ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 14, 1996 TAG: 9601120078
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BERN ALTHOFF
REGARDING Victory Stadium's options and a proposed field house (Dec. 19 article, ``Stadium: Raze it or revamp it?''):
I have been to Victory Stadium many times, and have endured the parking situation, the shuttle bus and the concrete seats. I have also been to the new Salem stadium for baseball, with its convenient parking, easy access and comfortable stadium seats. Even the concession stands and lavatories are nearby.
If I had to pay for something that was usable for football, soccer, track and other gatherings, it would seem logical to plan something that one could be proud of and would attract people to come and enjoy the surroundings. With this in mind, I wouldn't spend money to tear down the stadium. Instead, sell it at a bargain price to anyone who can afford to fix the plumbing and use the facility. With the money saved, build a football field, field house and a semi-enclosed hockey rink as stand-alone facilities with a common parking area convenient to all three.
Build a rink, such as Tucker Rink in Charles County, Md. It is semi-enclosed with the skate shop, concessions, lavatories, refrigeration plant, admissions office and bench-seating area indoors, and the actual rink under glass outdoors. Such a rink can be used year-round for ice hockey and skating in the winter, and roller hockey and skating in the summer. This would be supported by the public and by professional and amateur organizations in the area. It's a money-making operation that could be open daily from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Build a new facility for football, soccer and track with stadium seats and accessible lavatories and concessions, but only if there's a specific purpose. Do we want to bring in something like the Stagg Bowl or is this going to be a high-school field?
The field house should be for indoor-outdoor aquatics, have day-care and fitness centers, and lounges for seniors and teens. Some income can be derived from various activities that would help defray the costs.
If it were up to me, I'd plan this in such a way as to take advantage of incomes - the ice rink would be first, the field house second and the football field last.
The government in Roanoke should perform some Gestalt psychology on itself. Should Roanoke wither and die on the vine, or does it want to be one of the outstanding cities in the country? Our youth should be proud of this beautiful area; our seniors should be content that their heritage will continue.
Bern Althoff, of Hardy, is a retired program manager with the ITT Aerospace/Communications Division.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB