Plans were unveiled March 12 at Southeastern Bloomer Sullivan Arena for a new stadium at Paul Laird Field that will be named Spend Life Wisely Stadium.
The university said the new stadium structure will be located on the west side of Paul Laird Field, the long-time home of Southeastern football, as well as Durant High School football and soccer. This is the result of gifts from First United Bank and the Massey Family Foundation.
John Massey was a 1960 graduate of Southeastern and he was a respected student leader at Southeastern before embarking on a distinguished career in public service and banking. As a longtime member of the State Regents for Higher Education, he championed initiatives which expanded opportunities for students across Oklahoma.
Through the years, Massey remained deeply committed to Southeastern, providing generous support which helped establish the John Massey School of Business. His contributions have strengthened the university’s academic excellence, allowing the AACSBaccredited program to continue shaping future business leaders.
He passed away in 2022. According to SE, The $3 million gift supports a series of upgrades to the studentathlete and fan experience on game day, including: - Completely new and seating area on the west side with expanded seating capacity over the current facility, including 500 chair-back seats.
- A state-of-the art, threelevel tower – the John Massey Press Box – providing dedicated space for coaches, media, operations, as well as premium seating opportunities including suites.
- Additional stadium enhancements.
SE President Dr. Thomas Newsom said this was a celebration of not only the university, but the community. He spoke of the history of the Southeastern football team. The first football team was fielded after SE’s founding in 1909.
“The football team was 4 and 2 and the most notable win of that season was a 49 to nothing victory over that school in Ada,” Newsom said.
Between 1909 and 1926, games were played where Hallie McKinney Hall now is. In 1931, the Student Govern- ment Association voted to assess a $1 fee per student during the regular term and 50 cents during the summer. Additional funds were raised and the the first field where the current field is was completed in 1931. Paul Laird was SE’s first football coach and the field was named Paul Laird Field after his death in 1939. The quarter-cent sales tax passed in 2004 that has since expired funded additional upgrades, including field turf.
“Fast forward to today, 94 years later,” Newsom said. “Last summer, the university with the help again of the vision of John Massey through the DCFA (Durant Community Facilities Authority) as this intended taxation authority ended began what will be a transformative three-phased approach to modernize our stadium and fundamentally change our campus and our community.”
Total construction cost is approximately $10 million.
“I’m proud to say that hopefully, the first home football game for the Savage Storm and the Durant Lions in this new stadium will take place in the fall of 2027,” Newsom said. “The university will preserve the history of the stadium by keeping the moniker of Paul Laird Field as it will become Paul Laird Field and Spend Life Wisely Stadium.
SE football head coach Bo Atterberry said Newsom has a genuine interest in all aspects of Southeastern and most importantly, the students.
“When I think about seeing the different roles involved in creating a strong team, all roles are extremely important and each role brings tremendous value,” Atterberry said. “We want to thank everyone from the Southeastern community and also the Durant community because they have a hand in making this possible.
“This is going to obviously from an athletic standpoint be a tremendous help for our football program and athletics in general, but really from an overall campus community, this is going to be a tremendous help in recruiting students, student athletes and the impact it will have on our campus and the Durant community is going to be amazing.”
Newsom, before introducing Durant Schools Superintendent Mark Moring, said the Durant Lions call SE home and that the university is proud to share that common experience with the community.
Moring, who took the reins as superintendent last July, spoke of the energy and enthusiasm and said it’s always a great day to be in Durant.
“On behalf of Durant Public Schools, I want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Newsom, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and all of the generous donors because not only is Southeastern getting a benefit out of it, but our students are as well,” Moring said. “That’s what I love about the energy of our community. It’s not only just for Southeastern, but it’s for all of Durant and Durant Public Schools as well. Durant Public Schools and Southeastern Oklahoma State University are intertwined in the fabric of our community. We share facilities, we share students, we share staff and many ideas on how we can move Durant forward.”
Keith Baxter, director of SE athletics, said he is humbled and honored to be a part of this program that is something that has been coming for years.
“Homecoming this year, with the generosity of Mike Herron to step up, and he donated enough money to engage an architect,” Baxter said. “That’s what led us to today.”
Baxter credited Newsom for his leadership and he said this project is living proof that dreams come true.
“This puts us in the conversation for new recruits, higher-level recruits, new students, NCAA playoff games, high school playoff games,” Baxter said. “More people coming to the community and seeing that the community can pull together and produce a positive result. Most stadiums are constructed of steel, brick and mortar and this one will be as well. But I contend that faith and love will be the foundation.”
Newsom introduced First United Bank CEO Greg Massey, a son of John Massey.
“When we put this new stadium facility together, the first person I thought we should approach about naming opportunity for it was Greg Massey because John Massey left an incredible footprint on our institution, left an incredible footprint in our community and Greg has taken that sword, taken that shield and carried it beyond what anybody would ever believe,” Newsom said. “His commitment and First United Bank’s commitment to Durant, Oklahoma, is amazing.
“I think that this is a tribute to not only John Massey, but it’s a tribute and an understanding that we should all appreciate the dedication of the Massey family and First United Bank to the Durant community.”
Greg Massey spoke of his late father.
“You know, dad loved Southeastern,” Massey said. “I think he moved here in about ‘52. I think he was there for almost every high school and college football game. He loved football, he loved this university.”
The university said other stadium enhancements to be completed prior to the 2025 football season include a new turf playing surface and wrought iron surround fencing.
Construction on Spend Life Wisely Stadium is currently scheduled to begin following the 2026 football season.
