![]() ![]() The ceiling of one of the concession stands collapsed. He points toward a speaker hanging above the bleachers and said it no longer functions but, as with many of their complaints, the Park District has not responded. Toole said they have complained of the problem for months and still there has been no follow through by the Park District staff. A portion of left field has become marshy, perhaps from a leaking underground water main. "Here we are in the middle of a drought, and we have no idea where this water is coming from," Toole said, days before Springfield's derecho. ![]() "This gravel is so loose that if a player were to step into it, he could break an ankle," he said as the edge of his shoe delved into the pile of gravel.Ī few feet away sits a mystery: water that pools on the field no matter the weather. "Look at this," Toole said as he stuck the toe of his sneaker into the pea gravel that composes the track, which laps the field. And the hazard has persisted through the current baseball season.Ī nearby sign warns patrons to be aware of errant balls and shattered bats that could fly into the stands.Ī walk across the field exposes other safety concerns. Toole said the Park District has committed to replacing the netting but it is far behind schedule. At a game, I saw a child pushing up against it and a parent or grandparent pulling them back when they realized they could get hurt." If a ball were to hit it, it could hurt someone standing behind it. The stopped-up toilet has become emblematic of broader concerns facing the historic arena.Īs Toole walked by the protective netting that separates spectators and players, he shoved a hand against the flaccid webbing. He said the park board won't allow them to hire a private plumber to fix the problem, instead insisting that the work be done by a Park District employee who is represented by a union.Īfter waiting more than a year, his frustration is palpable. "We keep asking the Park District to fix it, and they keep putting us off. "Do you see that toilet? It hasn't worked for a year," Toole proclaimed as he walked through a public restroom. Toole added that last year the team had several one-time start-up expenses such as spending $340,000 on a new scoreboard and installing new carpeting in the team's offices and locker rooms.Īs Toole and Gaynor stroll through the facility, they point to a multitude of things that they have asked their landlord to fix. He noted they employ four full-time employees, including him and his wife, and another 25 seasonal workers are paid by the team. Toole said last year the ownership group spent $925,000 and brought in $750,000 in revenue. He notes it remains a money-losing proposition for the group of investors who own the Horseshoes. The Park District really just doesn't have the ability to sink millions of dollars into Robin Roberts Stadium right now."īut Toole says the facility is in desperate need of upgrades if it is to succeed as a sporting and entertainment venue. So, all of it gets subsidized at one point or another. Not the Nelson Center pool, none of the golf courses – none of it. "Nothing brings in enough revenue on its own. There isn't anything at the Park District that doesn't receive some kind of subsidy. "However, the Park District has a lot of property and things that we have commitments to. And we hope to continue working with them and keep them here as long as we can," said Kris Theilen, a Park District board member and former alderman. ![]() "We are in year two of a five-year lease with the Horseshoes. Park District Executive Director Derek Harms said during the fiscal year that ended in April the district spent $320,000 on the stadium and collected $24,000 in rent. The 5,200-seat stadium is owned by the Springfield Park District, but the Horseshoes are the sole tenant. "Some of the best college players in the nation play here, but this facility doesn't always present Springfield in the best light," said Jamie Toole, who along with his wife, Melissa Gaynor, are managers and partial owners of the team. Last year, the Lucky Horseshoes became the latest team to make the 98-year-old stadium home. Is it a valued amenity or white elephant? The crack of a bat, the cheer of a crowd and smiles exchanged between a grandparent and child weave a tapestry of memories on Springfield's north end.īut that tapestry is getting frayed and the future of Robin Roberts Stadium is being pondered. ![]()
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