Just like I have predicted since day 1 of this campaign to save Roberts Stadium (which has been almost 18 months now), demolition supporters have quit and mailed it in at the first sign of adversity in their camp.
Since last Saturday, when the public got to go inside Roberts Stadium and see that what Dave Rector and the "Mainstream Democrats" were telling us about Roberts Stadium, along with the Courier & Press, was greatly exaggerated and Roberts Stadium is indeed a healthy structure, support for Roberts Stadium is at an all-time high. Tonight confirmed this notion.
Tonight, as the public was broken down into 4 groups for the final time, another member of the task force took a survey. The following are the results...
Question: Were you in attendance Saturday at Roberts Stadium?
Answer: A combined 28 people raised their hands amongst the 4 groups.
Question: Of those who took the tour, is your impression of Roberts Stadium now more positive or negative?
Answers: Of the 28 hands raised, 25 answered positive while 3 answered negative.
Question: Of those who answered negative, what would you like to see done to the lot?
Answer: Of the 3 people that answered negative, all 3 answered green space. However, 1 person stated that they would be open to keeping Roberts Stadium if a green space was located next to the facility, 1 person stated that they wanted the entire lot to be a green space no matter what, while the other person did not clarify their statement beyond green space.
Early on, it has been reported that approximately 100 people attended tonight's meeting. If true, we are looking at approximately 240 that attended the 3 public sessions. Most importantly, demolition supporters NEVER outnumbered those who want to save this building. In fact, the amount of people in favor of Roberts Stadium tonight was so lopsided that even the Courier & Press conceded that there were more people in favor of Roberts Stadium.
So, once the public has finally gotten to see the real Roberts Stadium, demolition supporters mailed it in very quickly. No matter how you slice it, cut it, or dice it, we out-hustled, out-worked, and out-performed demolition supporters at all 3 meetings. If the intention of these meetings was to truly see and hear what the public wants for Roberts Stadium, there is no way that demolition can be chosen. If this building is knocked down, it will not be because the public wants it demolished.
The great thing about Roberts Stadium and its surrounding area is that there is enough room to accomplish just about everything every person is wanting to accomplish... including even those who want to demolish this iconic venue in favor of a "green space."
Now that all of the public sessions are over, my thoughts are still the following...
Note: These opinions are mine and mine only. Nothing you see here is, or will ever be, an official recommendation from the task force.
1. During tonight's meeting, I was able to talk to the one person who absolutely insisted that the entire complex be a park without Roberts Stadium. I asked this person what the cost was to build this park- they didn't know. I asked this person what the maintenance would be on this park- they had no idea. Lastly, the plan they showed me contained a large amount of new growth trees whose seedlings would mix with our historical old-growth Wesselman Woods. Why would we want to do that?
2. No one from the "green space/ park or bust" camp has ever been able to draw up something we don't already have at the State Hospital Grounds. Furthermore, no one from this camp has ever been able to make their plan turn a profit. And they say us Save Roberts Stadium activists are only looking at this emotionally?
3. I really like what I'm hearing from the BMX fans, I really like what I'm hearing from the Expo fans, and I really like what I'm hearing from those who support mid-sized spectator events. It is still my strong, strong, strong belief that all of these plans should be fused together as a mid-sized events center and I will explain how later on in this post.
4. It seems that demolition supporters have already begun making outlandish claims. Now, we are being told that it is in the Ford Center's contract that no other facility have permanent seats in it. I have no doubt that there is something like this in the contract, however, Roberts Stadium is a facility that already exists. If the floor is raised, seats will be removed not added. If this clause conflicts with a mid-sized Roberts Stadium, then we are going to have one hell of a bill to demolish The Centre, The Victory, and Mesker Amphitheatre.
On a side note, we really need to give a "Right of First Refusal" clause to the Ford Center so that we can put this fictious Ford Center vs Roberts Stadium argument to bed once and for all.
5. I'm very proud to be a member of this task force. I have already made several friends and contacts that I hope will last a lifetime. I have also enjoyed working with Leadership Evansville who did an excellent job running the forums. I don't believe the 3 public sessions could have went any better than what they did. Excellent job everyone!
So, after listening to all of the ideas, I am still personally sold on the master plan I released earlier...
(click to enlarge)
Note: This is a master plan. It should not all be built at once.
Let's review once more why this layout works best for everyone involved...
1. The BMX plan has a very good argument. As I read through a little bit of their proposal, I noticed that they want to go after travelling BMX tournaments like the "Dew Tour." Well, Portland, Oregon has already landed the Dew Tour and it's because they saved Memorial Coliseum and built a permanent complex next to the facility... http://www.pdxactionsports.com/
Why don't we do the same thing? BMX supporters claim that they need 68 events outdoors and 50 events indoors. This would work perfectly with a mid-sized Roberts Stadium for shows, the outdoor southern parking lot that would be left intact, and the new BMX specific building that would be built in the northern lot.
2. If those who want a green space or a park are willing to look at their idea rationally, they will see that there is plenty of land in the back lot for such a project. In fact, the back lot is roughly 150% the size of Roberts Stadium. I have talked to Wesselman Woods director Luke Yeager a few times during this task force hearings. I am fully committed to helping him craft a plan that will improve Wesselman Woods.
The main feature that green space and park supporters are wanting is a lake. Why not construct this lake in the back lot so that it serves as a buffer zone between Wesselman Woods and Roberts Stadium? Why not build the Greenway parallel to the lake and into Roberts Stadium so that the public can walk around the main concourse on non-event days? Wouldn't you think that our Greenway should have at least one indoor facility on its route?
3. Those who have brought the ideas of an indoor water park resort and natatorium can still get their wish if they remain patient. By that, I am talking about the Hartke Pool situation. Eventually, Hartke Pool will need to be completely redone. This will probably have to happen in the next 4-5 years.
Wouldn't it be fiscally responsible to address the natatorium plan with Hartke Pool? Wouldn't it make sense to bring in a private investor to run an indoor water park resort next to our natatorium and renovated Hartke Pool? And shouldn't these three amenities be built together in the lot just south of Swonder Ice Rink?
If we build a natatorium inside of Roberts Stadium, it will be extremely expensive and it will rot away the structure. It just doesn't make sense to put it inside of Roberts Stadium and then have to turn back around and construct a new Hartke Pool. Let's kill two birds with one stone when the time is right.
4. Most importantly to those who follow this blog, Roberts Stadium shall be downsized to a multi-purpose mid-sized arena. There are numerous examples of mid-sized arenas whose goal is not to compete with their bigger brothers (I will be suming this list up later this week or next). Let's make this a facility where everyone wins!
Let's bring USI into the complex so that we can improve their basketball programs without having to spend millions upon millions of dollars. Let's bring in the Evansville Rage Indoor Football team. Let's bring in mid-sized concerts, minor-league basketball, professional lacrosse, inline skating teams, expo events, indoor soccer, and travelling BMX tournaments for which there has already been interest expressed by investors.
Also, let's bring in other events such as high school basketball tournaments, college basketball tournaments that were a package deal with the Ford Center, small trade shows that don't compete with The Centre, and let our two meeting rooms host a wide variety of meetings, events, get-togethers, and parties of all size.
Lastly, let's reap the intangible benefits of a mid-sized arena such as a disaster relief area, an indoor trailhub for the Greenway, a shuttle stop for the Ford Center, and a facility that can be easily converted to whatever you need it to be.
My main goal for Roberts Stadium: Make it be many things to many people!
Overall, I am thoroughly satisfied with the turnout at the 3 public hearings. I want to thank each and every one of you who came out to the meetings and expressed your support for Roberts Stadium. I also want you to know that I have 110% confidence in Mayor Lloyd Winnecke to make the right decision in saving Roberts Stadium and drawing up a comprehensive plan like the one above where no one on the face of this earth should object too.
As demolition supporters decide to mail it in, the vast majority of the public is speaking loud and clear. THEY LIKE ROBERTS STADIUM, THEY LOVE IT, THEY WANT SOME MORE OF IT!
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