Although it's been explained over and over how a mid-sized Roberts Stadium would not compete with the Ford Center, there is still a small group of Evansville residents who refuse to believe it. Some of these people are genuinely unaware of how sports venues such as arenas work, while the rest of the group just wants you to believe the two will compete because they have a hidden agenda to tear down Roberts Stadium.
In earlier posts, I talked about the reasons why the two venues would not compete including the following...
1. Premier concerts and events would never go to a venue that has only 78,000 lbs of rigging capacity when the Ford Center has 180,000 lbs.
2. Premier concerts and events would never be able to make it financially at Roberts Stadium without the club seats and revenue generating amenities that can be found at the Ford Center.
3. As evidenced by Mr. Scott Schoenike's interview in November's News4u magazine, the Ford Center is already booked and expects to be kicking out events in favor of bigger events this spring (Mr. Schoenike has done an excellent job!).
4. Once the floor is raised, the seating capacity would go down to approximately 6,000 seats making Roberts Stadium too small to draw premier concerts and events that can be found at the Ford Center.
5. According to city officials, there is already a "No Compete Clause" in the Ford Center's contract which allows the venue the right of first refusal on any event.
When presented with these 5 basic facts, demolition supporters and those who fear that Roberts Stadium will compete with the Ford Center refuse to face these basic truths. Even today, they are still scared to death of Roberts Stadium...
So, if demolition supporters refuse to accept these basic facts and truths, it would only be fair to use this same logic to look at other venues around the city that just might compete with the Ford Center. Before we go through the list of venues, I will warn you demolition supporters, this list will only increase your paranoia towards other sports facilities.
Now, let's take a look at these venues that just might compete with the Ford Center if we use demolition supporter's logic...
THE VICTORY
You would have thought that yesterday's inauguration would have been held at the Ford Center but you would have been wrong. While our brand new facility sat empty and ready to go for inauguration day, it was the Victory Theatre that saw all of the action. Who would have thought that spending $15 million to renovate the Victory in 1998 would end up destroying our Ford Center. Although the Victory doesn't have the amenities that the Ford Center has, it still has... GASP.... seats for concerts! Can we allow such competition?
THE CENTRE
Just as scary as the Victory Theatre is the Centre. Right next to the Ford Center sits the Centre with it's 2,500 seat auditorium and convention center rooms capable of hosting crowds as small as 20 and as large as 400. Like the Victory, the Centre underwent significant renovations in the 1990s. Yes, the Centre's auditorium only holds 2,500 people, but hey, couldn't these same events be hosted in the Ford Center with the curtains down on the upper level? Surely we wouldn't allow the Centre to compete with the Ford Center right?
THE SOLDIERS & SAILORS COLISEUM
Although this arena is 96 years old and has only a few thousand seats, this venue still poses quite the threat to the Ford Center. Every week, you will find big time events at the Coliseum such as bingo, wrestling, and wedding receptions. Stealing bingo away from the Ford Center could prevent our new arena from turning a profit. We can't allow this facility to compete with the brand new Ford Center can we? After all, aren't they both arenas?
MESKER AMPHITHEATRE
Although this facility isn't downtown, it still has quite the potential to ruin the Ford Center. For those fans who wanted the Ford Center to have a retractable roof, you will find that Mesker Amphitheatre comes with no roof! Even worse is the fact that Mesker Amphitheatre comes with 5,550 chairback and 3,000 lawn seats which gives it a capacity that is only 1,500 seats short of the Ford Center. Even scarier is the fact that Mesker Amphitheatre has bleachers that were removed from Roberts Stadium. Surely this facility would steal all of the Ford Center's concerts right?
Other potential competitors to the Ford Center...
- The Metro Center- Only has a capacity of 500 but will be hosting indoor football this year.
- The Old Armory- Is located on the campus of UE and has formerly housed the Aces.
- PAC Arena- Houses USI basketball that could be played on the same days as Aces games.
As you can see, it is absolutely ridiculous and absurd to think that any of the above facilities are competing with the Ford Center. But, if you believe the logic of those who want to demolish Roberts Stadium, you would have to say that they do. For those of us that look at Roberts Stadium in a realistic point of view, we know that the following events do not belong in the Ford Center...
1. Indoor football- The Bluecats folded because their rent was too high ($10,000 a game and no revenue from concession stand sales). This was due to Roberts Stadium being the main premier arena at the time.
2. Mid-sized concerts- Why does anyone believe that the Ford Center should start scheduling bands that aren't on the level of Bob Seger and Reba?
3. Minor-league basketball- If you look at the current NBDL model, most of the teams cannot afford premier arenas and play at facilities that are at least 40 years old (see the Canton Charge). Even if the Ford Center would want the NBDL, what dates would be left for them?
4. Indoor soccer- It's more than obvious that the Ford Center is not the place for professional indoor soccer. It's also obvious that the Metro Center will not be able to handle the crowds the Evansville Crush will bring in when they upgrade to a better league like the Icemen have done.
5. Indoor lacrosse- This sport hasn't established itself as a premier sport yet to draw crowds like the Icemen do at the Ford Center. A mid-sized Roberts Stadium is the perfect place for them to play in front of a crowd that isn't too big and isn't too small.
6. In-line skating- Same as indoor lacrosse. This sport has already produced emerging leagues that have proven to be successful around the country. Roberts Stadium will give this team the opportunity to have a nice venue at an affordable rent price.
7. High school basketball tournaments- Currently, the EVSC plays their tournaments at high school gymnasiums that are too small and aren't centrally located. High school basketball tournaments have always been a big draw at Roberts Stadium and will continue to be in future years. Like the other sports, where are the open dates or affordable rent for high school basketball tournaments at the Ford Center?
8. Youth sports tournaments- All of our current facilities are severely undersized to host youth sports tournaments that are capable of filling up our hotels. On the flip side, these tournaments will never bring in enough revenue to warrant a place on the Ford Center's calendar.
9. Small trade shows- Although the Home Show may have moved to the Ford Center, smaller trade shows such as the Boat & Sport show were cancelled because they cannot afford the rent at a premier arena. With a mid-sized Roberts Stadium, they will have sufficient display space outside, affordable rent, and an increased main floor for displays. It is important to note that in 2009, when this show was cancelled, it did not go into any of our other facilities. That is because they are either too expensive or too small to host these type of trade shows.
10. College basketball tournaments- At Roberts Stadium, we have the opportunity to bring in NCAA tournaments as a package deal with the Ford Center. For example, a conference could play its men's tournament at the Ford Center and its women's tournament at Roberts Stadium. Having two facilities is very attractive to college basketball tournaments.
11. USI basketball- With KWC leaving the GLVC (and will eventually have a brand new arena in Owensboro) and NKU heading to Div I, now is the time to plan for USI's future. We know that we cannot build them a new arena downtown, build them a new arena on campus, renovate PAC, or move them into the Ford Center. If USI moves into a mid-sized Roberts Stadium, they will have 15 luxury boxes to sell without having to take on any debt as the arena is already paid off. They could then renovate PAC as a practice facility which it should be. Just imagine opening up the college basketball season with UE @ USI at Roberts Stadium!
While those with a political agenda maintain that Roberts Stadium and the Ford Center will compete with each other, I hope you will truly see it for what it is- a baseless scare tactic. Just like it is crazy and dumb to suggest that the facilities named in this post are competing with the Ford Center, it is also equally crazy and dumb to think that any of the above 11 events belong anywhere else than a mid-sized Roberts Stadium.
DON'T FALL VICTIM TO THE PARANOIA, SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!
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