Vanderburgh County Commission President Cheryl Musgrave’s Remarks on the Groundbreaking for the Veterans Memorial Coliseum

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    March 21, 2024

    “The Coliseum is a special place. It feels alive with possibilities and makes everyone who enters come up with an infectious great idea on how to use the space.

    My great idea is live music on the stage, pulsating lighting, and crowds dancing on the perfect open floor. I just know my dad —who was lead singer, guitar, and bass player in bands for many years —would come in and start walking around, snapping his fingers testing the acoustics. I can hear the echoes of the musicians who played here at the Coliseum, from major touring groups like BB King to the rich melodies of the Evansville philharmonic orchestra. We will bring musicians back to play once again in this building that holds the musical soul of Evansville.

    The Commissioners have had the solid support of County Council to fund this beginning step using $6 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds. We thank our federal representatives for allocating these funds that will indeed rescue this facility from the impact of COVID’s devastating effects on the entertainment industry.

    We have assembled a talented team to breathe new life into the Coliseum. Hafer has created a vision that will make the Coliseum what it was always intended to be: a center of respect for veterans, a place to promote culture, and the best dance floor in the region.

    Harrell-Fish brings great construction talent to orchestrate repairs to the fundamental systems that power the Coliseum.

    I’d like to especially thank Alyssa Nilssen, Superintendent of County Buildings, for her work coordinating this tremendous undertaking. Her organizational talent is making this look

    effortless. Thanks also go to David Rector of the Building Authority for his expertise. We appreciate the mastery of Alexis Berggren of the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the vision and coordination she has brought to the project.”

    March 21, 2024

    “The Coliseum is a special place. It feels alive with possibilities and makes everyone who enters come up with an infectious great idea on how to use the space.

    My great idea is live music on the stage, pulsating lighting, and crowds dancing on the perfect open floor. I just know my dad —who was lead singer, guitar, and bass player in bands for many years —would come in and start walking around, snapping his fingers testing the acoustics. I can hear the echoes of the musicians who played here at the Coliseum, from major touring groups like BB King to the rich melodies of the Evansville philharmonic orchestra. We will bring musicians back to play once again in this building that holds the musical soul of Evansville.

    The Commissioners have had the solid support of County Council to fund this beginning step using $6 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds. We thank our federal representatives for allocating these funds that will indeed rescue this facility from the impact of COVID’s devastating effects on the entertainment industry.

    We have assembled a talented team to breathe new life into the Coliseum. Hafer has created a vision that will make the Coliseum what it was always intended to be: a center of respect for veterans, a place to promote culture, and the best dance floor in the region.

    Harrell-Fish brings great construction talent to orchestrate repairs to the fundamental systems that power the Coliseum.

    I’d like to especially thank Alyssa Nilssen, Superintendent of County Buildings, for her work coordinating this tremendous undertaking. Her organizational talent is making this look effortless. Thanks also go to David Rector of the Building Authority for his expertise. We appreciate the mastery of Alexis Berggren of the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the vision and coordination she has brought to the project.”