You can sure tell they are running for the hills from Roberts Stadium at the Courier & Press. Yesterday, we saw two letters in the print version of the newspaper dealing with Roberts Stadium. One of these articles was pro-Roberts Stadium while the other was anti-Roberts Stadium. Can you guess which one didn't make the online version of the C&P?
The letter written in support of Roberts Stadium was composed by Maureen Mattingly. It was thorough and gave a great description of the potential and direction we should take with Roberts Stadium. These are the type of letters that serve as evidence to the fact that Roberts Stadium is the perfect candidate for conversion to a mid-sized arena while the entire city of Evansville can have their voice heard with the surrounding complex.
The article opposing Roberts Stadium didn't say much (should we expect anything different). It was just the usual...
1. Complain about the water pumps even though they would be removed anyways if Roberts Stadium is downsized to a mid-sized arena.
2. Complain about Roberts Stadium costing the taxpayers while giving no cost estimates for how much a park would cost to build or maintain.
3. Fail to explain how a new growth park would work next to a virgin, old growth forest with Wesselman Woods.
4. Fail to explain why the multiple tenants who have already expressed interest in Roberts Stadium would fail to pay the bills at Roberts Stadium,
Since Maureen's article wasn't printed online, I reached out to her to get the original letter from her so that we can publish it here on this blog. The following is her letter...
"It seems most people want to make Roberts into a multi-purpose sports facility. Since we earned the Most Obese City recognition I really do believe that is what is best for our city.
I suggest using the Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville as a model for this renovation. It is situated next to Centennial Park which has the Parthenon on its grounds. The Sportsplex has an indoor pool suitable for swim meets, exercise and weights rooms, indoor track, and an ice rink. Outdoors, they have many tennis courts suitable for tournament. You can buy a membership or pay day use rates.
It would be nice to have such a facility situated next to Wesselman’s Park. Of course, raise the floor to fix that incompetently made mistake, but don’t let an inside political friend contractor drive up the budget to pad his own pockets and provide exclusivity for a select few. This facility does not need flat screen TV’s every 8 feet, and can do without luxury suite locker rooms.
I think of personal seat licenses that are sometimes used to build stadiums such as LP Field in Nashville. A business statistic program can calculate the correct price point for a personal user license for Roberts Sportsplex based on our population; let’s say a few hundred dollars. In return, the purchaser of this license gets free use of the facility for a limited length of time, as well as pre-use of the facility before it is open to the general public. The money raised from this pre-sale can finance the infancy of this project.
I also suggest that the property be turned over to the EVSC to use and share in profits with the parks department. This would also allow us to use EVSC funds already earmarked for sports upgrades at each school. None of our high schools have enough facilities for tennis and swim.
Once this facility is up and running as a joint venture between the EVSC and Parks department, I believe it will pay for itself. Charge admissions, tailgating, and concessions for meets and tournaments. Day rates should be available as well as memberships. Time will be given to high school teams for practice. Eventually, use the profits to upgrade Hartke pool with a lazy river and wave pool, and upgrade Wesselman’s. Not everything needs to be done at once. Holiday World adds one new thing every year.
Regardless, this should be put before the people as an informed referendum. Would you support this project, either by buying a license or day use once its open? Vote Yes or No.
Maureen Mattingly"
Well said and THANK YOU Maureen for all of your support for Roberts Stadium!
You left out the rest of it:
ReplyDeleteI also suggest that the property be turned over to the EVSC to use and share in profits with the parks department. This would also allow us to use EVSC funds already earmarked for sports upgrades at each school. None of our high schools have enough facilities for tennis and swim.
Once this facility is up and running as a joint venture between the EVSC and Parks department, I believe it will pay for itself. Charge admissions, tailgating, and concessions for meets and tournaments. Day rates should be available as well as memberships. Time will be given to high school teams for practice. Eventually, use the profits to upgrade Hartke pool with a lazy river and wave pool, and upgrade Wesselman’s. Not everything needs to be done at once. Holiday World adds one new thing every year.
Regardless, this should be put before the people as an informed referendum. Would you support this project, either by buying a license or day use once its open? Vote Yes or No.
You are correct. It has now been added. Thanks!
ReplyDelete