3 For The Price Of 1

2 For The Price Of One, Buy One Get One Free, Double Your Money Back Guarantee. You've heard all of the marketing lines before. Most of the time, getting two items instead of one item is as good as it gets... until now. You see, we've been told over and over that Roberts Stadium needs to be demolished in favor of a green space because it would cost too much to renovate. Not only is this a complete lie, it is actually the other way around.

With the release of our Task Force's report, we now know the following...

The Green Space Subcommittee estimated their green space to cost $12 million to $14 million

Our Subcommittee estimated a mid-sized arena at Roberts Stadium to cost $4 million to $4.5 million

Our Subcommittee estimated a green space taking up half of the existing parking spaces to cost $1.75 million to $2 million

Bob Warren of the ECVB estimated his ball fields plan would cost $8 million to $10 million to construct...

 http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/feb/28/no-headline---ev_ballparks/

If we combine the renovations to Roberts Stadium with our green space and the ECVB ball fields plan (which would be built at Kleymeyer Park), we come up with a grand total of $13.75 million to $16. 5 million to construct.

We must also take into account the following pieces of information as well...

1. In the report, the green space subcommittee did not mention any costs for demolishing Roberts Stadium or its parking lot, just the costs needed to build "some sports areas, some green spaces, a few pavilions."

Therefore, the real costs of the green space should be at least an additional $200,000 to $1.25 million plus approximately double the price for our green space ($1.75 million to $2 million) before all other costs can be considered.

2. The green space subcommittee never mentioned how exactly they planned to connect their green space to the other parks and green spaces in the area. This would add to the costs.

3. The green space subcommittee never gave us an artists rendering or layout of how exactly they planned to construct their park, just a rough estimate per acre. The real green space constructed could cost even more if the public demands more than just the basic open areas and pavilions. Roberts Stadium's estimated costs have been gathered and totaled by identifying specific parts of the facility that would need to be renovated.

4. Constructing the ball fields at Kleymeyer would be cheaper. Although an extra layer of stone would need to be placed on the ground to reinforce the ball fields above the landfill, we wouldn't need to add the buffer zones, retention ponds, and other luxurious amenities that were included in the plan for the Roberts Stadium lot. Also, if we tap into the methane gas at Kleymeyer Park, we can use it to for electricity at the ball fields. This would make the maintenance on these fields much cheaper than if they were next to Wesselman Park.

Given the above four pieces of information, I would say that it's safe to say that we can construct the Roberts Stadium renovations, a green space in the back lot, AND the ball fields at Kleymeyer Park for either the same price or cheaper than the green space proposal.

Mayor Winnecke, how can anyone justify choosing one green space over a renovated mid-sized arena, a ball fields project, and a green space? What kind of financial logic would that be? How could we afford just the one project but not the other three who are basically the same cost when COMBINED?

Mayor Winnecke, the difference in the two sides is astronomical when it comes to job creation, urban development, and tourist recruitment among many other things. The green space subcommittee members love to pull the line "something for everyone." Is it just me or is three amenities for the price of one "something for everyone?"

Not only are the three projects about the same price as the proposed green space on the lot, they are also at least $1 million cheaper than just the one ball fields project at Wesselman Park that was proposed by Dunn.

The truth is, if our city is ever going to grow, we must spend our money wisely. That means choosing three items that are all better than the item competing against them when they are the same price. That also means utilizing existing assets when given the opportunity.

Lastly, Mayor Winnecke, I have already told you how you can sell Roberts Stadium to the public...

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/feb/28/no-headline---ev_ballparks/

I've also told you how you can let Roberts Stadium be the gift that keeps on giving...

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/11/for-evcb-city-hall-roberts-stadium-will.html

It's now time for you to open up Pandora's Box of economic and urban development for Evansville...

Let's choose 3 for 1... LET'S SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!