By Jimmy Nesbitt, Evansville Courier & Press
Urging city leaders to look beyond themselves and toward the impact on future generations, supporters of a new Downtown arena dominated the discussion of the future of Roberts Stadium at Tuesday's public hearing.
The supporters, who ranged from local businessmen, young professionals and retired residents, envisioned a new arena as a cornerstone to the future of Downtown. They said it could stimulate existing businesses, attract new ones and add to a growing residential district in the Downtown area. Many also cited a new arena as a way to keep young professionals from leaving the city.
"Please do the right thing," Bruce Griffin, a Downtown arena supporter, told the board. "We've never had a major destination place like a Downtown arena. Just the announcement will create spinoff development."
Griffin said a new arena should be built near the Executive Inn and D-Patrick Ford, one of eight Downtown sites suggested by Gateway Consultants, the company the city hired to study the stadium.
"Now lets stop talking about it and get it built," Griffin said, drawing an applause.
A number of the businessmen who spoke were realtors, representatives of contracts and Downtown business owners - people who potentially could benefit from the construction of a new Downtown arena.
Ken Newcomb, president of F.C. Tucker Commercial, said the debate over whether to renovate Roberts Stadium or build a new arena shouldn't be a political issue.
"This is about new life in Evansville," Newcomb said.
Newcomb said building a new arena on the Roberts Stadium site, which is one of the options for a new arena, would not create growth.
"But Downtown will," he said.
Newcomb urged city leaders to get support from both the public and private sectors and "go to the people who we've given the abatements to."
Several members of the advisory board already have spoken publicly in favor of a new arena.
Downtown consensus
The consensus has been a 10,000-seat arena Downtown. Gateway Consultants has said building a new arena Downtown would make available funding sources that wouldn't exist at other locations. The company has estimated that a new Downtown arena with 10,000 seats would cost around $93 million, while a new arena with 14,000 seats would cost $166.9 million.
Sherman Stevens suggested the city build an even larger arena, one that could seat 20,000.
"Go for broke man," Stevens said emphatically, throwing his fist in the air. "Let's go for it. This is our chance."
Roberts Stadium has served Evansville well but has outlived its usefulness and is no longer large enough, Stevens said.
"Every five to 10 years, we keep having to put money in it," he said.
The stadium was renovated in 1990. The city spent $16.2 million to add side concourses, air conditioning and 1,080 retractable seats. The stadium's wooden bleachers were replaced with chair-back seats, and the floor was lowered.
A new Downtown arena built near The Centre, allowing the two facilities to be cross-sold, could boost the number of conventions and events that come to Evansville each year, said Marilee Fowler, executive director of the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"All we have to do is look at other communities that have convention centers and arenas in proximity," Fowler said.
David Coker, president of the Vanderburgh County Taxpayers Association, said the city should be wary of making such an investment because of the economy.
"We're in an economic recession," Coker said.
Coker said several large employers are losing money, and their stock prices are dropping, leading to layoffs.
"If this economy is having this kind of impact, what is it doing to households," Coker said. "I just don't think that this is the appropriate time. Evansville is constantly looking for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow."
At least two people who spoke said the decision to build a new arena should be put on a voter referendum to let the entire community decide.
Ellis Redd, vice president of human resources for Vectren, said many of his friends leave Evansville on weekends because it lacks entertainment options. Redd said it's difficult for Vectren to recruit talented professionals to Evansville when they are competing against cities with a more vibrant Downtown.
"I believe (a new arena) is an investment with both short-term and long-term opportunities."
Henning said after the meeting that a Downtown arena appears "to be the consensus of the people." He added that there's a lot of information that still needs to be digested before moving forward.
Gateway will make a recommendation to the advisory board later this month. The advisory board is expected to make a recommendation to the city in May.