If Memorial Stadium Must Fall

If the Memorial Baseball Stadium has to be torn down, which looks like it is a done deal, then let us make some good of it. The stadium is going to be there for some time so the Coliseum Board and Randy Brown have sometime to plan for its removal.

Brown should seek input from other government departments as to who could use parts from the old stadium. What is not used by other local government units then could be offered at sale and auction. There is the scoreboard, chain-link fence, aluminum bleacher seating, plastic seats, the content of the suites, water coolers, light poles, lights, concession stand equipment, electrical equipment and the list goes on.

By having a sale before the auction would allow individuals to purchase like single seats, refrigerators from the suites and so forth. The selected auction company could help Brown in setting a fair value for items that would be offered for sale.

Inmates serving time in the Allen County Jail could help in preparing for the sale and auction. They could remove fencing, remove bleachers, and move other items to a central location. This would result in the Coliseum generating a higher sale price because buyers would not have to figure in removal costs. The lights, light poles, scoreboard, and maybe some other items would require the buyer to remove them at their cost and with professionals.

If the Coliseum maintains the sod on the baseball field it may bring the interest of local sod company. There may be a government project going on that could use the sod and with the aid of the inmates from the jail it could be removed and planted in a new location at nearly no cost.

Recycling today is a money savings and an environmental issue. When the parking lot covers where Memorial Stadium stood let it be known that everything in the old place was recycled that could be.

Besides the sale and auction would recover part of the cost of tearing the place down.