Keep sending your questions, comments and opinions on my editorials and the other commentaries on this page (ccooper@timesfreepress.com). Here are a few of my observations this week:
› ERLANGER PARK: Erlanger Health System, it was announced Thursday, won the naming rights for the new Southside Chattanooga Lookouts stadium, and immediately proclaimed it would be called Erlanger Park.
Though Erlanger paid a reported $1 million (a year!?) for those rights, maybe it’s somewhat fitting because of the many years Engel Stadium, previous home of the team, sat at Third and O’Neal streets, nearly catty-corner to the hospital at Third Street and Central Avenue.
Having worked at Engel for the first four years the team returned to Chattanooga beginning in 1976, I couldn’t count the times ambulances screamed across the Third Street railroad viaduct during games bringing in patients. And, of course, it was quite convenient if Lookouts or opposing players were injured during games and required more medical attention than a trainer could supply.
A six-plus minute video released along with the new name was a fly-through tour of all the modern amenities the new stadium will have. And while it looked like there would be an abundant number of options for those with money and connections to hang out and enjoy the game in cool comfort, most of the seats for the average fan who can afford a ticket and a hot dog look to be in the sun, with very little shade available. I hope the video just missed zooming in on some shaded seats for the average Joe.