Don't get me wrong, I love baseball as well as the next person, but I question the need for a new Chattanooga Southside Stadium being built on the former Wheland Foundry/U.S. Pipe site.
I along with local folks that I have spoken to have asked me the same question I have long wondered about myself, "What is wrong with the current Chattanooga Lookouts AT&T Field?"
My reply, "I really don't know." The current Lookouts stadium has a capacity of 6,382, with the vast majority of seating located on the first base side. It is centrally located near hotels and tourist attractions, and we enjoy games six months out of the year from April to September in a beautiful setting at affordable prices. The remaining six months it remains pretty much dormant.
Attendance at Lookout games usually does not fill it anywhere near capacity. The new Chattanooga Southside Stadium is being built on the site of the former Wheland Foundry/U.S. Pipe (1866 to 2003). Cast iron foundries like Wheland Foundry/U.S. Pipe are known to emit carcinogens and neurotoxins including cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, benzene, toluene, and dioxins.
I wonder if the EPA has tested the soil and surrounding areas for carcinogens and neurotoxins. If an environmental impact study hasn't been performed by the EPA and deemed safe for the public,
what dangerous chemicals and carcinogens will the builders and future patrons be exposed to when it is completed.
Steve Capps
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There is absolutely a need for the new Lookouts stadium. The old stadium was built staring directly at the sun. I’ve never been hotter or more sunburned than after at day at AT&T field. \
Also, the playing surface at AT&T is not up to the MLB norm. It also didn’t look nice, the concessions were old the stadium seats were just old wood benches.
Go up to Nashville and compare their minor league baseball stadium to AT&T, the difference is night and day. You should make a stadium that is inviting, that people want to be in. By the third inning at AT&T I was ready to go.
The new stadium on the Southside will bring economic development, community engagement, and fun to an area that is just waiting to be developed. I am one Chattanoogan that couldn’t be more fired up to get into the new stadium.
John Livingston
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Steve Capps brings up some interesting questions about the new Lookouts stadium. My understanding is that MLB told the Lookouts the current stadium did not meet the standards required to keep the franchise in Chattanooga so it was build a new stadium or lose the team.
As for the environmental concerns I too wondered about the impact considering the previous use of the property as a foundry. I know nothing about environmental law and standards but I do know about investment banking from my brief career on Wall Street, JP Morgan is handling the underwriting of the $80 million offering. I can guarantee you their lawyers and advisers have examined every possible environmental problem that could arise from the project and have given the okay for the bond sale. Can you imagine the lawsuits that would result if the location was deemed an environmental hazard after the bonds were sold?
I was originally uncertain about the new stadium when it was originally proposed. I am usually opposed to using tax money to support professional sports teams. However in this case the promise of ridding our city of the eyesore that greeted visitors coming around the bend into town convinced me to support the project.
Also we went to Nashville recently to take the grandchildren to a Sounds game at First Horizons Park. We ranged in age from 13 to 77 and everyone had a wonderful time. In addition to the game itself they had entertainment such as a miniature golf course, basketball shooting, cornhole, ping pong and other amusements. They have all kinds of concession stands and special seating areas. The park itself is surrounded by condos, apartments, restaurants and retail shops. I am sure our local planners have visited First Horizon for ideas on our new stadium. If our new stadium is anything like Nashville's it will be a great addition to our community. Play ball!
Douglas Jones