Wednesday, June 08, 2005
History, cost argue in Victory Stadium's favor
From the RoundTable blog
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Edmunds is a retired educator
living in Roanoke.
Here we go again. Roanoke City Council has gotten a recommendation from a so-called citizens' committee. How can this small group of 14 people be called a citizens' committee when most are not native Roanokers?
As I recall, the four who voted to renovate Victory Stadium were native Roanokers, whereas most if not all of the eight who voted to tear it down have not lived here all their lives. With it not having the same value to them, they should not have a say in the stadium's future.
I remember well the majestic old American Theatre in downtown Roanoke, which was torn down to make way for a bank. I doubt there are few people who ever had the pleasure of being in that theater who would not love to have it still around. The same goes for Victory Stadium. No other stadium even on the same site would have its significance.
Why demolish a 25,000-seat World War II memorial and replace it with a 5,000-, 10,000- or even 15.000-seat new one? Renovation would take about half the time and money compared to building a new structure. Roanoke is unique in having a facility of this type still around, and it is just a shame the city didn't uphold its upkeep end of the bargain that the railroad expected of it 63 years ago when it was given to the city. There are few if any 25,000-seat city stadiums in the country, and this one certainly sits on hallowed ground.
There is no need to try to equal Salem's football stadium at a now-astronomical cost. We have a larger and more historical structure in place now, which is just in need of a much less costly renovation. When you think about taxes, law enforcement facilities, school systems, etc., the only thing I can recall Roanoke getting the best of Salem in the last six or seven decades is on the football field. Roanoke High School, later to be named Jefferson High School, beat up on Salem's Andrew Lewis High School on a regular basis.
I realize the mayor and council don't have the luxury of making decisions without considering the city's budgetary obligations. I also hope that more money - resulting in higher taxes - isn't called for in an unnecessary undertaking it will regret in years to come. Needless grading off Orange Avenue has already cost $3 million to $4 million in taxpayer money.
The day can still be saved. The Mill Mountain Star, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the grand ol' lady (Victory Stadium) together define most of what the Roanoke Valley is known for to outsiders.
An April 16 letter to the editor made a lot of sense to me then and still does. It was titled "A new stadium on the old foundation." By using the present stadium's foundation cut down some and building on top, using a cantilever design with long beams resting atop the stadium sides, we would preserve the present architectural design and appease most everyone in this long-standing debate.
No one has said the foundation is bad that I have heard, only the upper and outer walls. As the letter noted, the concession stands and sales areas could be located under the overhang and save millions of dollars on the renovation.
With the stand that Mayor Nelson Harris and Vice Mayor Bev Fitzpatrick took in favor of renovating the stadium during the 2004 campaigns, Roanoke Valley residents expect them to hold true to their words.
Give the people a referendum on stadium choices.
