If you drive down Boeke or any of the side streets next to it, you just can't miss the hard work Sherman has put in towards getting the word out about the need to save Roberts Stadium. Sherman went door-by-door, house-by-house asking each resident if they would be interested in displaying a sign in their yard. Did he get just a few signs out? NO, SHERMAN WAS ABLE TO GET 150 YARD SIGNS OUT! And he just stopped at 150 because that is all he had ordered.
For those who think Evansville doesn't care about Roberts Stadium, think again. For those who didn't believe the fact that no politician ever reported finding a person in the Roberts Stadium neighborhood who wanted to demolish Roberts Stadium, think again. And for those who think that neighbors of Roberts Stadium don't understand what they are fighting for, think again.
Although they are just a basic red and white yard sign, their presence tells us so much. Here is what we can take from Sherman's project...
1. People do care about Roberts Stadium. When is the last time you saw a cause convince 150 people to place a yard sign in their yard? Roberts Stadium's neighbors are very serious about keeping Roberts Stadium, and they want their voice to be heard.
2. The ball fields project and Roberts Stadium shall not be treated as equal. Demolition supporters at the Courier & Press have tried telling us that since the ball fields were rejected on the grounds of public spending, Roberts Stadium would go down the same path. Aside from the fact that demolition is a zero-sum game when it comes to spending, these 150 yard signs stand as proof that Roberts Stadium has much more support than the ball fields. Were the ball fields able to get 150 people in the neighborhood to support it with a yard sign? No, in fact many yard signs were displayed AGAINST the ball fields. To assume that Roberts Stadium and the ball fields are on the same level with neighbors and residents of Evansville is simply incorrect.
3. Saving Roberts Stadium will not be controversial. When the ball fields project was unveiled, residents who live near the complex staunchly opposed it. They didn't want it to affect their community, their property, and their way of life. With Roberts Stadium, we know that we already have a project that is well-received by the community. On the flip side, demolishing Roberts Stadium will be met with harsh political consequences similar to what the ball fields project experienced. Any politician who is smart, will do the right thing and save Roberts Stadium. It will serve his political aspirations well.
4. Roberts Stadium's popularity goes well beyond the neighborhoods around it. If you drive around town, you will see more yard signs that Sherman has gotten out. These signs are appearing all over town and they represent the deep love this community has for Roberts Stadium.
5. The residents of Evansville aren't falling for the lies and manipulations coming from those who support demolishing Roberts Stadium. Demolition supporters have tried everything from claiming the building is beyond repair, claiming it has no purpose going forward, and claiming that the community would never support saving Roberts Stadium. Wrong across the board. Take a stroll down the streets around Roberts Stadium and you will clearly see that demolition supporters completely underestimated the size of the Save Roberts Stadium Movement.
The Roberts Stadium signs you see around Roberts Stadium and the surrounding area are proof of why we will win this battle. The Save Roberts Stadium Movement has great people like Sherman Stevens and Berniece Tirmenstein working day in and day out to keep Roberts Stadium alive. Demolition supporters just can't match their level of dedication.
So if you ever get a chance, take a stroll down the Roberts Stadium neighborhood. What you will see is the impact Roberts Stadium has had on its community, what you will see is Save Roberts Stadium signs EVERYWHERE!!!
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