Bring Back Engel Stadium - And Response (10)

  • Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Engel Stadium was constructed back in 1930. The maximum occupancy at the time was (believe it or not) 12,000 people. Through the years with better seating, by 2020 the maximum occupancy of Engel Stadium was 5,997. The pre-pandemic average Lookouts game is attended, on the average, by 3,948 fans. One can see that had the AT&T stadium not been built, attendance today would not exceed Engel Stadium’s capacity.

A small cabal of Chattanoogans convinced the populace a new stadium was imperative. Does anyone else think the idea to build a profession ball stadium without any parking was well thought-out?

I suggest returning to Chattanooga’s roots. Make whatever improvements to Engle Stadium to meet MLB requirements and move back to Engel. Finley Stadium has from the beginning been a money pit. And now some of these same brainiacs want an unnecessary third stadium. Will this one be without parking as well?

I moved to Chattanooga when it was smaller and dirtier. But it had a hometown flavor that has faded into yesteryear. I think developers who have Tim Kelly’s ear want Chattanooga to be a suburb of Atlanta. Time and again Chattanoogans have eschewed that idea, even when Atlanta was needing additional water and offered a high speed rail system in exchange for our Tennessee River water.

Contrary to the “people in power’s” opinion, the vast majority of area residents do not avail themselves of the River Walk, the Riverfront, AT&T Stadium and many more “culturally enriching” venues which have cost residents millions upon millions in money that could have been used for many other chronic needs.

The new stadium will be 2022’s Blue Rhino, only this fiasco has the capacity to raise everyone’s taxes exponentially. Let the developers sign PGs or personal guarantees that they will personally guarantee payment of the notes and loans should the new stadium fail to live up to their hype.

Dave Fihn

* * *

I agree totally.  Why does AT&T field need to be replaced?  It was only seemingly yesterday (~2000) when it was built as Bell South Park in order to replace “Historic” Engel Stadium.  For that matter, what was wrong with Engel Stadium that could not be upgraded with suitable improvements? 

Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, which opened in 1921, is even older than Engel Stadium, and has undergone upgrades numerous times, recently in 2006, 2008, and 2010, with still additional plans on the books for even more upgrades. 

Engel has appropriate parking capacity which AT&T and even Neyland do not have. 

I say, bring the Lookouts back to Engel! 

Lawrence S. Nagle

* * * 

Why do local leaders think people will think positively on seeing a half empty stadium upon their arrival to Chattanooga?  We have had 20 years of having a half empty park at the freeway when you enter Chattanooga from Hwy 27 and I have never heard anyone say, “boy, that baseball field I saw on my arrival from Soddy Daisy sure was beautiful.”

Jimmy Gray

* * * 

Chamber says 150 businesses leaders like the plan of the new stadium.....well, please let the 150 pay for it. Not us common, everyday, hard working Chattanoogans.

I already pay too many taxes for politicians to waste.

Julia Buckner

* * *

The rush is on.  We must have an $80,000,000 stadium and we must have it now. 

No discussion, no vetting, only a developer who is surprise, “very excited”. Pushed by a county mayor with only short weeks in his term and a city mayor for who knows what reason we must do it now. 

Some questions, who pays overages, who pays for infrastructure costs?  What are the infrastructure costs? What if the stadium does not last the 30 years of the bonds, they usually do not. This has all the earmarks of the health care bill. “We will tell you what’s in it after we pass it.” 

If it's good, have public meetings, let the people get behind it. All we know is our taxes are involved and a few rich developers stand to make a killing. This is so rushed they must do in under the cloak of night.  What is hiding beneath?

Jim Folkner

* * * 

I could not help but laugh out loud at the opinions of those that are crying out for a return to Engel Stadium.  Seems that the "get off my lawn' bunch do not really understand the issues, so here are a few bullet points:

1.   Engel Stadium is wholly owned by UTC. Lookouts have no interest whatsoever, nor does the city or county, in the old stadium.

2.   AT&T was built because to make necessary improvements to a long decaying facility (Engel) would have been more than what was spent to build the current ballpark.

3.   UTC has constructed a soccer facility and beach volleyball complex at the Engel site, therefore the myth of a lot of parking is just that, a myth.

4.   The average attendance is more than 3,000 per game which is not bad for minor league baseball.

5.   Major League Baseball took over control of all minor leagues baseball in 2019 and that is when the minimum standards for all minor league stadiums were enacted and AT&T does not meet those and it is not possible to enact them at the current stadium as it is basically land locked.

6.   If a new stadium is not built, there will be no Lookouts, period. MLB will force the team owners to move them to a city that has a stadium meeting the guidelines.

I would dare say most of you complaining have not been to a Lookouts game in a gazillion years.  There is over a century of history with the club and if the new stadium (meeting the MLB guidelines) is not built it will be just that, history with no future.

Gene Smith

* * *

Agree 100 percent, but it aint going to happen.

It’s a done deal, quit whining and pony up as all the connected “movers and shakers” need their cut of our money.

Jay Reed

* * * 

Julia Buckner makes some interesting points about the, "150," members of the Chamber supporting the new stadium.  A few questions for the CofC.

1. Who are these 150? Are they afraid to let the public know their identity?

2. If 150 feel positive, how many opposed or were undecided?

3. How was the poll conducted? Was it a voice vote, online or by ballot?

4. How many of the 150 have a vested interest in the project?

5. Since Ms. Gillenwater is so big on diversity, what is the racial make-up of the 150?

The Chamber does a lot of good things and I lean towards approving the new stadium. But let's be a little more transparent when we are throwing numbers around.

Douglas Jones

* * * 

Engel Stadium had history and a big fan atmosphere. I remember some of my best times which led me to a lifelong time of fond memories about Engel Stadium. 

Kirkman Technical High School had the most beautiful football field with an amazing view. Maybe not the best team but still they were a fighting team who wanted to win, and boy, what a view anywhere you looked. 

Then Kirkman disappeared and we built an awesome ballfield called Bell South Park at first, then to became AT&T.  I went to watch our beloved Lookouts. The winning, supporting atmosphere was not there for some strange reason. 

I like the thought of a casino at the new discussed site but trouble sometimes likes to follow that kind of establishment. 

Why not make it like Coolidge Park? Have areas for children to play. Maybe a carousel, ferris wheel or water park area? That's just a beginning of thoughts for people to enjoy in that big large area.

By the way, what are you going to do with the old AT&T field area?

Mark Reagan

* * * 

What to do……. Something Hamilton County is in desperate need of. Maybe something that’ll provide jobs and ease overcrowding and aid in keeping the taxpayers safe. 

Oh I know, let’s build a penitentiary at the old steel mill. Our own sheriff has been preaching the need for more jail cells for years. 

We already have a nice baseball field that is never full but a jail that is so full that our courts try their best to keep people out of jail because of the “No Vacancy" sign. When the crook isn’t doing the time he/she deserves, well, we all read the news. 

Oh what the heck, let’s ask the Chattanooga Ducks to transport those in need of psychiatric help across the river to Moccasin Bend Hospital.  Win win I say. 

Plan B you ask? Nice place for a training commons for our police and fire heroes. 

Michael Burns

* * *

I have no idea who Michael Burns is but he is definitely onto something. Build a jail. Get rid of Silverdale once and for all. Quit burning gasoline transporting people back and forth to Silverdale. Good suggestion, Michael. 

Developers and officials need to get the dollar signs out of their eyes and focus on building one or more facilities that will really do something to help with running Chattanooga.  What about a new jail with space for courts, a police precinct, a medical facility, a mental health facility, all smack dab in the city?  Think along those lines. 

Forget about businesses and a sports stadium and how you can milk a buck out of the public.  Consider it’s time for metro government while you’re at it.  Prospective candidates for office should start thinking like Michael Burns.

David Saluk

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