Rob Varela / Star staff Construction delays have again cost Ventura College and coach Jon Mack, left, a chance to play home games at the school's new Sportsplex this season.

The third season may not be the charm after all for Ventura College's new $8.1 million football stadium.

Ventura College has reserved Larrabee Stadium in preparation for the upcoming football season after further delays in the installation of the Sportsplex's 3,000-seat bleacher system in July.

"We go through a permit process with Ventura Unified School District," said athletic secretary Kathleen Gilligan. "I asked (former dean) Steve (Tobias) of the need to do that, considering the delay in the bleachers.

"Whether we play several or all our games at Ventura High remains to be seen."

Delays in the bleachers' approval by the Division of the State Architect forced Ventura to play the 2006 and 2007 seasons at Larrabee Stadium. Using temporary bleachers, the Ventura College women's soccer team has already played parts of two seasons in the Sportsplex without a scoreboard.

When DSA approval finally arrived in April, administrators and coaches expected to open the home schedule on the Telegraph Avenue campus for the first time in school history. But adjustments in the storm drain behind the foundations required a secondary approval from DSA, which ultimately pushed the project back one month.

Watched by Ventura coaches and players opening fall camp, workers spent Friday grading the site in preparation to lay asphalt and concrete next week.

The sight was enough to make a layman optimistic.

"It actually looks like it might happen," said Ventura head coach Jon Mack of playing in the stadium this season.

Administrators and coaches still hope to open the stadium this season.

"We're not going to be able to play our early games on the field," said Ventura College president Robin Calote. "Hopefully, before the season is over, we'll have some there.

"They've got a schedule. It just happens to be a schedule that doesn't coincide with football season."

The bleachers are actually expected to be completed before the Pirates open their home schedule Sept. 13 against Antelope Valley, according to a schedule submitted by Gary Kuppenbender of Herry Inc., which oversees the on-campus construction.

But the installation of the public address and scoreboard systems, which cannot begin before the press box is installed the week of Aug. 25, are scheduled to take 90 days.

Which would mean the stadium would be in full working order about a week after Ventura finishes its regular season Nov. 15 by hosting the annual Citrus Cup game against county-rival Moorpark College.

Kuppenbender said the stadium should be cleared for occupancy by September, which means Ventura could decide to host a football game without PA and scoreboard systems.

But Mack rejected that idea.

"If you're going to do something, you want to do it right," said Mack. "You want to do it first class.

"If it burns another season, that's what happens."

Ventura begins its 77th season of football Sept. 6 at Los Angeles Valley.

"We don't care," said Mack. "We'll play at the parking lot at The Star. Just throw some goalposts up."