hsnterprize
02-10-2003, 06:20 AM
Hey everyone...I've written an e-mail to Dan Polvere with the Illinois Sports Facility Authority, and told him how I felt about all of this news about the ISFA not signing onto this U.S. Cellular deal. Here's a snipet of what I said...
While I respect the business side of this merger, as well as the need for all parties involved to have satisfactory results, but before any decision is made, please allow me to make one recommendation. We, the White Sox fans, have been complaining for YEARS about the blandness, and simple lack of fan intimacy of Comiskey Park. I personally have been griping about the steepness and height of the upper deck, just like many other fans. It seemed like we finally had a reason to be excited about the ballpark when this deal was formally announced since we knew how the money in this deal was going to be used. As much grief as Jerry Reinsdorf has taken from fans, whether justified or not, he definitely deserves praise for his efforts to correct a wrong that has caused many fans to stay away from Comiskey Park in droves. Now...there's a chance that effort could be wiped out.
I as a reporter will remain impartial on this issue. It is my job to report the facts from all sides of the story. However, as a White Sox fan, I cannot help but express my disappointment and concern that the efforts Mr. Reinsdorf usurped to get a deal done to improve my favorite team's stadium could be done away with. I sincerely hope the 7-member board will allow this deal to go through...as we fans will be glad our ballpark will finally get the improvements it so desperately needs. While we will cheer for our team regardless of the ballpark they play in, it will be a source of team pride and unity for us Sox fans if our ballpark could be placed within the upper accolades of others such as Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Coors Field, The Ballpark in Arlington, and other new ballparks that capture the retro-style of baseball stadiums. Ever since Oriole Park in Baltimore went up, Comiskey Park has been the subject of constant criticisms from local residents to national writers. Now...the White Sox finally have a chance to correct their publicly-acknowledged error. As a reporter, I'll tell you it doesn't matter to me what decision the board makes...I'll report on that decision objectively. However, as a White Sox fan, I plead with your organization not to ruin this rare opportunity to fix an obvious problem with privately-raised funds, and not taxpayer dollars. Another opportunity like this may not happen again for a long time.
If any of you would like to write the ISFA, write to Dan Polvere at Dan@ISFAuthority.com. Maybe if there is a strong presence of fans who want to hold the ISFA's "feet to the fire" they may go ahead and sign onto this deal. The bottom line is simple...we Sox fans want a quality ballpark that we can be proud of. Of course, we want a winning team to play in it, but we're tired of complaining about the upper deck, the blandness of the place, and the constant comparisons to other new and older ballparks who have more charm in their bathrooms than Comiskey Park has in its whole place.
While I respect the business side of this merger, as well as the need for all parties involved to have satisfactory results, but before any decision is made, please allow me to make one recommendation. We, the White Sox fans, have been complaining for YEARS about the blandness, and simple lack of fan intimacy of Comiskey Park. I personally have been griping about the steepness and height of the upper deck, just like many other fans. It seemed like we finally had a reason to be excited about the ballpark when this deal was formally announced since we knew how the money in this deal was going to be used. As much grief as Jerry Reinsdorf has taken from fans, whether justified or not, he definitely deserves praise for his efforts to correct a wrong that has caused many fans to stay away from Comiskey Park in droves. Now...there's a chance that effort could be wiped out.
I as a reporter will remain impartial on this issue. It is my job to report the facts from all sides of the story. However, as a White Sox fan, I cannot help but express my disappointment and concern that the efforts Mr. Reinsdorf usurped to get a deal done to improve my favorite team's stadium could be done away with. I sincerely hope the 7-member board will allow this deal to go through...as we fans will be glad our ballpark will finally get the improvements it so desperately needs. While we will cheer for our team regardless of the ballpark they play in, it will be a source of team pride and unity for us Sox fans if our ballpark could be placed within the upper accolades of others such as Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Coors Field, The Ballpark in Arlington, and other new ballparks that capture the retro-style of baseball stadiums. Ever since Oriole Park in Baltimore went up, Comiskey Park has been the subject of constant criticisms from local residents to national writers. Now...the White Sox finally have a chance to correct their publicly-acknowledged error. As a reporter, I'll tell you it doesn't matter to me what decision the board makes...I'll report on that decision objectively. However, as a White Sox fan, I plead with your organization not to ruin this rare opportunity to fix an obvious problem with privately-raised funds, and not taxpayer dollars. Another opportunity like this may not happen again for a long time.
If any of you would like to write the ISFA, write to Dan Polvere at Dan@ISFAuthority.com. Maybe if there is a strong presence of fans who want to hold the ISFA's "feet to the fire" they may go ahead and sign onto this deal. The bottom line is simple...we Sox fans want a quality ballpark that we can be proud of. Of course, we want a winning team to play in it, but we're tired of complaining about the upper deck, the blandness of the place, and the constant comparisons to other new and older ballparks who have more charm in their bathrooms than Comiskey Park has in its whole place.