Yeah I will stand by thousands....and what would keep them from doing other renovations? Was that on the list? You ask a lot of questions, feel free to throw information out there. On the lightbulbs....from spring through summer more and more scoreboard lightbulbs went out....none replaced.
To be honest, I dont think the city will do that bang up of a job. The last couple of years I really havent seen much from either group where the stadium drew short (ie. bathrooms, lockers, field work). I always enjoyed the friends concessions and would hate to see those go away. Always supported them and enjoyed the nathans hot dogs.
You talk about facts without basis yet you do not say anything regarding the constant attacks on the university use....and claims like this letters own claim that UHV had something to do with it, which no one has shown no basis of truth. In fact it is kind of funny how the advocate did this whole fact checking deal, yet publishes a letter with a made up conspiracy theory.

Thousands of dollars? And we know they have raised enough to redo the bathrooms, locker rooms, and dug outs yet haven't? Since the city still owned the stadium, did the Friends have the ability to remodel them? How often does the city provode someone for mowing and watering? They say we don't have money to mow city ditches but they keep someone on hand weekly to upkeep the field? The city can't provide decent bathrooms within the park (they are nasty and scary-would rather use the bushes) yet they can do the stadium bathrooms? Who has painted the stadium? Who repaired the seating? Who does change the lightbulbs and who pays for them?
I don't know but I feel some people are stating facts they don't have any basis for. There is more to keeping the stadium up than keeping up the field. The city couldn't do it before so why can they do it now? Why now do they think they can do a better job--that is something the Advocate should be able to ask. I can't wait to see who wins the concession bid.
To lose it and its historical flair would be sad. Especially since the city is looking for things for people to wear their boots to. You can go to an over-priced, over-stuffed stadium anywhere. But this is a reminder of a time when baseball was real.

A lot of claims but no proof about UHV. Seems to me a bunch of people leaping to a conclusion because pockets no longer being lined.
Lets look at this objectively. Even a team like the Generals were spilling out of the dugout the dugout is field level which is unsafe. You also have to look at the bathrooms which are horible and has no ventalation system.
I appreciate what they did to get this stadium back up and playable....I know they raised a lot of money to do it and not sure which companies did it. I know they continued to raise thousands of dollars, but in the last couple years have not seen anything done.
Another interesting reflection. What all bidding was initially done for operating the facility when friends took over? Being a city property it had to be bid on right?

Well-stated. People might start noticing a connection with this and the shabby treatment given the University of Houston.

jiggler- nothing wrong with the dugouts. Only you college boys that have 35 players and with water/towel boys have an issue. What 2 locations? lol. No there is no cable tv in the locker room. There are ramps and pads for the ADA issues. So do you want video board???

As a purist its a great field. Look what Cuero did to thier field. Same era venue as is the one Seguin. They have no issuses but tons of praise. Go build your own field I prefer this one as it is!!

Anything COV gets its hands on, ANYTHING!, is doomed for failure.

So long, Riverside Stadium.

While the stadium is nice it is not that fan friendly. It has a great ambiance but the fence and nets around the infield makes it hard to watch a game. It does lack certain conveniences such as decent restrooms and handicap access.

Talk to any of the high school players and they will tell you the locker rooms are moldy, damp and small and the dugouts are small forcing a team to sit in two locations.

I agree, Friends did what the city would not do and they should be commended but, bottom line, it is a city owned facility and the city should be in charge of the maintenance and improvements.

A volunteer group should not be involved in operating a stadium or any other city owned asset. Imagine if the city relied on volunteers to run the community center? There would be a huge outcry.

The city has done all of baseball a disservice by not putting the improvements in to Riverside to bring it up to modern standards.

With more teams using Riverside, it is very likely this volunteer group can no longer handle the maintenance demands.

That said, the article also stated Friends could bid on the concession operations which were never bid out to begin with.

Ms. Albrecht,
This is an excellent letter.

I am sure many people have questions about who, how and why this decision was made by the city. I know that I do.

The Advocate Editorial board has written several peices about how Riverside Stadium is an asset for the 'economic development' of the city ... about how the Generals games draw out of town visitors who spend money to 'boost the sales tax'.

It would be a service for them to use their resources to investigate how this decision was made by the city of Victoria government, and inform the people of the town.