(transitionevansville.com)
(Note: This post is intended to combine the Save Roberts Stadium movement and Christmas together in a humorous way. It should not be interpreted that Lloyd Winnecke is Ebenezer Scrooge although I am thoroughly confident he will spend taxpayer dollars wisely)
Today, we sit here on the Eve of Christmas with a big decision looming- What to do with Roberts Stadium. As it currently stands, Evansville Mayor-Elect Lloyd Winnecke has yet to make a decision either way on Roberts Stadium's future. But tonight, as Lloyd lays down on the night before Christmas, he will be visited by 3 spirits of legendary and historic Roberts Stadium. Let's meet these three spirits...
The Ghost of Roberts Stadium's Past
Right as Lloyd begins to light the candles and turn out the rest of the lights, the Ghost of Roberts Stadium's Past will pay him a visit. The spirit will take Lloyd on a guided tour back to 1956 when it all began.
As the Ghost of Roberts Stadium's Past and Lloyd Winnecke travel back to the year 1956, they will instantly see a young and vibrant Hank Roberts announcing the opening of what will be Evansville's most famous arena. They will walk past a tired but excited Ralph Legeman who has just applied for his patent on the fieldhouse arena design.
As they sit there and look around, the spirit will remind Lloyd that he is the first non-Russ Lloyd to serve as Mayor of Evansville as a Republican since Roberts. The spirit will then let Lloyd know that Hank Roberts has gone down as one of Evansville's greatest mayors and that he can do the same if he commits to Roberts Stadium as a mid-sized arena.
Then, the spirit and Lloyd will travel to 1959 when the Aces captured what would be the first of five Division II Championships. There, Lloyd will see Aces basketball at its highest point. As they travel through the years 1960, 1964, 1965, and 1971, they will see Aces greats Larry Humes and Jerry Sloan dominating the hardwood. The spirit will remind Lloyd that these championship years with these legendary players are just one reason why he should fight to preserve this legendary facility.
Lastly, before they head home, the spirit will take Lloyd to the year 1977 when the Aces men's basketball team suffered a devastating plane crash that would forever change the Evansville community. There, Lloyd will see how awful that year was. He will also see the grieving gathering at Roberts Stadium for a memorial that will pay tribute to the team. The spirit will remind Lloyd that it was Roberts Stadium that was there for us then and that it is now our time to be there for her.
After that, the spirit and Lloyd will travel back home with the Ghost of Roberts Stadium's Past giving Lloyd one message: SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!
The Ghost of Roberts Stadium's Present
Just as Lloyd Winnecke is beginning to lay back down for the night, the Ghost of Roberts Stadium's Present will awaken him once more. At this point, Lloyd will be questioning why this spirit has come. "Aren't you the spirit that no one wants to deal with?" he will say.
The spirit will then travel with Lloyd through the neighborhoods surrounding this iconic arena. There, the spirit will point out the 150 yard signs that say "Save Roberts Stadium" which have been placed there by Sherman Stevens. They will watch as neighbor after neighbor agrees to let Sherman put a sign in their yard because this venue means so much to them.
The spirit and Lloyd will then walk over to Roberts Stadium where Brenda Bergwitz will be in the middle of hosting a rally. At the rally, Lloyd will see Roberts Stadium supporters who took time out of their busy schedule to gather for a rally because they want their voice heard at city hall.
Then, the spirit will take Lloyd past Berniece Tirmenstein's house. He will show Lloyd Berniece's dedication and desire to save Roberts Stadium as she gets a friend or neighbor to take her to the public library on a chilly and frigid day because she doesn't have a computer or car but wants to gather information on Roberts Stadium to pass out to local residents. Lloyd will see that Berniece refuses to let any disadvantages get in her way as she fights for Roberts Stadium.
Once the spirit and Lloyd have visited these sites, the Ghost of Roberts Stadium's Present will let Lloyd know that even today Roberts Stadium still means a lot to the community. Even though the Aces have bolted for the Ford Center, there are still many, many, many residents who want Roberts Stadium to be in their life.
The spirit will then take Lloyd back home after saying the following words: SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!
The Ghost of Roberts Stadium Yet To Come
Just as Lloyd Winnecke lays down yet again for the night, one more spirit will knock on his door. This time, the Ghost of Roberts Stadium Yet To Come will pay him a visit. Although Lloyd is extremely tired as he has now been visited by 3 spirits, it is the Ghost of Roberts Stadium Yet To Come that has the most to show Lloyd.
As the spirit promises to be the last one to visit, they head out to Roberts Stadium one last time. As they arrive, Lloyd is puzzled, "Is this Roberts Stadium?" he asks. "Yes!" the spirit answers. Lloyd decides to take a trip inside of Roberts Stadium.
As he enters what he thought was Gate 1, he notices that there are no signs for Gate 1. Instead, there are signs that read "Fifth Third Bank Gate." As soon as Lloyd enters the building, he notices that there are ATMS, 5/3 banners, signs, and logos. He also notices that there are 5/3 workers who are signing up fans for account and loan applications. Lloyd asks the spirit why all of this has happened. The spirit replies, "Because Fifth Third bought the naming rights to Gate 1. It has proven to be nothing but a success as Fifth Third has increased their accounts and loans while the city has financed the renovations of Roberts Stadium without using taxpayer dollars."
Once Lloyd gets past the Fifth Third Gate, he walks around the main level of Roberts Stadium and notices that some kind of track has been painted on the ground. The spirit points to the track and tells Lloyd that this is the new indoor trail hub of the Greenway. He tells Lloyd that it is extremely popular with residents on rainy and snowy days. He also shows Lloyd the pictures and paintings on the walls that guide Greenway walkers through Evansville's history.
After that, Lloyd decides to finally go into the middle of Roberts Stadium. As he walks through the tunnel, Lloyd gasps and almost faints when he notices that Roberts' floor has been raised since he last came to a game. As he looks around, he notices that this raised floor appears to be a success as there isn't one single empty seat.
With a sold out crowd, Lloyd wonders who could possibly be playing. The Ghost of Roberts Stadium Yet To Come points to center court. There, he shows Lloyd the Evansville Purple Aces getting ready to tip off. Lloyd tells the spirit, " I don't get it, didn't the Aces move to the Ford Center?" The spirit replies, " Of course they did Lloyd. Look again. They are wearing their purple throwback jerseys with the sleeves. They are THE VISITING TEAM."
The spirit then says to Lloyd Winnecke, "Now look over at the home bench. Who do you see?" Lloyd glances over at the other bench and with a stunned gasp he says, "Wow! It's the USI Screaming Eagles!" The spirit replies, " Yes, and with their new arena they have joined Northern Kentucky, Kentucky Weseleyan, SIU-Edwardsville, and IPFW in the Division I ranks. They have also expanded their New Harmony program to Wesselman Woods where they will be studying the 300 + year old trees"
After the game, Lloyd heads for the exits at Roberts Stadium. But before he leaves, he decides to do one last thing- he heads for the ticket office. At the ticket office Lloyd purchases season tickets to all of Roberts Stadium's teams which includes Chip Rosetti's Evansville Rage, NBDL team, inline skating team, lacrosse team, and mid-sized concerts.
As he arrives home, Lloyd Winnecke asks the spirit, " How did all of that happen? Wasn't Roberts Stadium suppose to be demolished? Wasn't that the best outcome for the taxpayers?"
The spirit replies, "It all happened Lloyd because you believed in the same vision that Hank Roberts did some 55 years before you. It all happened because you were the leader Evansville needed who had the power to look past the naysayers and do what was best for the taxpayers, the city, and those who cherish Roberts Stadium. Now, go out and SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!"
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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