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!
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