We don’t know what kind of concerts the Chattanooga Lookouts and the Tivoli Foundation have in mind for Erlanger Park, but we’d direct them to the wayback machine for a visit to 1982.
That year, as a prelude to the first Riverbend Festival, venerable Engel Stadium hosted a series of three pop concerts. First up, rocker and “General Hospital” star Rick Springfield drew 11,000 fans. Next, the perennial favorite Beach Boys pulled in an estimated 10,000-plus. Finally, the Commodores, coming off their biggest successful period, garnered 10,000 to 12,000 fans.
No, we’re not suggesting the two organizations bring in performers of that era, but all three were extremely popular when they played here.
However, Engel Stadium was not done for music that year. It also hosted a drug abuse benefit for the Fraternal Order of Police featuring country artists Louise Mandrell and Ferlin Husky (Jerry Lee Lewis canceled at the last minute); the Chattanooga Fall Festival benefiting the American Cancer Society featuring country’s Waylon Jennings, Pam Tillis, Lee Greenwood, Jessie Coulter and John Conley; a blues music special featuring B.B. King; and Music Blast Sunday featuring five regional bands.