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Most of those who supported Roberts Stadium publicly are probably asking, " Who was Eddie Cronin?" Eddie was one of those people I often referred to for information and relied on for guidance even though he remained in the background publicly. There was a reason for that.
Last year, Evansville was blessed with the return of indoor football to the River City. After watching the Evansville Bluecats close their doors a little over half of a decade ago, fans of all kind of football eagerly awaited the return of indoor football. They got their wish when the Evansville Rage took the field at Swonder Ice Rink last fall.
Initially, Eddie was the team's defensive coordinator. But after a few shake-ups in management and ownership, Eddie soon took over as general manager and also took over soon of the tasks of ownership. For the most part, the Rage had a good season and fared decently at the box office.
Although this was a great thing for the Evansville community, there was still a major problem- the Rage weren't in a facility designed to keep an indoor football team solvent. That's when the Rage and Eddie reached out to me about Roberts Stadium. Eddie and I didn't discuss much during the season as they were committed to making sure their inaugural season at Swonder went well. Once the season was over, Eddie began to reach out to me more about improving the Rage by moving into Roberts Stadium.
I will never forget my time with Eddie. He knew a lot of inside information about local sports teams both in Evansville and Owensboro that interested me as well. He knew the business of sports and he knew exactly what it took to keep the Rage solvent as well as sustainable for the years ahead. He, like all the other experts in the sports industry, knew that the Rage needed a facility much bigger than Swonder but much smaller and cheaper than the Ford Center. He knew the Rage and the Ford Center were not a good match, and he knew it was going to take a place with a fraction of the rent and space for the Rage to be able to afford an upgrade that included luxury boxes and more concession stands.
I will never forget meeting him at the hotel where the Rage are based out of with my Roberts Stadium diagram. We spent many hours with rulers, notebooks, and binders trying to draw up a plan that would work out for both the Rage as well as the other tenants who were interested in Roberts Stadium. At the end of the day, I still remain convinced that what Eddie and I drew up was the correct plan for Roberts Stadium. I will never be convinced otherwise.
It was bad enough getting the news last month that Roberts Stadium was going to be demolished. I had high hopes of standing next to Eddie and other Rage officials while the city announced renovations to the facility with the Rage being one of the primary tenants. I have always felt like the demolition of Roberts Stadium is going to be an injustice for both the Rage and the other tenants interested in the facility more than it is for anyone else. I really wish there was some other way I could have done something for them to get them moved into Roberts Stadium.
No one gave the Evansville Rage a chance. Some said the team would never make it on the field for their first game. Others said the team would never last a season. The city has basically done everything they can to make life as difficult as possible for local teams like the Rage who need a facility with luxury boxes but is much smaller than the Ford Center. But through it all, Eddie kept the Rage on the right track as the team is still in business as of this post (although I fear for the team's future without Eddie).
But now, we have been given news that is even worse than that of Roberts Stadium's impending demolition. Our city has lost yet another great entrepreneur way too early. For those who follow the Rage, the loss will be felt immediately. For those who follow the city of Evansville, the loss will come a little bit slower and quieter but the effects of losing yet another great mind in the sports industry will eventually take its toll on our city.
Eddie helped me fight the battle for Roberts Stadium in every way possible. He did everything he could to make sure that I got all of the information and data I needed to help put together a plan for Roberts Stadium. I am truly grateful to him for that, and I cannot thank him enough for the generosity he showed me throughout the entire process. Words cannot describe how big of a loss this is for our community.
Yes, in the next two months, things are going to be very difficult on those who support Roberts Stadium. By while we are remembering Roberts Stadium, let's remember someone who fought the battle with us from behind the curtains. Let's remember Eddie Cronin!
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpress/obituary.aspx?pid=158536966#fbLoggedOut
