the art. It’s top notch,” said Sears. “We cannot thank them enough.”
room state of the art. It’s top notch,” said Sears. “We cannot thank them enough.”
The first thing needing to be done was to remove the garage door and block everything up. And then the rest of the vision began to take shape.
Helping to set the vision is a name familiar with the Bridgeport soccer program. Keith Dumas, the state championship boys coach who will take over the girls this year,
“It’s not finished yet. The lockers must be installed and there are other finishing touches that need to be addressed,” said Sears. “When it’s done, it will be heavily utilized and we believe it’s something the program, the school and the community will be proud of.”
Already, a drop ceiling has been installed. There is a vinyl skin covering the entire room that Sears described as “amazing.” There will be a television mounted inside for film study, and HVAC will be in place. It’s freshly painted and there is new flooring. And one more piece.
“The final touch to the room is a drop down light in the center of the room in the shape of an arrowhead. I think that’s going to really provide a wow factor,” Sears said. “This space is state of the art, and I just don’t throw this out. It is one of the nicest locker rooms I’ve ever been in.”
As for what was inside the former building that was being stored? It all has new homes.
“We maneuvered some things around,” Sears said. “Our grounds man Frank Renzelli, who does everything, found locations for everything that was moved out.’
“With this project, we needed a lot of people to step up,” Sears continued. “As has been the case since I’ve been here, the community and everyone else answered.”
Editor's Note: Top two photos shows some of the work recently being done, while AD and Assistant Principal Tom Sears is shown standing in the third image. In the fourth photo is soccer Coach Keith Dumas. Bottom image shows the space prior to its renovation.
