MEMORANDUM
To: Roberts Stadium Task Force
City of Evansville, IN.
From: Bob Warren, Executive Director
Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Date: February 23, 2012
Re: Sports Facilities
It is the intent of this correspondence to provide you with my professional opinion regarding sports, sports facilities and the impact this market has on our community and our industry. Having served the tourism industry for twenty five years, I’ve seen the benefits of the sports market. The impact to a community serves not only our quality of life issues but it also makes a tremendous impact on our economy.
Take Panama City Beach, for instance. As the former Executive Director of the Bay County Florida Tourist Development Council and President /CEO of the Panama City Beach Florida Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2000, I worked with local sports organizations in the development of a 9-plex Softball/Baseball Complex at Frank Brown Park. This $6 million dollar investment has become one of the most used softball/baseball complexes in the country. In 2011, this complex hosted 24 softball and baseball tournaments that generated 58,616 booked room nights and more than $30.8 million to the local economy. As an additional advantage, complexes like Frank Brown Park are used primarily by local youth and adult leagues and teams during their seasons. This becomes the gold standard for building such a facility – that it be a facility enjoyed by local residents.
In our review of the local impact of baseball and softball on Evansville and Vanderburgh County, we immediately identified the need for a new complex. According to the information reported from the Evansville Park and Recreation Department, there are an estimated 275 youth teams (ages 8-13), 250-300 girls’ fast-pitch teams (ages 8-18) along with approximately 500 adult teams. This number represents a staggering 16,125 community youth and adults that actively participate in baseball and softball. This information combined with the opportunity for economic development through the sports market play is compelling.
In 2010, the ECVB presented a plan for the development of a comprehensive Sport Complex at the Roberts Stadium site. The design of the plan was exceptional with every feature imaginable built into the plan including a maintenance plan. The cost of the completed project was estimated at eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000.00) and would have committed all of the funds from the ECVB Tourism Capital Development Fund for the next twenty five (25) years. Approval by governing bodies was not given, mostly due to the belief that the project was too expensive.
We have reviewed the previous plans and we strongly believe we can accomplish the same objective to develop a softball/baseball complex with 8-9 fields for an estimated cost of eight to ten million dollars ($8,000,000 – $10,000,000). The design would be altered to eliminate much of what was included in the previous plan but this complex would satisfy four key considerations –
• First, to offer a quality park environment for local teams to play that will benefit our citizens and the youth of our community.
• Second, enhance the value of the real estate in the area surrounding the park by providing a pleasing, attractive addition to the neighborhood.
• Third, allow Evansville to participate in the direct and positive financial impact of traveling tournaments so we can compete with our regional neighbors who are already “in the game,†so to speak. Witness the development of softball/baseball complexes in Westfield and Jasper, IN., Owensboro and Henderson, KY., Clarksville, TN, and other communities much smaller than Evansville. We must consider how far we want to fall behind before we react to this type of development.
• Four, the cost of the complex would be paid for with the money from the Tourism Capital Development Fund. The TCDF fund is a committed percentage (3.5%) from the 8% Innkeepers’ Tax collected BY hotels/motels FROM VISITORS OR OTHERS WHO STAY IN HOTELS AND MOTELS. Unless you as a resident stay in a hotel or motel in Vanderburgh County, you will not contribute one cent to this project. There will be no local tax dollars spent to build this complex.
As you review the suggestions proposed for the future of Roberts Stadium, I encourage strong consideration for a project of this type. The studies have been done and the time for action is now, not in the future. I would gladly offer my experience in the industry of sports marketing to anyone that can assist in our moving forward.
Sincerely,
Bob Warren
Please note that Mr. Warren did not follow the required path of presenting this proposal that all other people had to follow. He did not attend the 3 public presentation meetings to be reviewed by the Roberts Task Force and other presenters. What he did was give this to the mayor’s office who passed it on to the members of the Task Force to be reviewed privately. Snegal? Actually more like bypassing snegal right on to manipulative and “machine driven” politics.
I don’t have a problem with these ball fields. Just keep them out of Wesselman Park. How many acres of land are there around Evansville and the county that could be near highways to allow easy access for all these hoards of people that are supposed to come to town for touraments? that are not near private residences? that do not have the drainage issues that this area has?
What is going to be left out of the original proposal? Chopping it in half money-wise has got to make a dent in the environmental design. What about storm water run off and our already stressed sewer system? What lower quality materials will be used?
Such fields will have to be locked up when there are no scheduled games as was stated by the CVB last time around because of the expensive equipment and due to keeping the fields in good condition for the next tournament. This means that regular park users, that is, local families who want to play ball with their kids will be out of luck. This will be another example of micro-single use taking presidence over a more broad single use and certainly over multi-use. Exclusivity reigns again.
The capital development fund is the source for funding for these ball fields. How is the running of a business, the making money from these ball field rentals, concession stands, etc. compatible with capital development? I do not think it is legal given the law that governs the CVB in Evansville. Capital development is not maintenance, paying salaries, or selling anything.
It is true that the visitors who stay at our motels and hotels (if we ever get any built) pay the tax that runs the CVB. However, it is really the public’s money because it is to be used to better the community as a whole. Some would argue that it is only to improve tourism. If that is the case, it is a huge tax racket. Wouldn’t we all like to talk the state into setting up a special tax for each one of our types of businesses? That way we could form committees in our own town to administer the money from those taxes to support our business. Sounds pretty snegal to me. The CVB’s role is to present ideas for spending this public money to the County Council for their approval so that there is government control. The problem here is that the county council does not deal with the parks. They only deal with spending money. A catch 22 for Wesselman.
I am not sure that Mr. Warren’s figures are entirely correct. The youth team estimates are probably pretty close. The adult teams numbers I believe are high. There used to be many more adult teams than there now are in town. That number has been dwindling.
Lastly, I have no doubt that a baseball complex in Panama City, FL is popular. Vacation anyone? If we are talking regional touraments, many if not most people who come into town for these games will at least in part bring a cooler to avoid spending so much on food and beverages. If they are within 2-3 hours, chances are they will not stay overnight either. The things that will keep them in town have nothing to do with these ball fields, Rather, it will be things like the zoo, or the LST — things they can’t visit in their home city. Therefore this ball complex can be anywhere and draw the same.
The only reason that the CVB wants the ball complex to be at Wesselman is (1)free land, (2)plans that were done before (but still need redone and an environmental study redone)and (3)not willing to look for and pay for other land that would be more appropriate and acceptable to the citizens of Evansville.
I encourage those who respect and value Wesselman Park and Preserve to stand up and tell your public officials that you believe that this new CVB proposal is wrong for Wesselman and wrong for Evansville.
Well, folks could have placed their ideas on the website given…..my Question is why not place Ballfields on Flat land….somewhere out north or some folks state out West……flat land. The Goebel Soccer place has land……flat land. Keep the cost down from the last corrupt folks….who raised the price in just 3 months another $6 Million dollars last year….the bookings at the new Ford Center only has so many weekend dates already…..another area/facility needs to be in place for other events and shows….Roberts Stadium can help ease that with other events, otherwise this town loses MONEY again…..renovate….a Community Center…..have various uses 24/7 even. We need to keep this Facility up, and folks actually in the Entertainment Field have stated that Roberts Stadium still has Life in it and more when Renovated. Folks have been shunned to Financially help Roberts Stadium so far. I LOVE the idea of Ballparks, but, why not do what the rest of the Nation does: Find Flat Land. I’m glad to hear the Ballfield idea is still out there….Find Flat Land. No more studies. No more time wasted. The smaller towns and counties around Vanderburgh County will flourish. They get to the point, find the BEST Solution and do it. They are smarter!
(IMHO)
It appears as if the litmus test for Mr Warren’s appointment was the “Destroy Roberts Stadium/Ball-fields Project.”
Circumvent the public/voters/committees, carry out the will of the “Machine,” create union obligations/payoffs and swill wine.
This is nothing more than a disgusting continuance of “Jonathon’s Joyride.” …
After seeing the screwed up yuck-cluster that is SE 6th Street before, during, and after concert events at the Ford Center it is painfully obvious that Wienie-Zapple and his gang of thieves were not only larcenous, but also incompetent. Let’s face it, the CVB, the City Council, and all of the other career politicians are incapable of wisely spending and investing the taxpayers’ money. Enough Already!
Another mouthy citizen against all progress in the city. Build it at Roberts ,close to Eastland Mall so the visitors can shop between games.If they have to drive 30 or40 minutes they won’t have much time at the mall. Talk to parents that travel almost every week end for these tournaments, they can tell you what they spend in oyher cities. BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME/////
Someone from the Stadium Committee must have actually come up with some ideas . . . and a quick blow was needed to ensure the destruction of Roberts. Viola, I give you 1/2 price Baseball !!!!
Bob Warren, a shameful shill, you will fit right in. Go Bob, build your 1/2 price Baseball at Hamilton Golf Course on the North side, and save us from the name Thunderbolt Pass. Or, you may want to save your money and put that to use on the fabulous new hotel downtown–the hat is being passed.
Let the games begin. I believe a Sports complex at Roberts Stadium is an excellent idea. Evansville should pursue it, and the many tournaments that are played throughout the USA. There must be balance…economic growth and environment…The price is somewhere between the ballpark numbers and highest estimates. We need a rally to make this happen…Have a contract that rewards and penalizes the general contractor based on % deviation from expected cost, schedule and quality. Must have City employee in charge of the project who is truly interested in the City of Evansville.
A City of Evansville employee in charge??? You must be kidding! We have over 50 ballfields and 2,000+ acres of parks under the stewardship of the City of Evansville already and they look like a communist country. These gargoyles can’t even figure out how to mow and pick up dope addict needles and you want to give them supervisory responsibility over a new construction project. Ballfields or no ballfields the City of Evansville needs to learn how to wipe its own rear before it is given more stuff to care for.
Throw in an ocean and beach and nice balmy weather and Evansville could also become a destination city.
__
My thoughts exactly!
Comparing Evansville to Panama City, Fla. is a ridiculous as Barnett at comparing the auto accident rate in Evansville to that of Venice, Italy. Why? Because they have no roads or autos in Venice, just canals and boats. Result? Zero auto accidents.
Nothing like comparing oranges and onions to pull the wool over one’s eyes, or tell us what these newcomers think of our mentality!
What is of concern is that so many of the locals including elected officials lap this bull up as if it were Thanksgiving Dinner.
Panama City Beach is a location that can host baseball/softball 365 days per year. It is also a tourist attraction in its own that people are excited about going to. I don’t think a comparison between a baseball/softball facilities in PCB and Evansville is exactly apples to apples. I can go along with the idea that Evansville needs a premier baseball/softball complex, but at the same time wonder why the private complex that was built on Bergdolt behind Whirlpool went under several years ago? Was it bad location, bad management, or lack of need? If lack of need, what has changed between then and now? I also strongly disagree that Roberts Stadium needs to be torn down so that some baseball fields can be built on its location. There are plenty of locations that are just as well or even more suited for baseball fields. If they are going to tear down the stadium, I would surely hope that they could come up with a more exciting use of this piece of prime real estate than baseball fields. Finally, I don’t think that the ECB needs to be in the business of building and maintaining a property. All they should do is promote our region’s facilities and events and can surely offer their opinions about what the region needs to attract more visitors, but should not take part in the process of building or maintaining anything.
The facility behind Whirlpool was ill-conceived from the start. The location was terrible. The layout was awful (anyone who ever participated in regular softball events would agree). The concessions were not good. It was basically drawn up by a bunch of investors who apparently didn’t ask any of the several major softball enhusiasts in our city at that time about what they would like to see in a softball facility. It did not fail due to lack of need, because at the time it was built, men’s softball was still a big draw in our town.
I spent a god deal of my childhood growing up around softball fields and travelling to various cities to watch or play softball and can assure you that if done properly, it can generate much-needed revenue for this city. Softball and baseball can be played from Spring through Fall in our city, and if we had nicer facilities I believe the interest would increase. As mentioned in Mr. Warren’s letter, there is already a strong local base of teams who would get use from the fields. And with a nicer complex, we could host tournaments for men’s, women’s, and youth teams, as well as have a nice place for teams to play their leagues, attracting more local people to get involved. We already have a large local group of girls softball teams, with increasing popularity.
We used to host something called the EIT (Evansville Invitational Tournament) for men’s softball every year. It was one of three major tourneys in SW Indiana that was attended by everyone who was anyone in the men’s softball community, along with the Jasper and Bloomington invitationals. Dozens of teams would participate at the various levels of play (A-D). Teams stayed in our hotels and ate at our restaurants and spent money at other local businesses while playing in that tournament. I know because our family would do the same thing while travelling to other tournaments around the state (including Jasper and Bloomington which are close by). We wouldn’t get in the car and drive home only to drive back early the next morning. It wasn’t cost-effective, plus, we would stay in a hotel as a team to do things together before/after games. It builds team commraderie. And gas is so much more expensive now, teams won’t drive back and forth during a tournament. They will stay and spend money here.
I am not sure Roberts Stadium is the best place for a sports park, but am not convinced it isn’t either. I don’t believe building one at that site will impact the environment negatively, but I also am not sure that Roberts Stadium couldn’t be rennovated and used as another events place as someone else mentioned.
Westsidegirl,
I appreciate your interest in softball/baseball and its possible growth in Evansville. I think that there needs to be more thought put to this whole project to design a really good set of fields and locate them carefully so that they are easily accessed from our major highways here in Evansville. I am all for people playing sports who love sports and other people enjoying nature and other things in a quiet park setting. We can have both if everyone plans together. And like you I think that more honest public understanding needs to come about as to whether Roberts stadium is still usable. I kind of think it is. And I also like the idea of having two places in town to go to see events and shows.
Comments are closed.