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Stars Stadium

Featured | K-12

The Challenge

Kearney Catholic High School set out to transform its aging athletic facilities into a modern sports complex that would better serve student-athletes, coaches, and fans. The project included replacing a dirt track and natural grass field with a post-tensioned concrete running track and synthetic turf football field, while also adding expanded bleachers, upgraded concessions and restrooms, enhanced sports lighting, a dedicated team room, and other improvements.

Delivering a project of this scale came with several challenges. The construction schedule was highly compressed, leaving little room for delays. Poor soil conditions created additional risks to both constructability and timeline. At the same time, coordinating multiple stakeholders and maintaining momentum throughout the project required careful communication and decision-making to keep the project aligned with the school’s vision and goals.

Market

K-12

Project Scope

Post-tensioned concrete running track

Multi-use synthetic turf field

Concessions/Restrooms

Grandstand

Team room

Athletic storage

Key Facts

The project transformed an aging track and natural grass field into a modern athletic complex.

Stars Stadium features a post-tensioned concrete running track and a high-performance synthetic turf football field.

Nemaha completed the project on schedule despite a compressed construction timeline due to weather and challenging soil conditions.

Challenge Met

As a sports construction specialist, Nemaha Sports Construction partnered closely with Kearney Catholic High School from the earliest planning stages through project completion. Through proactive scheduling, detailed planning, and real-time coordination, the team continuously evaluated site conditions, adjusted sequencing when necessary, and worked closely with project partners to maintain progress despite the accelerated timeline.

To address challenging soil conditions, Nemaha implemented field adjustments and self-performed critical scopes of work, allowing the team to maintain control over quality, schedule, and overall project execution. Throughout construction, Nemaha also led school administrators and stakeholders through key decisions, providing guidance on material selections and project priorities to ensure alignment with the facility’s long-term goals.

The result was the successful delivery of a state-of-the-art athletic complex featuring a post-tensioned concrete running track, synthetic turf football field, expanded spectator amenities, and upgraded support facilities. The project was completed on schedule, providing Kearney Catholic with a modern venue built to support athletics, school events, and community gatherings for years to come.