(photo credit: Ron Leishman)This past week, we couldn't have gotten any better news for both the new arena and Roberts Stadium. Let's take a look at some of the things that have happened in these past 72 hours...
Mayor Weinzapfel passes the decision of Roberts Stadium to the next mayor
This piece of news was the first thing that got the ball rolling on our momentum. Like I said in the post "Punting Til 2012," I really wish I would have had the opportunity to work with Mayor Weinzapfel on the process of renewing Roberts Stadium but I'm very satisfied that he chose to pass on closing it down early and demolishing it.
Earlier this week, things were looking very grim as the Parks Department was seeking an August 3rd date for closing Roberts Stadium, which is a whole 3 months before the new arena will be coming online. To me, this had demolition written all over it. To demolish Roberts Stadium before the next mayor takes office, the current city hall would have had to closed Roberts Stadium early.
Thankfully, Mayor Weinzapfel made the right decision. I'm hoping that by now he truly understands the great nostalgia Roberts Stadium has within its four walls. We need to make sure we make a good faith effort to keep this Evansville icon going. Thank you Mayor Weinzapfel for choosing to avoid the wrecking ball!
10,000 strong for Roberts Stadium
Yesterday evening, this blog saw its 10,000th visitor click on the site. I am very proud of this accomplishment and I can't thank you the viewers enough. When I started this blog, I never dreamed it would be this successful. There's no doubt that Roberts Stadium still stands because you the viewers of this blog and residents of Evansville stepped up to the plate for this historical building. I hope that you have found the content to be of the highest quality and will continue supporting both this blog and Roberts Stadium. I have a bold vision that one day Roberts Stadium will thrive like it did in the 20th century while the Bosse Field district is coming back to life with 8 vintage MLB ball fields at Kleymeyer Park. I hope you will help me make this a reality! Thank you viewers of this blog!
2,012 for 2012
I can also report to you that in the past 30 days this blog has seen exactly 2,012 people click on the site. I find this to be highly ironic given that 2012 will now be the year that will decide Roberts Stadium's fate going forward. Once more, I am also proud that we have assembled 2,012 strong for 2012. Every time a challenge has been brought in front of Roberts Stadium and its supporters, we have answered the bell. We have one last bell to answer and that is 2012. Let's save Roberts Stadium in the year 2012! Thank you viewers of this blog!
We are now going to get a hotel with a great design
Yesterday, it was also revealed that the city has decided to basically start anew with the hotel project and the Kunkel Group, which is in the driver's seat to be the developer, unveiled an amazing design for the new hotel. Here it is from the aerial view...
http://yfrog.com/ke438ij
While it is not the Big E (nothing will ever be), it is certainly the best design. We will now be getting a sleek and curvy hotel with a plaza on the site of the former Executive Inn that will house a brand new restaurant. Last month, I talked about the need for city hall to let the Kunkel Group work their magic...
Mayor Weinzapfel passes the decision of Roberts Stadium to the next mayor
This piece of news was the first thing that got the ball rolling on our momentum. Like I said in the post "Punting Til 2012," I really wish I would have had the opportunity to work with Mayor Weinzapfel on the process of renewing Roberts Stadium but I'm very satisfied that he chose to pass on closing it down early and demolishing it.
Earlier this week, things were looking very grim as the Parks Department was seeking an August 3rd date for closing Roberts Stadium, which is a whole 3 months before the new arena will be coming online. To me, this had demolition written all over it. To demolish Roberts Stadium before the next mayor takes office, the current city hall would have had to closed Roberts Stadium early.
Thankfully, Mayor Weinzapfel made the right decision. I'm hoping that by now he truly understands the great nostalgia Roberts Stadium has within its four walls. We need to make sure we make a good faith effort to keep this Evansville icon going. Thank you Mayor Weinzapfel for choosing to avoid the wrecking ball!
10,000 strong for Roberts Stadium
Yesterday evening, this blog saw its 10,000th visitor click on the site. I am very proud of this accomplishment and I can't thank you the viewers enough. When I started this blog, I never dreamed it would be this successful. There's no doubt that Roberts Stadium still stands because you the viewers of this blog and residents of Evansville stepped up to the plate for this historical building. I hope that you have found the content to be of the highest quality and will continue supporting both this blog and Roberts Stadium. I have a bold vision that one day Roberts Stadium will thrive like it did in the 20th century while the Bosse Field district is coming back to life with 8 vintage MLB ball fields at Kleymeyer Park. I hope you will help me make this a reality! Thank you viewers of this blog!
2,012 for 2012
I can also report to you that in the past 30 days this blog has seen exactly 2,012 people click on the site. I find this to be highly ironic given that 2012 will now be the year that will decide Roberts Stadium's fate going forward. Once more, I am also proud that we have assembled 2,012 strong for 2012. Every time a challenge has been brought in front of Roberts Stadium and its supporters, we have answered the bell. We have one last bell to answer and that is 2012. Let's save Roberts Stadium in the year 2012! Thank you viewers of this blog!
We are now going to get a hotel with a great design
Yesterday, it was also revealed that the city has decided to basically start anew with the hotel project and the Kunkel Group, which is in the driver's seat to be the developer, unveiled an amazing design for the new hotel. Here it is from the aerial view...
http://yfrog.com/ke438ij
While it is not the Big E (nothing will ever be), it is certainly the best design. We will now be getting a sleek and curvy hotel with a plaza on the site of the former Executive Inn that will house a brand new restaurant. Last month, I talked about the need for city hall to let the Kunkel Group work their magic...
http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/05/if-only-they-would-have-listened-to.html
That is exactly what Mayor Weinzapfel did and it's going to be great for downtown Evansville. If we are going to build a brand new hotel next to our arena, it has to be state-of-the-art just like our new arena. I am excited about this hotel and I hope you are too.
With that being said, I hope the Kunkel Group will consider paying tribute to Bob Green and the Executive Inn with their outdoor plaza area. How could they do that?
- Place two replica red triangle tops on the sides of the plaza that replicate the ones that were on the Big E.
- Place electronic red "E" signs on each side of the plaza that replicate the ones that were on the Big E.
- Place a plaque in the middle that will tell the story of Bob Green.
I think those three things would really make the outdoor plaza look great while paying tribute to Mr. Bob Green and the Executive Inn at the same time.
The sooner we can break ground on this new hotel the better. Once more, thank you Mayor Weinzapfel and thank you Kunkel Group!
City hall still has the Main Street archway
Do you remember the tall black arch with the white circle in the middle that welcomed tourists and residents to Main Street? If you don't here is a picture of it...
http://www.evansvillecvb.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/DetailGlamourScaleCrop/content/node_images/04-01a.png
That is exactly what Mayor Weinzapfel did and it's going to be great for downtown Evansville. If we are going to build a brand new hotel next to our arena, it has to be state-of-the-art just like our new arena. I am excited about this hotel and I hope you are too.
With that being said, I hope the Kunkel Group will consider paying tribute to Bob Green and the Executive Inn with their outdoor plaza area. How could they do that?
- Place two replica red triangle tops on the sides of the plaza that replicate the ones that were on the Big E.
- Place electronic red "E" signs on each side of the plaza that replicate the ones that were on the Big E.
- Place a plaque in the middle that will tell the story of Bob Green.
I think those three things would really make the outdoor plaza look great while paying tribute to Mr. Bob Green and the Executive Inn at the same time.
The sooner we can break ground on this new hotel the better. Once more, thank you Mayor Weinzapfel and thank you Kunkel Group!
City hall still has the Main Street archway
Do you remember the tall black arch with the white circle in the middle that welcomed tourists and residents to Main Street? If you don't here is a picture of it...
http://www.evansvillecvb.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/DetailGlamourScaleCrop/content/node_images/04-01a.png
Since this archway was removed, I feared that the city had decided to junk it. That would have been terrible for our Main Street design which has always been symbolized by this archway and its twin at the corner of Main Street and 2nd Street. Fortunately, I just found out this week from the new arena's facebook group that Mayor Weinzapfel's administration stored the archway when it was removed and is now debating where to place it. I'm very excited and hopeful that this archway will grace the Main Street bricks once more this fall.
Although it may sound crazy, I have always felt that Main Street looks naked without this archway at the corner of Main Street and MLK. Luckily, we should be getting this archway back. Thank you Weinzapfel administration!
Overall, this past week has been good news after good news for both our downtown arena, which will need a new hotel and a vibrant Main Street, and Roberts Stadium which is now holding on stronger than ever. These next 50 years will be determined by what we do in the next 12 months. If we keep Roberts Stadium, build a grand hotel while paying tribute to Bob Green, and bring back the nostalgia of Main Street, we might just be on our way to building a great city.
Overall, this past week has been good news after good news for both our downtown arena, which will need a new hotel and a vibrant Main Street, and Roberts Stadium which is now holding on stronger than ever. These next 50 years will be determined by what we do in the next 12 months. If we keep Roberts Stadium, build a grand hotel while paying tribute to Bob Green, and bring back the nostalgia of Main Street, we might just be on our way to building a great city.
I appreciate Mayor Weinzapfel who made some tough but all correct decisions this week, and I appreciate you the viewers of this blog who have clicked on here in droves.
LET'S KEEP ROLLING IN THE RIVER CITY!
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