What Were They Thinking?

Yesterday Fox 7 interviewed three candidates for the city council at-large positions, and some of the results were quite disappointing. Although one candidate seemed open to saving Roberts Stadium (Mr. Steve Smith), the rest of the candidates in this article seemed to lean strongly in favor of demolishing Roberts Stadium. They didn't give a verbal commitment to save Roberts Stadium and they didn't talk about the great history that Roberts Stadium contains within her four walls that local residents value deeply. Any candidate who supports demolition is in the minority with this viewpoint but it still makes you wonder: Do some of these candidates really see the potential we have with this historic venue?

Let's start with the worst Roberts Stadium opponent first...

Jonathan Weaver

"It needs to go, quite frankly its the worst stadium I've ever seen in my life,"

All I can say is WOW. Granted I have been to A LOT of stadiums, arenas, and ballparks all across the U.S and Canada and I'm not sure how many Mr. Weaver has been to but Roberts Stadium is FAR from the worst stadium/arena. It's not even close. I have seen arenas with troughs for urinals, falling in roofs, half paved floors, and signs with spiders all over them. Like I have been saying in previous blog posts, Roberts Stadium is in far better shape than city hall would like for you to believe...

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2010/11/rumors-of-roberts-stadiums-demise-has.html
http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2010/12/hntb-existing-roberts-stadium-building.html

Furthermore, this comment goes against the belief of local citizens. I, Mr. Rick Davis, and several of his poll walkers have gone through the neighborhoods around Roberts Stadium. Not ONE of those neighbors wanted Roberts Stadium gone. They did however want Mr. Weaver gone from office last year...

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/nov/02/fluty-unseats-weaver-vanderburgh-assessor-race-gri/

Lastly, this building can't be too bad. The lowered floor was designed by architect Ralph Legeman. Mr. Legeman would later patent the idea of a below ground floor and would go on to design over 27 arena bowls around the Midwest. He even designed his house here in Evansville to replicate Roberts Stadium.

Make no mistake, Ralph Legeman designed a damn good looking stadium/arena and Hank Roberts did a wonderful job fighting to get it built!

Connor O'Daniel

"It's irresponsible to keep that thing moth balled forever at $400,000 a year that's money that should go to our parks,"

Several things here...

1. It would be irresponsible to leave Roberts Stadium empty when it has great potential as a mid-sized arena.

2. NO, zero funds need to go to the parks department until they have produced a clear master plan for what they plan on doing for our parks. Until then, it will be money thrown out the window. Back in 2002, the parks department undertook an amazing master plan for Garvin Park which would have included a bridge over to Kleymeyer Park. If this plan would have been realized we would have already been half way to upgrading Kleymeyer Park in order to put 8 vintage MLB style baseball fields there which I would match-up against Dunn's wesselman ball fields plan ANY DAY of the week.

Instead, the parks department struck a deal with Dunn to build 8 more dull, boring ball fields at the same time parks such as Sunset, Garvin, Kleymeyer, and Vann were rotting away. Giving the parks department more money, now THAT would be irresponsible.

3. When did the mothball costs go up to $400,000? It really amazes me how this estimate keeps going up from $280,000 to $300,000 and now $400,000.

4. Why not put the $400,000 towards raising the floor back up where we can shut the pumps off? In a scaled back Roberts Stadium, we have the potential for indoor football, indoor soccer, and minor league basketball. One local citizen already has 2 teams lined up and shouldn't have too hard of a time getting the third.

5. If we demolish Roberts Stadium and give funding to the parks, aren't we just going to have to take it back to maintain whatever goes on the Roberts Stadium lot? Demolition is a zero-sum game...

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/04/demolition-is-zero-sum-game.html

Steve Smith

"If we can't come up with an economically viable plan, it costs $15,000 t a month to keep it open,"

I certainly find this comment to be acceptable because it is true that it would cost money to maintain a mothballed Roberts Stadium, and I certainly don't want this great building to sit there collecting dust. However, what would the costs be of an open lot/park? How many tourists would that attract? How many resources would that pull away from our parks department? We HAVE to find a use for Roberts Stadium!

The main thing here is that this point is moot. There are several great plans that are economically viable for Roberts Stadium. In order to implement one though, city hall must realize this is going to take funding, but it is funding that would be needed anyways if you were to demolish the building (like I said in the demolition post).

If worse came to worst, at least leave the building open for greenway walkers to jog around during snowy and rainy days. Many arenas do this already, and it's quite successful.

Overall, I was quite disappointed in some of the responses given by a couple of the candidates towards Roberts Stadium. I understand this is "the year of the tea party," but if we are just going to look at Roberts Stadium from a dollars and cents standpoint, we aren't going to get too far. Yes, Roberts Stadium can and will continue to make money. Heck, the building is completely paid off (How many other government buildings can say that?).

If we are going to truly maximize Roberts Stadium's potential we must respect the great history and nostalgia of this Evansville icon. That is when we will be able to do great things with Roberts Stadium.

It is good to note though that the two candidates who were not in the interview ( Dr. Dan Adams and Sonya Kates Nixon) both support keeping Roberts Stadium and I am thoroughly convinced the majority of the council will support Roberts Stadium this time next year.

With the six candidates on the right giving strong verbal commitments to save Roberts Stadium, and Mr. Steve Smith giving a strong verbal commitment to fight to find an economically viable option for Roberts Stadium, we should be in great shape this time next year.

However, this is where you the voter and viewer of this blog can get involved. You must understand the importance of only voting for those candidates who support Roberts Stadium.

On May 3rd, remember those who will remember Roberts Stadium!

6th Ward City Council Candidates Are As Different As Night And Day

With just a week and a half to go before election day, the Courier & Press has been running articles all week where local political candidates have been asked the same set of questions. One of those questions deals with the fate of our beloved Roberts Stadium so I have been paying close attention to the answers, and I sure hope you have too.

It is extremely important that we pay close attention to those candidates who support Roberts Stadium and those who don't. On the right hand side of this blog, you will see the list of candidates who have pledged to save Roberts Stadium and you will also see the endorsements below it. Please support those candidates you see as they all are fully behind Roberts Stadium.

Yesterday, the Courier & Press chose the 6th Ward, which happens to be the Ward I live in, to ask the candidates 6 simple questions. The 6th Ward pits incumbent B.J Watts against challenger Al Lindsey. Although we are lucky to have some Wards where all candidates support Roberts Stadium ( such as the 3rd Ward), the 6th Ward Candidates are different as night and day on Roberts Stadium.

Here are the questions...

http://media.courierpress.com/media/static/demsward6cc.pdf

Let's breakdown the answers the 2 candidates gave us in regards to Roberts Stadium...

Q: What should be the city's plan for Roberts Stadium and how should it be paid for?

B.J. Watts

"I don't know the answer to what to do with a 60 year old building with a lot of problems..."

Several points here...

1. The first 5 words in this sentence tell us all we need to know about Mr. Watt's plan for Roberts Stadium. He has no ideas.

2. The building is NOT 60 years old. The original parts of the building are 55 years old, and the renovated parts are only 20 years old. It's kind of interesting how city hall was claiming that Roberts Stadium was renovated too much to get it placed on the historical list and away from demolition for the ball fields, but now it is too old to be saved?

3. Mr. Watts is CLEARLY drinking the Weinzapfel kool-aid here if he believes Roberts Stadium has " a lot of problems." Roberts Stadium is in a much better shape than city hall would like for you to believe...

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2010/11/rumors-of-roberts-stadiums-demise-has.html
http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2010/12/hntb-existing-roberts-stadium-building.html

"Roberts Stadium has been a huge part of the success of Evansville over the past 50 years, but it has done all it came here to do."

So now we have a 60 year old venue with only 50 years of success? Sounds like some fuzzy math is going on here, especially since it has been over 55 years ago that Hank Roberts fought to the bitter end to get Roberts Stadium built.

The last part of that sentence tells us what Mr. Watts' true intentions are for Roberts Stadium: demolition. I still question how city hall can claim that Roberts Stadium is functionally obsolete when they have refused to study reuse alternatives. They would rather Roberts Stadium disappear into the middle of the night and be done with it.

"If our city wants to continue to grow and bring new industry we have to look to the next 50 years, not focus on the past 50 years."

Yes, the residents here in the 6th Ward definitely need to look to the next 50 years by electing Al Lindsey rather than focusing on the past 10 years in the 6th Ward which have been horrendous at best.

Also, what does Roberts Stadium have to do with bringing new industries to Evansville? Does Mr. Watts propose slapping a huge warehouse on the lot? Is he referring to the softball industry where the fields would be better served at Kleymeyer Park with vintage MLB style fields?

And how in the world will demolishing Roberts Stadium bring new industries to Evansville? Did demolishing the old Sterling Brewery bring new industries to town? What about the demolition of the old L&N station? The answer is no, both sites are still flat open fields.

Ironically, if Mr. Watts' father-in-law David Mosby would have simply listened to the experts we wouldn't even be in this position...

http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=931099

If David Mosby would have voted against digging six feet into the soil we would probably have...

1. A Roberts Stadium in its full, original form without any water pumps

2. A downtown arena with USI as the main tenant ( the alternative proposal in the late 80s/ early 90s) possibly awaiting a new renovation and possibly awaiting the Aces moving in.

3. A stronger downtown Evansville.

It is very important that we put the right people in office who are going to make the right decisions that are best for our historic Roberts Stadium.


Al Lindsey

"Save it, reinvent it, using the ideas from the citizens,..."

This right here is the perfect answer for people like us who want to save this Evansville icon. It also happens to be the correct answer. Saving Roberts Stadium under the plan I have been advocating for will allow for us to tap into the mid-sized arena economy which would be non-existent if we demolish Roberts Stadium. There's the answer to your "new industries" problem.

"...use the same funding mechanism that was to be used to raze it and to build 18 million dollars worth of ball fields."

EXACTLY! How can those who support demolition claim that it's necessary to save money when the only plan brought forward was to cost 18 million dollars? The truth is, demolition is a zero-sum game and city hall needs to start focusing their money on saving not demolishing Roberts Stadium...

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/04/demolition-is-zero-sum-game.html

I would also like to add that Mr. Lindsey is fully committed to the Save Roberts Stadium movement. Mr. Lindsey was one of the first people to order a "Save Roberts Stadium" shirt when I began distributing them.

When I dropped the shirt off at the fire station that Mr. Lindsey was working at, he was initially just a few pennies short. I told Mr. Lindsey not to worry about just a few pennies but he insisted otherwise. He told me, " Every penny matters when it comes to saving this great venue." Al then went out to his vehicle in the parking lot and dug until he found those final few pennies. In my opinion, we have the opportunity to elect the next "Honest Abe" Lincoln.

As you can see, the two democratic candidates for the 6th Ward City Council are as different as night and day. One candidate is fully committed to saving this great venue while the other is fully committed to the idea that Roberts Stadium has seen its best days come and go.

If we are going to have any shot at saving this Evansville icon, we MUST put the right people in office. For those living in the 6th Ward, that is voting for Al Lindsey. I hope you will continue to support the Save Roberts Stadium movement by putting Roberts Stadium supporter Al Lindsey on the city council!

Demolition Is A Zero-Sum Game

From the beginning, we have heard opponents of saving Roberts Stadium cite the costs of keeping it up or converting it to another use as reason to demolish it. They believe that Roberts Stadium will become a burden to taxpayers and are unwilling to spend an extra penny on anything related to Roberts Stadium.

One thing that we haven't heard from those who want to demolish Roberts Stadium is a plan that will spare taxpayers from having to pay out several million dollars.

First we had the ball fields plan from the ECVB. This plan was terrible from the word go. The fields were an amazing $17.5 million and would have locked up the Innkeepers tax for 25 years. Even with that hefty price tag, they were dull and uninspiring. It didn't take long for many residents to oppose this plan with their main objection being price.

But now those who want Roberts Stadium demolished have insisted that Roberts Stadium is too much to maintain or renovate even though zero reuse proposals have been released to the public and it is just assumed that Roberts Stadium would have to be mothballed.

Initial estimates to mothball Roberts Stadium have varied from $280,000, to $300,000, and all the way up to $400,000. The truth is, no one really knows the cost of a mothballed Roberts Stadium as they are just using this figure as an excuse to tear it down. They refuse to use even an ounce of energy on researching how much the maintenance would be to maintain it in various refuse forms, and they absolutely have not approached a public-private partnership to lease the building in exchange for the tenant financing the maintenance.

For the record, I have been approached by an investor who is willing to manage Roberts Stadium and give up a small percentage of a few teams he has in exchange for the right to use Roberts Stadium. All we have to do is finance the raising of the floor with initial estimates coming in far less than the $1-$2 million demolition fee and it would allow for the city to be able to turn off the water pumps knocking off a good chunk of the maintenance expenses. So even if Roberts Stadium is just mothballed, the finger should be pointed directly at city hall.

It is this SAME stubbornness of Roberts Stadium opponents that has caused them to fail to draw up a proper reuse plan for the lot. Why haven't they drawn up a plan? Simply put, it's easier to attack the Roberts Stadium maintenance costs than to come up with a plan that will avoid high maintenance costs and require zero taxpayer dollars themselves.

We already know that taxpayers will be on the hook for a $1-$2 million bill should Roberts Stadium be demolished although it has yet to be determined whether that bill would be stuck on property taxpayers, Casino Aztar patrons, or tourists who just want to spend a night in an Evansville hotel.

What we haven't heard is a plan to reuse the Roberts Stadium lot that will not need public funding. Like I said earlier, the ball fields plan had such high maintenance and construction costs that it was rejected by the majority of Evansville residents. Now, most Roberts Stadium opponents say they want a park, maybe with a lake, maybe with some trails going through it.

What amazes me about those who feel that way is that I truly believe that they expect a park the size of Roberts Stadium and it's parking lot to be cheap to build and cheap to maintain if not free.

To anyone who lives within the Evansville metro area, it is common knowledge that our city parks are crumbling at unacceptable rates. In fact, local resident Dr. Troost is leading a campaign to dramatically improve these parks after his daughter found a drug needle in the sand box she was playing in at Sunset Park...

http://city-countyobserver.com/2011/02/02/4857/

Even the Evansville Parks Department has said point blank that they CANNOT take on anymore parks...

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jun/20/special-report-evansville-parks-department-isnt/

Knowing that, why would anyone believe that adding a park the size of Roberts Stadium and its parking lot is a good idea?

Make no mistake, we can do a park AND Roberts Stadium but it would have to be in the form of a botanical garden where research dollars are available and tourists pay to walk the grounds...

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2010/11/roberts-stadium-proposal-8-botanical.html

A botanical garden next to Roberts Stadium would be a great idea as it would make a perfect buffer between the city and the wildlife of Wesselman Park. In fact, Oklahoma City just renovated their Myriad Gardens next to their arena (formerly the Ford Center) where the OKC Thunder play...

http://www.myriadgardens.com/

For those who just want to see something green out there, a botanical garden working in harmony with Roberts Stadium would make much more financial sense than paying to demolish Roberts Stadium and replacing it with a dull, generic park which the Parks Department has already said they don't have the manpower for.

As for any other ideas for demolishing Roberts Stadium, none I have heard of are practical or would be any cheaper than a park, thus they too are more expensive than keeping Roberts Stadium.

Those who oppose the Save Roberts Stadium movement simply because they don't want to spend a single penny on anything need to realize that there is no plan that is free.

Mayor Weinzapfel has said that demolishing Roberts Stadium would make sense financially because paying $1-$2 million to demolish it would pay itself off in 6 years when the city has paid $300,000 a year to mothball it...

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/nov/23/evansville-visitors-bureau-reduces-ball-fields-bud/

What he doesn't tell you is this...

1. If Roberts Stadium is mothballed, it will because city hall itself chose not to reuse/lease the building. Several investors have been expressing interest in it for over 3 years now...

http://www.14wfie.com/story/9552025/will-old-roberts-stadium-stay-or-go?clienttype=printable

2. Demolition may be paid off in 6 years, but that doesn't include maintenance of the site regardless of whatever goes there.

3. Simply raising the floor back up for less than $1 million would eliminate the majority of the $300,000 maintenance expense when the water pumps would be shut off.

4. The Parks Dept. has already admitted they don't have any extra manpower.

5. The only fund mentioned to finance the demolition was the Casino Aztar fund. Wasn't that account only to be used for tourism like the Innkeepers Tax?

With all of that being said, the main thing to realize with Roberts Stadium is that demolition is a zero-sum game. Tearing it down WILL NOT save the taxpayer from having to put up any funds. In fact, demolition would cost the taxpayer a million or two with zero ROI on their money as they would end up with an empty lot.

It's time to quit discussing the demolition of historic Roberts Stadium and start talking about what we would like to do with it. Roberts Stadium will be a wonderful icon for the city of Evansville for years to come!

Thank You To All Those Who Placed A Bid At The WNIN Auction

(photo courtesy of Ryan Beal; click to enlarge)

I would just like to say how grateful and thankful I am to all those who bid on my extra Save Roberts Stadium shirt last night at the PBS/WNIN Auction. I was only expecting the bids to go maybe as high as $15 or even $20 but you the viewers of this blog took the bidding to a whole new level.

The shirt ended up selling for $32! That is incredible, and I think it sends a strong message to city hall that we are very serious about keeping our Evansville icon. It also sends a strong message that you the viewer also care about WNIN. We are very blessed to have our own local PBS station here in Evansville, and we need to make sure we keep it that way.

If you didn't place a bid last night and still want to help WNIN, don't worry, the auction will still be going on all the way up to Saturday night so you can still help out.

Once again, I want to thank you the viewers who called in and bid on the Save Roberts Stadium shirt I donated to WNIN. Please keep up the good work as we continue the battle to SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!

(photo courtesy of Ryan Beal; click to enlarge)

Action Alert: Bid On A Save Roberts Stadium Shirt At The PBS Auction Tomorrow Night

Tomorrow night, I will be speaking at the PBS/Channel 9 Aution during the 7 p.m hour as we will be auctioning off a Save Roberts Stadium shirt. If you didn't purchase a shirt last time around, this would be a good time to get in on the bidding since 100% of your bid will go to a great cause- PBS/WNIN.

Like Roberts Stadium, WNIN is a great asset to our community. Located in the historic Carpenter Building, WNIN produces great shows that our whole community can enjoy. I have been fortunate enough to work on the camera crew for shows such as Newsmakers, Lawmakers, and Shively & Shoulders.

This year, WNIN could face sharp budget cuts, so we need to step up to the plate for them. I hope you will do this by bidding high on a Save Roberts Stadium shirt tomorrow night!

An Idea For Roberts Stadium From Joe Gaiter

As previously stated, I enjoy receiving fan mail from this blog and love posting ideas from you the people. A few weeks ago, I received an email with an idea from Joe Gaiter for Roberts Stadium.

The following are links sent to me by him with a brief explanation...

http://www.raysmtb.com/mke/index.php
http://www.raysmtb.com/cle/index.php

Turn it into a Mountain bike indoor park. Go to www.raysmtb.com to see what they have done in Cleveland and Milwaukee. Could be a money maker as well as give Local youth and fitness enthusiast a place to exercise/ hone their riding skills through the winter.

We have been to both Ray’s sites and though Roberts is ½ the size there are great possibilities with the stairs and multiple levels as well as the corridors. Plus it would beat having to drive 6-7 hrs in the snow to go biking for the day. There is a lot of MX/BMX talent in this area but with weather blocking out ½ the year for outside practice an indoor playground would benefit Evansville as well as the surrounding area.

The thing that makes this idea such a great one is that RaysMTB specializes in mountain biking. Why would mountain biking be a natural fit for Roberts Stadium?

1. The Pigeon Creek Greenway master plan calls for taking the trail past Roberts Stadium:

http://www.indianatrails.org/PCG.htm
http://www.pcgreenway.org/pdf_publications/GreenwayPassage.pdf

This would tie in perfectly with the Greenway image. It would also give riders a place to go when it rains

2. It's profitable. RaysMTB is a private company that profits off this business thus proving it makes sense to explore this as an option.

3. It brings in tourists. RaysMTB works hand in hand with local hotels in Cleveland and Milwaukee to bring in tourists to those cities. You want an affordable option for the Innkeepers Tax? This is it. Furthermore, the other two RaysMTB locations are over 5 hours away.

4. The pricing is reasonable. It doesn't costs several hundred dollars for admission like some other venues may charge.

5. It fits the goals of Wesselman Park perfectly. Everyone seems to be in agreement that something recreational should go in Roberts Stadium. This is it!

Overall, I think it's a great idea and one that should definitely be explored. One idea that intrigues me is this: Could we raise the floor up, convert Roberts Stadium to a midsized arena with indoor soccer, football, and basketball, and then set Roberts Stadium up as a mountain bike course on off days?

A Statement From Save Roberts Stadium Supporter Sylvia Trabits-Niemeier

I am very fortunate to pass onto you a message from Sylvia Trabits-Niemeier. I am very thankful for the opportunity Sylvia gave me last fall to walk door to door gathering up ideas for Roberts Stadium for both my blog and her Wesselman Park Support Group. Sylvia is running for the City Council and the following is a statement from her...

I'm Sylvia Trabits-Niemeier, an outspoken candidate for the 3rd Ward City Council. I'm a lifetime resident of Evansville. People say they have no voice. I will be that voice and explain why I vote a certain way on an issue.

I helped defeat the ball complex in Wesselman Park. I believe Roberts Stadium is still an asset to the community. This facility has many uses and one is an Emergency Disaster Relief center.

Public safety is a number one goal for me. My experience as a Meteorologist with the Federal Government has trained me for many disaster situations.

I fully support fire fighters and the police. I do not want to see any fire stations closed. I would like to bring back the park rangers to protect our parks.

People work hard for their money and I want to maintain property values.

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Sociology form the University of Southern Indiana.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the university of Southern Indiana.
Meteorology degree Federal government from U.S.D.A.

Experience

Strong background in Environmental issues and currently working at Standard Laboratories.
Eight years experience as a Meteorologist with the Federal Government.
Combined seven years teaching experience at the University of Southern Indiana and Ivy Tech in Science.

Member

Wesselman Park Support Group
Roberts/wesselman Committee
Iroquois Garden Association

Please vote May 3rd for Sylvia Trabits-Niemeier #26

Email Sylviajt@wowway.com

56 Years Ago Today It All Began

Today marks the 56th anniversary of the first ground breaking for construction of Roberts Stadium. Construction would last for over a year and a half until October 28,1956 when Roberts Stadium welcomed the Harlem Globetrotters to the stadium for the first ever event. At that event, no one would ever guess just how successful Roberts Stadium would be. I am very proud that my own Grandpa Hobert Cooper was one of the construction workers who built this Evansville icon.

Over the past 56 years, Roberts Stadium has seen many people and many events. She has seen presidents, political activists, singers, celebrities, sports stars, sports coaches, and many other legendary people. She has also seen concerts, conventions, shows, sports games, and sports tournaments.

Without Roberts Stadium, there's no telling just how small and powerless Evansville would be. There would be no legendary Aces basketball program, there would be no concerts bringing in tourist dollars, and, most importantly, there would have been no place for the grieving to go in 1977 when the Ace's plane crashed. None of this would have been possible without Roberts Stadium, and none of this would have been possible without the vision and leadership of Mayor Hank Roberts.

The amazing thing about Roberts Stadium is that this great building still stands tall and strong today. One quick walk around the facility and you notice a nice smooth floor/court, a nice smooth and clean walkway, quality plastic seats for each and every section, and a strong and healthy structural system. We will be making a HUGE mistake if we demolish this great facility.

56 years later, we owe Mayor Hank Roberts a huge thank you for getting this facility built. We also need to count our lucky stars that he was able to get this arena built despite the vocal rants by the naysayers who said it would never be built or it would never work. These same people (or at least their friends and relatives) are out in full force again for the new arena this year. They didn't believe it should be built, and they still don't think it will prosper. They will be wrong again.

2011 will be the most important year of Roberts Stadium's life. Why? Because, in all likelihood, 2011 will be the year that will determine if Roberts Stadium sticks around for another 56 years or prematurely fades away into the sunset with the Orr building, the old L & N train station, and the Sterling Brewery. All these facilities were demolished with very little to show for it ( I'm sorry a lloyd Expressway overpass just doesn't cut it for me).

If you believe in the vision that Hank Roberts had for Roberts Stadium 56 years ago today, if you believe that Roberts Stadium is an Evansville icon with many more years of life left in her, and if you believe that demolishing this great venue would be a mistake of epic proportions just like the demolition of the other 3 buildings, than get active, make your voice heard.

Now is the time to be heard. We need to take a stand. 56 years ago today, Hank Roberts boldly signed off on the construction of Roberts Stadium. Today, let's make that same pledge to keep Roberts Stadium going!

Last 2 Days To Order a Save Roberts Stadium Shirt

Just a reminder, if you would like to order a Save Roberts Stadium shirt please send me an email by Wednesday evening as I will be turning in the order on Thursday.

Here is the link to the shirts:

http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/02/support-roberts-stadium-with-save.html

And remember...

-I'm selling these AT COST
- Shirts are only $8
- Email me (JordanBaer1@gmail.com) your name, contact #, and where you want me to mail or deliver your shirt(s).
- Wear this shirt to every event you can

THANKS!

Jeremy Heath Supports Save Roberts Stadium!

It is with great pride that I can also report to you that City Council at Large candidate Jeremy Heath has given me his full commitment to saving Roberts Stadium. Jeremy said it best with this statement he gave me...

I am in agreement that everything possible that we can do to save the stadium NEEDS to be done.

I couldn't have said it any better myself. Like Jeremy, I believe that Evansville is at yet another crossroads. We can either decide to keep demolishing historic Evansville icons by adding Roberts Stadium to that list OR we can take a stand and let everyone know just how much we truly cherish Roberts Stadium.

Jeremy understands just how important Roberts Stadium is to Evansville. On the council, we can rest assure that Jeremy will do everything in his power to fight for our belief that Roberts Stadium should be saved.

Another thing about Jeremy is that he is 25 years old like me. Most people who support demolishing Roberts Stadium have labeled us Roberts Stadium supporters as " grumpy old folks who refuse to accept change." Well, I hope that Jeremy taking a stand will prove to everyone just how false that belief is.

Thank you Jeremy for joining the Save Roberts Stadium movement and I hope you the citizens of Evansville will support him with your vote this May 3rd.

Save Roberts Stadium Endorses Jeremy Heath City Council at Large.

Vote Jeremy Heath!

Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley Backs Save Roberts Stadium

Folks, the Save Roberts Stadium movement is getting stronger by the day. Today, I was fortunate enough to discuss the future of Roberts Stadium over some lunch with City Council 3rd Ward candidate Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley.

It was such a great breath of fresh air to speak with Stephanie who truly understands the importance of Roberts Stadium to the community, the steps me must take to preserve Roberts Stadium, and, most importantly, the willingness to listen to those who want to save this Evansville icon.

Stephanie is one of those candidates we absolutely have to have on the council if we have any desire to save Roberts Stadium and get Evansville moving forward. If you are in the 3rd Ward, I hope you will take this golden opportunity to heart and vote for her.

Stephanie strongly backs...

1. A committee to study Roberts Stadium
2. Keeping Roberts Stadium as long as it breaks even
3. Getting 3rd Ward residents active in the Save Roberts Stadium movement

I'm very thankful for Stephanie coming out boldly for Roberts Stadium at a time when supporting Roberts Stadium is a highly political and controversial issue. I hope you will reward her at the election booth.

On May 3rd Vote Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley!

VoteBrinkerhoffRiley.com

City Council Candidate Patrick McBride Comes Out In Support of Save Roberts Stadium

This week just keeps getting better and better. The final Aces game at Roberts Stadium was a blast, this blog saw over 500 people log on to it Saturday, and now.... City Council Candidate Patrick McBride has come out in support of the Save Roberts Stadium movement.

First of all, I want to say that any candidate for office here in Evansville is more than welcome to sign the pledge to save Roberts Stadium. However, if you sign it, please understand that I will expect a good faith effort to save this Evansville icon.

I talked to Mr. McBride last night and am very pleased to get his official commitment to saving Roberts Stadium. I am thoroughly convinced that Patrick is displaying bold leadership with this move. Instead of just going with the flow, Patrick is going against the wave of city hall by standing up for this historic venue and I am very thankful to him for that.

Patrick is in a tough race in Ward 2. Ward 2 is one of the few races where I like both candidates (Missy Mosby & Patrick McBride). I hope that regardless of how the primary turns out, both candidates will remain active in government. But with that being said, I really hope Patrick makes the City Council because I feel like he is just what we need.

With McBride in office, I am 110% convinced that we will be able to save Roberts Stadium. The chance to save 55 years of history only comes once in a lifetime so it is very important to elect candidates like Patrick who will ensure us that this great venue will be protected not destroyed.

On May 3rd I hope you will have pride and VOTE MCBRIDE!

Off The Charts Support For Save Roberts Stadium

It is with great pride that I can report two things to you...

1. Saturday's final Aces game brought 503 viewers to this blog which is a new daily record for Save Roberts Stadium.


2. As a result, over 5,000 viewers have visited this blog all-time (5,193 right now).


First of all, I want to say THANK YOU! I could not take on this battle to save Roberts Stadium without your support. I started this blog back in August/September of last year when it seemed like the ball fields/ Roberts Stadium demolition were a done deal. Today, the ball fields project is dead and Roberts Stadium is standing strong. You the viewers of this blog are the reason for this.

Although the ball fields project is dead, we still need to find a proper use for Roberts Stadium. For this reason, I am asking for your continued support on this record setting journey. As always, make sure you contact your legislators (emails on the side), buy a shirt which I'm selling AT COST ($8- details in a few posts under this one), and continue writing in to the Courier & Press (email on the side).

One way or the other, everyone in city hall, and the whole city of Evansville for that matter, are going to understand the importance of this venue to Evansville.

Thank you for your support and let's keep this momentum going!

My " Support Roberts Stadium with a Save Roberts Stadium Shirt" YouTube Video Is Up!

After many hours of hard work, I have finally finished my Save Roberts Stadium shirt video. Check it out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyXsdUQlVu4&feature=youtube_gdata

Please buy a shirt, they are only $8 (Sizes 2XL + add $1.50).

Remember...

-I'm selling these AT COST
- Shirts are only $8
- Email me (JordanBaer1@gmail.com) your name, contact #, and where you want me to mail or deliver your shirt(s).
- Wear this shirt to every event you can

THANKS!

What A Finale!

(Click on images to enlarge)

Today, the Evansville Ace's men's basketball team played their final game at Roberts Stadium. This was one game I just wasn't going to miss. The chance to see the Ace's leave legendary Roberts Stadium only comes once in a lifetime and I sure hope you didn't miss this game either.

At first though, it did look like I was going to miss a good portion of the game. On my way to Roberts Stadium, my car's transmission decides to bust a seal and leak all of its transmission fluids out leaving my car paralyzed. That right there is the story of my life- CAR TROUBLE. It is my opinion that we should be saying good-bye to the automobile (and hello to mass transit) not Roberts Stadium.

After I got that situation under control, I ran a two-minute drill to the stadium and surprisingly made it right as the ball went up in the air. I'm disappointed that I missed the pregame festivities but am quite grateful to have made it to see the crowd come alive for the start of the game.

The game itself was hard fought. Throughout the whole time, it seemed like neither team was going to give up the lead. Thankfully, the Aces took control for good with just a few minutes to go and never looked back. Good Job Aces! Also, I would like to congratulate Illinois State on a great game as well. That had to have been a tough position to be in as the visiting team on Roberts Stadium's final game. My hat is off to both teams on a well played game.

The best part of the day was when Lance Wilkerson took the microphone at mid-court for a final tribute to Roberts Stadium. As Lance spoke, over 100 + UE basketball alumni gathered around him. I graduated from the University of Kentucky with an interest in sports management and I have never ever seen that many alumni comeback for a basketball game. Not even for the mighty UK Wildcats. The Aces did a great job bringing all of these legends back to the hardwood.

I also would like to thank the Aces athletic dept for allowing the fans (me) to go out on the court and mingle with the alumni after the game. The Aces didn't have to do that but they took it upon themselves to make sure the fans got as close to the game as possible. Last September, I drove to Omaha, Nebraska for the final game at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium. They did not allow the fans to go on the field. In my opinion, the difference in these two events is what makes the University of Evansville the class of all sporting organizations.

Once on the court, I had a field day. That was an amazing feeling to stand at mid-court and take in the entire Roberts Stadium surroundings. It was such a surreal moment.

While on the court, I brought my UE Aces basketball to get signed. I am very fortunate to have the autographs of Jerry Sloan, Jim Crews, Larry Humes, and Dick Walters. Once again, none of these great alumni had to socialize with fans or even come to the game. The fact that all of these alumni, who are nothing short of being legends of the hardwood, stayed after the game and signed autographs and took pictures for every single person who asked just shows the character that these men are made of. Today, the University of Evansville should be very proud of 1. its basketball team 2. its legendary alumni & 3. Roberts Stadium.

So with all of that being said, the battle to save Roberts Stadium still goes on. For this reason, we the people of Evansville must be vocal in our support for keeping this Evansville icon. If you went to today's game and felt no emotions to the great history of this facility than fine, BUT if you went to today's game and felt the history, the passion, and the nostalgia of this legendary venue, then come aboard the Save Roberts Stadium Express and let's get the job done!

As promised here are a few photos from today's game. Sometime this week, I will compile all the photos I took today and will post them in one huge slide show. Enjoy...














Thank You Aces, Thank You UE Alumni, & Thank You Roberts Stadium!

Here Is The OFFICIAL Shirt

(click on image to enlarge)

Thanks to Ad-Vision, I can now show you the EXACT design of the Save Roberts Stadium shirt.

Ad-Vision did an excellent job with the design and I hope you will decide to pick one (or many) up for yourself.

Remember...

-I'm selling these AT COST
- Shirts are only $8
- Email me (JordanBaer1@gmail.com) your name, contact #, and where you want me to mail or deliver your shirt(s).
- Wear this shirt to every event you can

THANKS!

Support Roberts Stadium With A Save Roberts Stadium Shirt

(Actual Shirt Design! Click on image to enlarge)

Although several people in the community understand that Roberts Stadium is an Evansville icon, I am not convinced that we have gotten the message out loud and clear to everyone in the city, including our elected officials.

For this reason, I have teamed up with local t-shirt maker Ad-Vision Screen Graphics to help get the word out about this blog's effort to save Roberts Stadium. As a part of my "Paint The Town Roberts Stadium Brown" mission, I am buying and then selling at cost "Save Roberts Stadium" t-shirts.

For only $8 (sizes available: kid's medium to adult XL, for 2XL and 3XL add $1.50), you can have your very own "Save Roberts Stadium" t-shirt. The t-shirt is brown (to commemorate the brown color of Roberts Stadium), and on the front it says in bold, " Save Roberts Stadium," with the blog URL underneath it. On the back it says, "Built by H. O Roberts-1956."


A couple of things about the shirt...

1. I am selling these shirts AT COST. This blog is about making the effort to save Roberts Stadium personal not profitable. I will not be making one dime off this project, and I believe that is the way it should be. My love for Roberts Stadium and desire to see her stick around for another 55 years are why I want you to purchase at least one shirt.

2. The two main goals of this t-shirt project are to 1. Get the word out about saving Roberts Stadium & 2. To recognize, respect, and pay tribute to H.O Roberts who gave up his political career so that Roberts Stadium would be built.

3. Although I would like to have these shirts made by the time the Aces play their last game Saturday, they simply will not be ready by then. However, I want you the people to wear these shirts everywhere you go so that every man, woman, and child in this town is aware of the Save Roberts Stadium movement.

4. With your t-shirt purchase, you will be supporting Ad-Vision Screen Graphics, a local small business (http://www.advisionscreengraphics.com/index.php?page=home).

If this project is successful, city officials will have no choice but to respect the wishes of the people and save Roberts Stadium, so I hope you will decide to participate in this project.

The t-shirt purchasing process is going to work like this:

* Ad-Vision must make all t-shirts at the same time while the printing machine is up and running. For this reason I must compile a list of who all wants to purchase a shirt(s). Please sign up to purchase a shirt(s) ONLY if you plan on actually buying them.

* To sign up to purchase a t-shirt, please send me your name, how many t-shirts you want, shirt size(s) and a contact phone number to JordanBaer1@gmail.com.

* If you would like for me to deliver this shirt (free) to you please let me know the address where I can drop it off (For delivery you must live in the Evansville area). If you would like for me to mail the shirt(s) please give me a shipping address as well. I will have to charge an at cost shipping fee which will be calculated on usps.com.

* I must have everyone's order by March 16. Shirts should be ready within one week.

Again, let's "Paint The Town Roberts Stadium Brown," and let everyone know that we want Roberts Stadium Saved.

I thank you the readers of this blog greatly for your support throughout this whole process and would appreciate any t-shirt you buy to SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!

The Best Roberts Stadium Article Ever Written

Today, Rich Davis of the Evansville Courier & Press published what I feel to be the best ever article written on Roberts Stadium. Here is the link...

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/feb/20/an-embodiment-of-evansvilles-pride/?partner=popular

Rich did an excellent job compiling great, historic photos of Roberts Stadium, compiling a Roberts Stadium timeline, and letting his readers know just why Roberts Stadium is so special to a lot of us here in Evansville. I thank him for this article.

Rich hit the nail on the head when he said that " Probably no other place in Evansville embodies the heart or spirit of this city more than Roberts Stadium, an old friend to many."

Given that, why in the world would our city governmnent want to tear it down? Roberts Stadium is the crown jewel of Evansville history and to compromise it would be to compromise a large chunk of Evansville's heart and soul.

The amazing thing to me is that the city of Louisville, Kentucky has two great arenas open right now (Freedom Hall and the Yum Center), yet many people argue that that is because Louisville is a much bigger city than us. Consider this...

Freedom Hall: Seating Capacity- Roughly 20,000
KFC Yum Center: Seating Capacity- 22,000

New Evansville Arena: Seating Capacity- Roughly 10,000-11,000
Roberts Stadium: Seating Capacity- 12,116

In other words, on a typical night, a Roberts Stadium event + a new Evansville Arena event ='s one event at Freedom Hall OR one event at the KFC YUM Center.

If we scale Roberts Stadium down to 6,000 or so seats, which would make it more attractive for indoor soccer, indoor football, and small concerts and trade shows, that mathematical equation gets even worse. We wouldn't have a combined total number of seats equal to Freedom Hall or the KFC Yum Center. And if we demolish Roberts Stadium, Louisville would have 4 times the seating capacity that we would have available.

Also, Louisville has Broadbent Arena (6,600 seats) and Louisville Gardens (3,000-6,000 seats) which are double Evansville's Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Coliseum (2,400 seats).

We would also be close in total seating capacity to the Qwest Center in Omaha, NE and Intrust Bank Center in Wichita, KS. Both of those cities have a university in the Missouri Valley Conference (Ace's Conference).

While Louisville, KY does have more residents than Evansville, surely we can keep from getting lapped TWICE by them, and surely we can keep up with our Missouri Valley Conference foes who have more seats in one arena than we would two.

To top it off, I still don't know why there are people here in town who feel like a 6,000 seat Roberts Stadium would compete with the new arena. Simply put, there is no way on earth a premier concert is going to pick Roberts Stadium over the new arena when it would barely have half the seating capacity and a third of the roof support strength. Two venues can and will compliment, not compete, with each other.

Again, Rich Davis did an excellent job conveying to the city what Roberts Stadium has meant to this history rich city. Now we must work to make sure that Roberts Stadium sticks around another 55 years to compliment our new arena.

The People Are Speaking Loud & Clear

If you read today's Evansville Courier & Press, and if you haven't shame on you it's only a few quarters yet tells you everything you want to know about Evansville, you will have seen yet another article supporting the idea of Evansville having two sports venues. First, here is a part of the article ( I want you to go to their website for the whole thing)...

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/feb/17/no-headline---174/

City could do well with two arenas

To the editor:

Back in 1990 when we were renovating Roberts Stadium — a renovation that was supposed to last for 50 years — we felt confident that this facility would be able to handle all future events.

That is, if we could work it into the 365-day calendar, without conflicting dates.

The argument we used back then on the renovation was simple: We needed more seats and more flexibility. We actually started working on this back in 1986. That plan was scrapped and the present Stadium renovation was adopted.

What the renovation did not do was add more days to the calendar. The new Downtown arena will not do this, either.

Jon Hill, a former stadium manager, once reported that many events that the Evansville could host are lost — not just because of the stadium's size or accommodations — but due to conflicting dates.

It was a dilemma that the renovation did not solve. Jon mentioned several large regional trade shows, equestrian events, conventions and other events on the same day or week that were lost.

Bill Hazelip

Evansville

First of all, thank you very much Bill Hazelip for writing in. I appreciate your article. I hope this encourages you the reader to write in to the C&P. For only a few minutes of your time, you too can write a letter to the C&P that will let everyone know that we want to save Roberts Stadium.

In regards to the article, this is exactly correct. The important thing to remember is that if we raise the floor back up and scale Roberts Stadium down to 6,000 or so seats it will NOT compete with the new arena.

Why do I know that? Because Roberts Stadium would not have adequate seating capacity, would not have strong enough steel on the roof, and would not have as much floor space as the new arena would which would prevent it from going after the premier concerts and such. Think about it, if Lady Gaga is coming to town, do you honestly think she is going to pick a 6,000 seat arena with only 60,000 lbs of steel roof support and a basketball sized floor when the new arena will have 180,000 lbs of steel roof support, 11,000 seat capacity, and a hockey sized floor? It's pretty simple, the two will not compete.

What Roberts Stadium will provide is the opportunity for concerts, sports teams, and trade shows who cannot afford the new arena but need something a little bigger than the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Coliseum. Indoor football, indoor soccer, local bands and concerts will not be able to finance an event at the new arena, thus these events will never happen if we don't have a mid-size arena.

The most frustrating thing I have noticed in Evansville is that every resident has decided to only be on one side or the other. One group likes the new arena but believes that Roberts Stadium should be demolished. On the other side is the group that thought Roberts Stadium should have been renovated/rebuilt and are strictly opposed to the new arena.

I support BOTH. I believe it was the correct decision to build a completely new arena than to renovate Roberts Stadium which would have basically been demolishing it and building a new one. Furthermore, it is the correct decision to build downtown as that is the most important area in this city and we desperately need to revitalize it. I can't wait til November when it opens up.

However, that doesn't mean we should tear down Roberts Stadium. Roberts Stadium means a lot to a lot of people including me. Hank Roberts fought very hard for this facility and we need to appreciate his work and Roberts Stadium's great history. We need to convert it to a mid-size arena.

I long for the day when this city decides that when it takes one step forward it will not take another step backward at the same time. That is what we will be doing if we demolish Roberts Stadium. We need to take TWO STEPS FORWARD by opening this great new arena and Save Roberts Stadium!

Please Note!

This past week, I have had several people approach me asking if I am associated with a "Roberts Stadium Rally" that is suppose to take place in the next few weeks.

This event, which is being put on by a group called "Saving Roberts Stadium Team 2011," is not my group.

I, in no way, am affiliated with or are associated with this group.

My group is aggresively pursuing a plan to save this historic Evansville icon and I thank you for all the support you have given me and the Save Roberts Stadium movement. I hope you will stay involved in this once in a lifetime opportunity to save 55 years worth of history.

Please check back for updates on future Save Roberts Stadium events that I am currently working on.

Again, THANK YOU for standing up for Roberts Stadium and let's save this great venue!

Post Winnecke vs Davis City-County Observer EDebate

Today Mayoral Candidates Lloyd Winnecke and Rick Davis squared off in a debate on the City-County/Community Observer. They were both asked the same five questions with question #2 being about Roberts Stadium.

You can view the question here...

http://community-observer.com/2011/02/07/edebate-davis-vs-winnecke/2/

First of all, it is my firm belief that the main difference between these two candidates is the issue of what to do with Roberts Stadium. I have talked to both of these candidates about Roberts Stadium and the responses were different as night and day.

Winnecke said he believed that Roberts Stadium should be "nothing but a hole in the ground" while Davis expressed his deep love for Roberts Stadium and his willingness to help me find a solution for Roberts Stadium. I fear that if Winnecke is elected, it will be lights out for Roberts Stadium.

Please note, when I say that Winnecke is bad for Roberts Stadium and the city of Evansville, I mean his political beliefs and stances. I am very grateful to Mr. Winnecke for willing to meet with me a few months ago, especially given that I now know that both parties are trying to distance themselves from me. This is mainly because I support Rick Davis and partially because I am a thorn in their side with my desire to save Roberts Stadium.

I am very proud of BOTH of these stances and I apologize to no one for my beliefs. I have reached out to both parties not just about saving Roberts Stadium, but to start a Mayor's Association, to get the ball fields built cheaper in a better location with better fields, and to discuss high speed rail.

Only Lloyd Winnecke and the candidates that support Rick Davis have met with me with Mayor Weinzapfel giving me less than 15 minutes to discuss Roberts Stadium, a NBDL team for the new arena, and the ball fields at Kleymeyer Park. Outside of that, ZERO political leaders were willing to listen to me, ZERO. For that reason, I fully support Rick Davis and Al Lindsey for office. I am disappointed in the way the Vanderburgh County Republican and Democrat parties are acting!

With that being said, let's break down the debate...

Lloyd Winnecke

I’ve heard many interesting ideas, although I have not heard from any qualified professionals

This is the main problem with Lloyd's handling of Roberts Stadium. He has not been proactive at all in solving the Roberts Stadium situation. Since talking to Lloyd, I have found an investor who has 2 + teams willing to go into Roberts Stadium if it's scaled back to 6,000 seats. We can finance the majority of this renovation simply by selling the 6,000 or so seats that would be removed for at least $100. None of that would have been discovered if I wasn't proactive with this blog. None of that would have been known if it were left up to city hall.

To sit unused in its current state, Robert's Stadium would cost approximately $300,000 per year. Part of this cost is due to the manner in which it was originally engineered. The floor of the stadium sits below the water table, requiring expensive pumps to run 24/7 to remove the excess water

.

Here we go with the water pumps scare again. I still haven't seen any balance sheet showing the $300,000 maintenance. I have seen this report where the costs of maintaining Roberts have been less than a third of that...

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/feb/06/how-smg-struck-out/?partner=RSS

"The repair and maintenance budget set by SMG for 2010 was $90,550," he said, providing supporting documentation. "SMG expended $69,658.25 and the Building Authority, after assuming maintenance responsibility, expended $6,045.63. Combined, this is $14,846.12 under the budgeted amount."

It's bad enough for city hall to try to starve Roberts Stadium to death with its limited funding, but to now raise that maintenance number up to $300,000 for political reasons is just as bad.

I am receptive to ideas for renovating Robert's Stadium,

It appears Lloyd is walking back the email response he sent to me in which he said, " As I previously mentioned, I don't believe the city can, or should, "save" Roberts Stadium."

I have two specific recommendations: first, the current mayor should appoint a committee to study this issue. Ideally this committee would be comprised of citizens who have ideas for possible re-use of the Stadium as well as engineers who can offer expertise on building modification and costs.

This would be a huge step in the right direction if Lloyd truly feels this way. If I had an engineer/architect working with me right now on this project, I would already have this project solved, guaranteed! Although there probably isn't a snowball's chance in... well you know where... that I would be picked on this panel, hopefully someone that believes in Roberts Stadium would be picked.

Rick Davis

The two leading contenders, according to the people who have completed the survey, are: Turn it into a natatorium; and turn it into a green space. I say: Let's do both!

Exactly, there is no reason why we cannot build a natatorium when we have to address the issue of Hartke Pool. A building that is compromised of an outdoor pool and slides, an indoor natatorium, and an indoor water park resort with ample amount of hotel rooms would be a great public-private partnership for the Hartke Pool area. Furthermore, a botanical garden next to Roberts Stadium with the back lot replanted would serve as the perfect buffer for wildlife. We can accomplish all of this with a successfully drawn out master plan.

I think spending $2 million to tear the building down is a waste of our $17 million investment in 1990.

Another great point: Why pay $2 million knock over Roberts Stadium when you could raise the floor and fix it up for around that same price or less?

We could use that $2 million earmarked for tearing Roberts Stadium, plus use other necessary dollars needed to "Reinvent Roberts" into a natatorium and green space, and keep the structure as a jewel for not only Evansville, but the entire Tri-State area.

If we finance the renovation of Roberts Stadium with the selling of seats, bricks with your name on them, and Roberts Stadium merchandise, we can then use the Innkeepers Tax to finance the other projects and hopefully clean up our parks as well.

I have gone door-to-door in the neighborhoods around Roberts Stadium and I did not have a single resident in the area say they wanted to see Roberts Stadium torn down.

This right here should tell city hall something. Why can't Evansville's political leaders realize that tearing down this great icon is a TERRIBLE idea?

Overall, I felt like the debate went good. It is refreshing to see that our local politicians are beginning to realize the value in Roberts Stadium. Rick Davis has been the first politician to come out in support of saving Roberts Stadium and now the rest can't help but follow.

Now, if I can get you the reader of this blog to continue emailing your local leaders, I believe we will save this great facility. Let's Save Roberts Stadium!