What To Do With Roberts Stadium

With the opening of the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., the city now has more venues than it needs – and Mayor-elect Lloyd Winnecke has a task force figuring out what to do with the aging Roberts Stadium.

The city shuttered the 12,252-capacity stadium in September, ahead of the opening of the $127 million, 10,900-capacity arena. The 2012 city budget has an allocation of $90,000 to keep Roberts Stadium on life support, but also $200,000 to demolish it, according to the Courier Press.

Meanwhile, the arena continues to deteriorate. One of four pumps failed three months ago, causing the stadium floor to get covered with water from a subterranean spring, according to the paper. The building is also apparently increasing its number of roof leaks and seepage on the exterior walls.

Yet, preservationists have noted the stadium got a $20 million facelift in 1991 and demolishing the building would be wasteful, according to the paper.

The 15-person task force has about 90 days to decide the facility’s fate.

City officials predicted keeping Roberts Stadium on standby would cost about $300,000 annually.