Harrison Ford Movie On Jackie Robinson To Bring Big Bucks To Chattanooga; Help Refurbish Engel Stadium

  • Tuesday, March 13, 2012

City officials said a movie about baseball star Jackie Robinson that will star Harrison Ford will bring big bucks to Chattanooga and help restore historic Engel Stadium.

Missy Crutchfield, administrator of the city's Education, Arts and Culture department, said much of the film "42" will be shot in Georgia, but shooting will also take place at the vintage park on Third Street and in other Chattanooga locations.

She said the filming by Legendary Pictures should take place this spring and take 2-3 months.

Direct spending related to the movie in Chattanooga is put at between $3 million to $5 million, Ms.

Crutchfield said.

And an added bonus is that the film crew will help refurbish Engel Stadium, the former home of the Chattanooga Lookouts that has been unused in recent seasons.

Councilman Manny Rico said he was advised that the production company will spend some $400,000 to spruce up the stadium. The city and county are due to kick in $25,000 each for repairs.

The city and county formerly owned the stadium, but it was transferred to UTC. In turn, UTC leased it to the Engel Stadium Foundation, a private non-profit group that hopes to bring baseball back to the stadium and create a baseball museum there.

Ms. Crutchfield said part of the plans are to bring baseball back for inner-city youths at Engel Stadium.

She said Georgia was able to land the movie because of its rich incentives, but she said Chattanooga got a piece of the action because of its proximity to Georgia and the fact that it has Engel Stadium and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. 

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