A Statement From Save Roberts Stadium Supporter Sylvia Trabits-Niemeier

I am very fortunate to pass onto you a message from Sylvia Trabits-Niemeier. I am very thankful for the opportunity Sylvia gave me last fall to walk door to door gathering up ideas for Roberts Stadium for both my blog and her Wesselman Park Support Group. Sylvia is running for the City Council and the following is a statement from her...

I'm Sylvia Trabits-Niemeier, an outspoken candidate for the 3rd Ward City Council. I'm a lifetime resident of Evansville. People say they have no voice. I will be that voice and explain why I vote a certain way on an issue.

I helped defeat the ball complex in Wesselman Park. I believe Roberts Stadium is still an asset to the community. This facility has many uses and one is an Emergency Disaster Relief center.

Public safety is a number one goal for me. My experience as a Meteorologist with the Federal Government has trained me for many disaster situations.

I fully support fire fighters and the police. I do not want to see any fire stations closed. I would like to bring back the park rangers to protect our parks.

People work hard for their money and I want to maintain property values.

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Sociology form the University of Southern Indiana.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the university of Southern Indiana.
Meteorology degree Federal government from U.S.D.A.

Experience

Strong background in Environmental issues and currently working at Standard Laboratories.
Eight years experience as a Meteorologist with the Federal Government.
Combined seven years teaching experience at the University of Southern Indiana and Ivy Tech in Science.

Member

Wesselman Park Support Group
Roberts/wesselman Committee
Iroquois Garden Association

Please vote May 3rd for Sylvia Trabits-Niemeier #26

Email Sylviajt@wowway.com

56 Years Ago Today It All Began

Today marks the 56th anniversary of the first ground breaking for construction of Roberts Stadium. Construction would last for over a year and a half until October 28,1956 when Roberts Stadium welcomed the Harlem Globetrotters to the stadium for the first ever event. At that event, no one would ever guess just how successful Roberts Stadium would be. I am very proud that my own Grandpa Hobert Cooper was one of the construction workers who built this Evansville icon.

Over the past 56 years, Roberts Stadium has seen many people and many events. She has seen presidents, political activists, singers, celebrities, sports stars, sports coaches, and many other legendary people. She has also seen concerts, conventions, shows, sports games, and sports tournaments.

Without Roberts Stadium, there's no telling just how small and powerless Evansville would be. There would be no legendary Aces basketball program, there would be no concerts bringing in tourist dollars, and, most importantly, there would have been no place for the grieving to go in 1977 when the Ace's plane crashed. None of this would have been possible without Roberts Stadium, and none of this would have been possible without the vision and leadership of Mayor Hank Roberts.

The amazing thing about Roberts Stadium is that this great building still stands tall and strong today. One quick walk around the facility and you notice a nice smooth floor/court, a nice smooth and clean walkway, quality plastic seats for each and every section, and a strong and healthy structural system. We will be making a HUGE mistake if we demolish this great facility.

56 years later, we owe Mayor Hank Roberts a huge thank you for getting this facility built. We also need to count our lucky stars that he was able to get this arena built despite the vocal rants by the naysayers who said it would never be built or it would never work. These same people (or at least their friends and relatives) are out in full force again for the new arena this year. They didn't believe it should be built, and they still don't think it will prosper. They will be wrong again.

2011 will be the most important year of Roberts Stadium's life. Why? Because, in all likelihood, 2011 will be the year that will determine if Roberts Stadium sticks around for another 56 years or prematurely fades away into the sunset with the Orr building, the old L & N train station, and the Sterling Brewery. All these facilities were demolished with very little to show for it ( I'm sorry a lloyd Expressway overpass just doesn't cut it for me).

If you believe in the vision that Hank Roberts had for Roberts Stadium 56 years ago today, if you believe that Roberts Stadium is an Evansville icon with many more years of life left in her, and if you believe that demolishing this great venue would be a mistake of epic proportions just like the demolition of the other 3 buildings, than get active, make your voice heard.

Now is the time to be heard. We need to take a stand. 56 years ago today, Hank Roberts boldly signed off on the construction of Roberts Stadium. Today, let's make that same pledge to keep Roberts Stadium going!

Last 2 Days To Order a Save Roberts Stadium Shirt

Just a reminder, if you would like to order a Save Roberts Stadium shirt please send me an email by Wednesday evening as I will be turning in the order on Thursday.

Here is the link to the shirts:

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/02/support-roberts-stadium-with-save.html

And remember...

-I'm selling these AT COST
- Shirts are only $8
- Email me (JordanBaer1@gmail.com) your name, contact #, and where you want me to mail or deliver your shirt(s).
- Wear this shirt to every event you can

THANKS!

Jeremy Heath Supports Save Roberts Stadium!

It is with great pride that I can also report to you that City Council at Large candidate Jeremy Heath has given me his full commitment to saving Roberts Stadium. Jeremy said it best with this statement he gave me...

I am in agreement that everything possible that we can do to save the stadium NEEDS to be done.

I couldn't have said it any better myself. Like Jeremy, I believe that Evansville is at yet another crossroads. We can either decide to keep demolishing historic Evansville icons by adding Roberts Stadium to that list OR we can take a stand and let everyone know just how much we truly cherish Roberts Stadium.

Jeremy understands just how important Roberts Stadium is to Evansville. On the council, we can rest assure that Jeremy will do everything in his power to fight for our belief that Roberts Stadium should be saved.

Another thing about Jeremy is that he is 25 years old like me. Most people who support demolishing Roberts Stadium have labeled us Roberts Stadium supporters as " grumpy old folks who refuse to accept change." Well, I hope that Jeremy taking a stand will prove to everyone just how false that belief is.

Thank you Jeremy for joining the Save Roberts Stadium movement and I hope you the citizens of Evansville will support him with your vote this May 3rd.

Save Roberts Stadium Endorses Jeremy Heath City Council at Large.

Vote Jeremy Heath!

Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley Backs Save Roberts Stadium

Folks, the Save Roberts Stadium movement is getting stronger by the day. Today, I was fortunate enough to discuss the future of Roberts Stadium over some lunch with City Council 3rd Ward candidate Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley.

It was such a great breath of fresh air to speak with Stephanie who truly understands the importance of Roberts Stadium to the community, the steps me must take to preserve Roberts Stadium, and, most importantly, the willingness to listen to those who want to save this Evansville icon.

Stephanie is one of those candidates we absolutely have to have on the council if we have any desire to save Roberts Stadium and get Evansville moving forward. If you are in the 3rd Ward, I hope you will take this golden opportunity to heart and vote for her.

Stephanie strongly backs...

1. A committee to study Roberts Stadium
2. Keeping Roberts Stadium as long as it breaks even
3. Getting 3rd Ward residents active in the Save Roberts Stadium movement

I'm very thankful for Stephanie coming out boldly for Roberts Stadium at a time when supporting Roberts Stadium is a highly political and controversial issue. I hope you will reward her at the election booth.

On May 3rd Vote Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley!

VoteBrinkerhoffRiley.com

City Council Candidate Patrick McBride Comes Out In Support of Save Roberts Stadium

This week just keeps getting better and better. The final Aces game at Roberts Stadium was a blast, this blog saw over 500 people log on to it Saturday, and now.... City Council Candidate Patrick McBride has come out in support of the Save Roberts Stadium movement.

First of all, I want to say that any candidate for office here in Evansville is more than welcome to sign the pledge to save Roberts Stadium. However, if you sign it, please understand that I will expect a good faith effort to save this Evansville icon.

I talked to Mr. McBride last night and am very pleased to get his official commitment to saving Roberts Stadium. I am thoroughly convinced that Patrick is displaying bold leadership with this move. Instead of just going with the flow, Patrick is going against the wave of city hall by standing up for this historic venue and I am very thankful to him for that.

Patrick is in a tough race in Ward 2. Ward 2 is one of the few races where I like both candidates (Missy Mosby & Patrick McBride). I hope that regardless of how the primary turns out, both candidates will remain active in government. But with that being said, I really hope Patrick makes the City Council because I feel like he is just what we need.

With McBride in office, I am 110% convinced that we will be able to save Roberts Stadium. The chance to save 55 years of history only comes once in a lifetime so it is very important to elect candidates like Patrick who will ensure us that this great venue will be protected not destroyed.

On May 3rd I hope you will have pride and VOTE MCBRIDE!

Off The Charts Support For Save Roberts Stadium

It is with great pride that I can report two things to you...

1. Saturday's final Aces game brought 503 viewers to this blog which is a new daily record for Save Roberts Stadium.


2. As a result, over 5,000 viewers have visited this blog all-time (5,193 right now).


First of all, I want to say THANK YOU! I could not take on this battle to save Roberts Stadium without your support. I started this blog back in August/September of last year when it seemed like the ball fields/ Roberts Stadium demolition were a done deal. Today, the ball fields project is dead and Roberts Stadium is standing strong. You the viewers of this blog are the reason for this.

Although the ball fields project is dead, we still need to find a proper use for Roberts Stadium. For this reason, I am asking for your continued support on this record setting journey. As always, make sure you contact your legislators (emails on the side), buy a shirt which I'm selling AT COST ($8- details in a few posts under this one), and continue writing in to the Courier & Press (email on the side).

One way or the other, everyone in city hall, and the whole city of Evansville for that matter, are going to understand the importance of this venue to Evansville.

Thank you for your support and let's keep this momentum going!

My " Support Roberts Stadium with a Save Roberts Stadium Shirt" YouTube Video Is Up!

After many hours of hard work, I have finally finished my Save Roberts Stadium shirt video. Check it out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyXsdUQlVu4&feature=youtube_gdata

Please buy a shirt, they are only $8 (Sizes 2XL + add $1.50).

Remember...

-I'm selling these AT COST
- Shirts are only $8
- Email me (JordanBaer1@gmail.com) your name, contact #, and where you want me to mail or deliver your shirt(s).
- Wear this shirt to every event you can

THANKS!