Kleymeyer Park Ball Fields Would Enable Civil Rights Game

thestadiumshoppe.com

In an earlier post, I talked about how Roberts Stadium, with a mid-sized capacity, would address the needs and concerns of Councilwoman Connie Robinson who has expressed a desire to bring more diverse entertainment acts to Evansville...

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2012/09/i-am-willing-to-solve-problems-mayor.html

Like I've said a thousand times on this blog, any goal whether it be diversity, profitability, and/or economic growth must be reflected in all three of our projects: Roberts Stadium, the Ford Center, and the ball fields project.

Once more, in order to satisfy the goals of bringing a diverse audience to Evansville, it is imperative that our ball fields be constructed at Kleymeyer Park. Why is this?

For those who don't recall, I have suggested that the city either enter into an agreement with the following company or build fields that replicate theirs...

http://www.bigleaguedreams.com/replica-fields

Building 8 ball fields that replicate vintage MLB fields across Pigeon Creek from Bosse Field would enable us to tap into one of Evansville's most valuable landmarks. It would also solve a wide array of other problems as well...

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/11/for-evcb-city-hall-roberts-stadium-will.html

So now, we are given the problem of Evansville needing to improve its diversity in entertainment, and we need to address this problem with our vintage MLB fields at Kleymeyer. How can we do this?

For those who don't know, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier on April 15, 1947. And when he broke the color barrier, he did it as a Brooklyn Dodger at legendary Ebbets Field. Lucky for us, Big League Dreams has a design for Ebbets Field in their portfolio...

http://www.bigleaguedreams.com/replica-fields/ebbets-field

And they even do it taxpayer free...

http://www.bigleaguedreams.com/corporate/park-development

So how could we use a replica of Ebbets Field at Kleymeyer Park to increase african-american participation in youth baseball?

Back in 2007, Major League Baseball unveiled a "Civil Rights Game"...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Game

"The intent of the game was to "embrace baseball's history of African-American players," as well as to generate interest for future black players, after a demographics survey revealed that the percentage of black players in the league has dwindled over the past twelve years to just 8.4 percent. The survey also gave the diversity of players in Major League Baseball an A+ grade: while African-Americans in the sport since 1996 dropped from 17 percent to 8 percent, the percentage of Hispanic players increased during that period from 20 percent to 29 percent, and Asian and other minorities increased from 1 percent to 3 percent."

This year, MLB played the 6 year-old game at Turner Field with the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the Atlanta Braves 6-2. Attendance for the game was 42,219. So while the game on the MLB level has been a success, there still exists an opportunity for the game on the youth level.

WHY IS EVANSVILLE & KLEYMEYER PARK THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR THE GAME?

I'm sure those who want these ball fields built on the east side will claim that this game can be hosted here without having to place it at Kleymeyer or with the Ebbets Field design. They are wrong for many reasons including the following...

1.  If you look at the demographics of nearby Jacobsville...

http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Jacobsville-Evansville-IN.html

You will see that the area has a significant amount of African-Americans, youth, and low income residents who would be the target market for this game to help. The far eastside does not have these type of demographics nor does the area need to be rehabilitated.

2. The allure and nostalgia of Bosse Field, which represents the history of baseball, is essential for the city to use as a marketing tool to ensure that the game doesn't get stolen by another city.

3. The design of Ebbets Field would stick out like a sore thumb on the eastside whereas it would fit in perfectly with the Bosse Field district, giving the city yet another tool to make sure another city doesn't steal the game.

4. Evansville is extremely fortunate to have the African-American Museum. This museum is located in Downtown Evansville and would be closer to the ball fields site than the far east side.

5. Given the history of the Jacobsville region, the ball fields at Kleymeyer could market the history of the Negro League as a part of the game.

As usual, Evansville is given a choice- We can build 8 dull and boring ball fields on the east side or we can build 8 vintage MLB fields at Kleymeyer that will actually produce for our society such as working to improve diversity in youth baseball.

If we want to bring diversity to our entertainment acts, our mission is simple- Save Roberts Stadium & build the ball fields at Kleymeyer Park!