The weekly City Commission meeting was held on Monday, August 16.
At each meeting, citizens are given the chance to speak on topics that are not within the agenda in a moment called Citizen Forum.
This week, the topic of interest was undoubtedly the impending demolition of Tri-Rivers Stadium.
In spite of what's coming, support for the Stadium is growing, thanks to a petition started by Karody Robbins. This petition has garnered 5,296 signatures, as of the posting of this article.
It is said by City staff that discussion on Tri-Rivers Stadium began roughly 4 years ago. It can be confusing, as the City of Salina owns the land that the Stadium sits on. The County, meanwhile, leases the space.
It is this same leasor/leasee agreement with nearly all of what we know as the fair grounds. A quick search of public records (https://www.kansasgis.org/orka/permalinkprop.cfm?parcelid=0850861301018001000) can hopefully explain this.
Meanwhile, talk between City and County Commissioners began 4 years ago. The lease on the fair grounds was set to be renewed, and both parties entered into countless executive sessions over this time in an effort to negotiate a new rental agreement that was both fair to both parties, as well as the citizens of Salina and Saline County.
It is said, by both City and County officials, that part of what was agreed upon for a new lease is the County making improvements to existing buildings, with the City renewing the lease until the year 2050.
Unfortunately, Tri-Rivers Stadium is not included in this agreement.
This is also where any agreement between City and County officials end.
At both the City and County Commission meeting on Monday, August 9 and Tuesday, August 10, respectively, City Commissioners, City Manager Mike Schrage, and County Commissioners addressed the issue. Both municipalities said they each did their best to do what was right for the citizens.
The timing of the City (their Commission meeting occurred first in the week) addressing this topic, seemingly unprovoked, is lined up with a petition circulating on social media.
Karody Robbins started a petition entitled Stop Salina from Demolishing Tri-Rivers Stadium. You can find the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/city-of-salina-stop-salina-kansas-from-demolishing-the-stadium-and-arena-to-build-tennis-courts?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_30232938_en-US%3A4&recruiter=503531618&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_petition
Six citizens stood up in support of Tri-Rivers Stadium at the City Commission meeting, during the time known as Citizen Forum.
Karody came prepared, armed with research, statistics, history, and passion.
She argued that the Stadium is more than just rodeo grounds. It's an entertainment and sports venue that the entire family can enjoy. While the facility could have been utilized better, it represents blue collar workers.
Karody also questioned the Commission on how much they are allowed to spend at once, without putting the action to a public vote.
Wait... what? Money is going to be spent?
While the City is saying that nothing is official yet, there is strong belief that the area of Tri-Rivers Stadium, as well as the former Salina Municipal Pool, will all be demolished to make way for a state of the art tennis facility.
Now, no one on either side of the coin is saying that tennis or rodeo is better than the other.
Those in support of the Tri-Rivers Stadium just wish they would have had more notice to fight for what they believe in.
As far as how much the City can spend without a public vote? Mayor Hodges noted that it depends on the City’s ability to bond.
City Manager Mike Schrage said that it depends on the project.
The tennis court project is what is known as public private partnership.
Karody then asked the City Commission if they would support a possible arena project.
Mayor Hodges response was simple.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say that all Commissioners are cognizant of our rural and agricultural heritage. We had lots of discussion with the County on this, and the decision was left up to the County."
City Manager Mike Schrage responded with, "Generally, we are not in the business of sponsoring ag events."
Armed with research, Robbins stated that other city and county duos partner quite often to bring their citizens ag events, often splitting the costs because the payout is beneficial for all involved.
Karody's next question was left unanswered.
Did the City require significant improvements be made by the County, in order to fulfill the lease?
Schrage spoke up real quick.
"We could be here quite awhile..."
Only to be drowned out by Mayor Hodges.
"It's a pretty long history."
Mayor Hodges is correct, there. While she may have been talking about the history between City and County officials regarding this land, we must not forget the history of Tri-Rivers Stadium.
The Stadium was built in 1938, according to Robbins. For 40 years it fielded numerous baseball leagues in the city. Turned into a rodeo Stadium in 1978, it has become the Tri-Rivers Stadium that rodeo fans have come to know and love.
The truth is, most Salinans did not know that the Stadium was going to be demolished to make room for the proposed tennis courts.
While Karody pointed this out, if Salinans did know, the support to keep the Stadium would have started at the beginning.
A former Expo employee stood and said that the Stadium and Arena were not represented properly, with numerous events being declined over the years.
Who were they declined by? Did the County have full say as to what events occurred within the Stadium? Or, as part of a lease we may never see, did all events have to be run through the City before they were giving the green light?
Questions to ponder...
Ultimately, the Stadium could have been used year round.
In another curve ball, this supportive Citizen stated that a committee was proposed to raise proper funds to meet the requirements set forth for the new lease.
Support for the Stadium did not stop there.
Remember Equifest?
Linda Lilly does.
Equifest is an equestrian event which, according to Lilly, has brought in over one million dollars in economic impact to our city over the past 2 years.
Will the decision to demolish the Stadium impact the decision of Equifest to return in later years?
We can only hope not.
Lilly also questioned how a happy medium could have possibly been reached on the subject of the Stadium, when this matter was seemingly pushed through during 2020 and other matters took the forefront.
Finally, with the Stadium due to be gone by next August when the fair returns, where will the rodeo be held, if anywhere?
At this point, all we have is rumors. Will any such rodeo happen at all? Without Tri-Rivers Stadium, where would it be? What about the demolition Derby, another stand-packed fair event?
There is talk about moving the rodeo the Tony’s Pizza Events Center. The main arena has been known to have large events such as Monster Trucks and the like, that do require the use of large amounts of dirt to be brought in.
However, when you add bull fighting, bareback riding, and steer roping into the mix, it's more difficult than bringing in mutton busting.
So, where do we stand?
It seems that support is growing to save the Tri-Rivers Stadium as knowledge of the intended plans circulate.
The petition Robbins started has "gone viral" and she isn't looking for it to stop anytime soon.
All of this protest isn't to necessarily save just the Stadium. Sure, there are many memories over 83 years, but those memories can't be demolished like a building.
What Karody Robbins, and over 5,000 supporters are asking for, is just that.
Support.
Rodeo events lasso in massive amounts of economic impact. Hotels, restaurants, money directly to the City and County for the event itself, fuel used for vehicles (think RV's and diesel truck engines), and customers at local farm stores, are just a few of the many economical impacts rodeos have on a community.
And, the fans of Tri-Rivers Stadium have supported the rodeo grounds. Even without fancy bull chutes, beautiful bleachers, and whatever else, the citizens supported the rodeo grounds by attending events, and providing near sell out crowds as spectators.
In return, that's what signers of the Save Tri-Rivers Stadium petition are looking for. Not to say that tennis or rodeo is better than the other. Indeed, both are needed in Salina.
Rodeo fans just don't want to be forgotten in the mix.
They'd also like to know what's next.