The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-17
SPORTS ARENA

M|HEN the was Judging plopoa"4S
w for worthwhile projects, in formulating
it's program, it awarded first prize to Father
MARLEY who suggested a sports arena.
The award was made on the grounds tina
an arena on the lines Father MANLEY proposed
was not only within reach, but because its
construction would go far toward attracting
large numbers of visitors for athletic con
tests, industrial exhibits, conventions and
concerts. Another factor was that Wilmington
has no hall at present capable of serving the
varied purposes to which an arena could be
put with mutual advantage to participants
and spectators.
Since the Star-NeWs projects contest closed
many endorsements of the decision for the
MANIEY proposal have reached this office, but
none has been more directly to the point
of the Atkinson school, following the Y.M.C.A.-
starNevs basketball tournament recently held
at the Y. M. C. A.
Mr.. HARRIET accompanied his schools
teams and witnessed all play during the
event. He praised the tournament manage
ment, congratulated the sponsors for the
splendid arrangements" and proceeded thus:
"The only objection 1 have was the size of
the basketball court and the accommodation
(space) for the public. 1 feel that you have
started a program that is worth while, if
you had a place suitable for it. I feel that
the civic clubs of Wilmington are going to
realize that they have to have a larger place
70 ocomnodata tho rural noOn1e If thew eY.
pect to bring the rural people to their town.
While this puts the matter from the rural
viewpoint, which was to be expected, as we
always see things from our own vantage
point, it states the need Enthusiastically. We
may we'll ask ourselves that if we cannot
provide adequate accommodations for a bas.
ketball tournament, what could we do to &C.
commodate the larger throngs attending
events with greater drawing power? What,
for example, could we do for the crowds at
another Golden Gloves tournament, which be.
cause of the fine showing of the contestants
this year will probably double attendance
next year? What could we do to house an
audience Of several thousands attracted for
any purpose-a mass meeting, say, in which
the great majority of Wilmingtonians had
personal interest, to say nothing of rural
neighbors?
This lack of a spacious hall, an auditorium,
or as we now consider it, an arena with
power to serve many needs, is a serious draw.
back. The one Father MANLEY visions would
permit the staging of a great variety of
events. 1t would have a boxing and wrestling
ring. 1t would have space for basketball, dia.
mond ball, tennis and other sports which
are proving popular under a roof. 1t would
have an indoor track for field-day events
And plenty of room for thousands of spec.
tators.
Furthermore, it would accommodate a stage
for convention groups, political or otherwise,
for entertainments of major Importance, in.
GLIDING orchestral and recital performances.
And no one seeking entrance would be turned
back by an S.R.O. sign.
1t would, in every way, serve Wilmington,
in its local and rural needs, as capably as
Madison Square Garden has served the New
York metropolitan area for years.
With these advantages established, if would
seem a major folly to longer delay a cam.
paign for an arena.