Revamping Evansville Arena Could Be Costly

A task force says that remodeling Evansville’s mothballed Roberts Stadium for a new use could cost more than constructing a new building.

The report to the city’s mayor covers suggestions for 56-year-old facility such as turning it into a multisports complex with a fitness center and pool, remaking it into an exposition center or turning the area into large park.

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke tells the Evansville Courier & Press http://bit.ly/I171pV that more research will be needed because the task force’s estimates are preliminary without any specific designs. Some estimates topped $25 million.

The 15-person group reviewed more than 600 ideas from residents on how to reuse the arena.

Roberts Stadium was shut down in September soon before the opening of the new $127 million downtown Ford Center arena.