Today, our Roberts Stadium Task Force director Larry Steenberg turned over the final report composed by our three subcommittees over to Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. I would like to thank Task Force member Bill Nix for sending me the report as well as explaining what he saw and found with Roberts Stadium while he was doing his inspection.
Unfortunately, I still haven't figured out how to post attachments on here so I will just post the highlights from the report ( I expect this report to be on the C&P's website very soon but if it's not send me an email and I will send it to you). When the report is available online, I will go line by line over it as it provides an overwhelming amount of evidence in favor of renovating Roberts Stadium.
Inside the report, we have found out once more what I have been saying all along: renovating Roberts Stadium is cheaper than a green space.
To renovate Roberts Stadium as a mid-size arena, it will cost between $4 million and $4.5 million. If we add a green space to half of the parking lot, it will be an additional $1.75 million to $2 million.
To construct a green space on the lot, the report estimates that it will cost between $12 million and $14 million. This green space would also fail to fund connectors to the "Mental Health Park" as well as Vann Avenue Park.
So basically, Roberts Stadium itself is roughly 1/3rd the price of a green space and is still half the price of the green space WITH A GREEN SPACE. Not only would Roberts Stadium have a green space for an additional $1.75 mil to $2 million, it would also be in the back lot which is approximately the same size as the soon to be built green space on US 41 and is in a perfect position to connect Wesselman Woods to Mental Health Park (State Hospital Grounds).
Mayor Winnecke, I have all the respect and confidence in the world for you. I also believe you have an administration that is second to none. With members like Steve Schaefer, Denise Johnson, and Russ Lloyd Jr., there really is no reason to believe that you can't guide Roberts Stadium, the city of Evansville, as well as the other side of this argument through this situation.
Mayor Winnecke, you put me on this task force approximately four months ago. Over that time, as well as the 16 months before that, I have followed each and every lead to make sure that we have a plan put in front of you that is...
1. Multi-dimensional- We needed a plan for Roberts Stadium that is many things to many people not just a BMX facility, or an expo hall, or a facility for sports teams. Rather, this facility must be able to adapt to all of these areas as well as bring multiple intangible benefits to our community.
2. A Plan That Repects All Ideas- We needed a plan that tailors to BOTH of the Roberts Stadium and green space sides, not just one. We also need a plan that addresses the ideas of a natatorium and BMX facility as well.
3. Makes The Most Financial Sense- We needed a plan that not only makes good sense financially for out city and county taxpayers but for the area retailers as well. We needed a plan that receives minimal tax dollars while making a profit that pays back each and every one of these dollars. We also needed a plan that would bring in revenue from outside the city, put heads in beds, as well as fill up our restaurants and shops. Lastly, we needed a plan that brought back the lost SMG jobs from Roberts Stadium's closing.
4. Gives Evansville The Biggest Bang For Their Buck- We needed a plan that brought in new business and amenities to Evansville. We also needed a plan that would take full advantage of our existing assets all around town, not just on the east side. We also needed a plan that would be able to be co-branded and co-marketed with our facilities such as the Ford Center, Bosse Field, and our Centre.
5. Restores Pride In The River City- These past 50 years, it seems that Evansville has made mistake after mistake, and these mistakes have now turned into bad habits which are now seen as a way of life and the correct thing to do. We needed a plan that stopped our 50 year pall dead in its tracks. We needed a plan that helped the most while hurting the least. Lastly, we needed a plan that would make our local residents proud to live in Evansville.
Mayor Winnecke, I can look you straight in the eye and tell you that I believe that I have crafted the best damn plan a task force can design. I believe that if you are willing to take the proper steps and make the right decisions regarding Roberts Stadium, you will make a decision that will be the cornerstone of your administration from now until the end of time. Nobody remembers the mayors who made bad decisions. Everyone remembers the mayors who made good decisions like Benjamin Bosse, Hank Roberts, and Russ Lloyd Jr.
I also believe that I have squeezed every single idea, benefit, and advantage that has either been mentioned or been implied that is possible. There are well over 20 benefits to a mid-sized Roberts Stadium...
http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2012/03/in-end-it-was-those-who-support.html
Mayor Winnecke, in yesterday's C&P, which Arek Sarkissan did a good job on, you said the following...
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/apr/19/roberts-hed-herpppp/
"I said this during the campaign, I want to make a good, data driven decision," Winnecke said. "I still think that, and I think it should be what's best for the city financially."
If that is truly your goal Mayor Winnecke, I don't know how you can't choose to renovate Roberts Stadium as a mid-sized arena. This plan...
1. Costs less than the green space plan
2. Brings in more visitors than the green space plan
3. Addresses more ideas from the public such as BMX events like the Dew Tour, expo events, a green space in the back lot, as well as a disaster relief area than the green space plan
4. Produces more quality and good paying jobs than the green space plan
5. Generates income to make itself self-sufficient unlike the green space plan
6. Can be co-marketed and co-branded with the Ford Center, the Centre, and Bosse Field unlike the green space plan
7. Produces more revenue for restaurants, hotels, and shops around Roberts Stadium than the green space plan
8. Gives us something new like an indoor Greenway trail hub, a disaster relief area, as well as a shuttle stop for the Ford Center while the green space plan gives us the same things we already have in our existing parks
9. Allows Roberts Stadium to connect to Wesselman Woods, Mental Health Park, as well as UE (I will be talking about this in a few posts) just like the green space plan while giving us much, much, much more tangible and intangible benefits than the green space plan
10. Has more opportunities to generate funds for renovations than the green space plan does.
I definitely hope that Mayor Winnecke sits down and really takes this decision seriously as it will affect both me and Roberts Stadium from now until the end of time. I also hope he takes the correct steps in...
1. Getting in touch with SMG and Venuworks
2. Getting in touch with the ECVB to make sure the seats can be transferred smoothly to their ball fields proposal which belongs in Kleymeyer Park
3. Sitting down with whoever crafted the winning proposal to make sure he truly understands all aspects of the idea
Mayor Winnecke, please take this report and read what it's telling you. It's telling you to SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!!!
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