PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PROJECT UPDATE … Archbold Rotarians recently heard an update on Phase 1 of the Miller Athletic Complex, a 45,000 square foot multi-sport indoor athletic facility that is being built north of Archbold High School. According to Greg Bowman, a community member who is over-seeing the privately funded project, construction is on schedule for completion prior to the start of the 2026-27 school year. Pictured from left: Greg Bowman, who works for Thiel Construction Company in Blakeslee, and Dr. Jayson Selgo, Archbold Area Schools superintendent, who arranged the program.
PRESS RELEASE – Despite some challenging winter weather, Archbold Rotarians learned that Phase 1 of the privately funded Miller Athletic Complex north of Archbold High School could be finished and ready for use by August.
The 45,000 square foot facility will provide practice space for the school’s wrestling teams, batting cages, golf simulators, a 135 by 185 foot turf field for various athletic teams as well as marching band practice, a 5,000 square foot weight room and more.
School superintendent Dr. Jayson Selgo explained more than $6.1 million has been pledged for what was estimated to cost over $5 million. It is being built on school-owned property that was turned over to the community group that is coordinating the construction project.
Once the first phase of the project is completed, it will be turned over to the school system to maintain.
Phase 2, which is an additional 24,000 square feet, is estimated to cost about $3 million. That construction will begin once the funding is raised.
Greg Bowman, an Archbold parent who is coordinating the construction, said that portion of the facility will be attached to the Phase 1 building, which was constructed so that it can be used while work on the final phase is done.
Selgo emphasized that none of the complex will be built with tax dollars. It is all privately funded with corporate and individual donations as well as by building contractors who have agreed to discount a portion of the cost of their projects.
Selgo added that funding for Phase 1 came together much faster than organizers had anticipated.
Although some of the major funding was lined up before the official public fund-raising began in January 2025, the committee was originally given up to three years to raise a minimum of $5 million.
However, the committee had raised enough to hold the groundbreaking within five months.
Dean Miller and his family of Miller Brothers Construction committed roughly half of the goal. And, what was originally referred to as the Bluestreak Athletic Complex became the MAC – Miller Athletic Complex.
As March began, the building’s exterior was completed. Bowman said, weather-permitting, the rooftop heating units would be installed, allowing the building to be heated to help dry the ground under the foundation and allow the inside work to begin.
Selgo emphasized that once the project is completed, the additional space would benefit not only the Archbold athletic program.
Archbold Parks and Recreation will also have greater access to school gyms and other space for its community programming, and more indoor walking space will be available for the community to use.
Selgo and Bowman both emphasized that without the support of numerous area corporations the project would not have been possible.
They acknowledged the following corporations and businesses for cash or in-kind donations or both.
McDonald’s; Miller Brothers Construction; F&M Bank; Archbold Furniture; Frey & Sons; the Archbold Foundation; Sherwood State Bank; Creighton Electric; Archbold Eye Care; The Gerken Company; Rupp, Hagans & Bohmer, LLP; T & B Industrial; 3-Cord and CIG.
Also: Spangler Candy Company; Shultz Huber & Associates, CPAs; H & K Chevy; Archbold Refuse Service; RTEC Communications; Boyers Construction; Lauber Insurance; Jodi Herman Insurance; D&W Collision; Gerald Grain Center, Inc.; Archbold Radiator; Brookview Farm; Aerial Titans; Archbold Knights of Columbus; Bluestreak Touchdown Club; Archbold Wrestling Club; Archbold Athletic Boosters; Archbold Homerun Club; Liechty, Inc.; Maumee Bay; Bret Ripke Construction; Bryan VFW; Wieland; All-Phase Electric Supply of Toledo; BoDec; Stark’s Plumbing & Heating.
And: Short Funeral Home; Kinsman Propane; Wyse Electric; Andres O’Neil & Lowe Insurance Agency and Jackson Equipment.