Spar Stadium - Shreveport LA

[bnbusser]

I am putting together photos I shot of old Spar stadium in Shreveport. Was wondering if anyone had any memories or photos of it. I was there when it basically was abandoned and falling apart. It should be on my slte later this week.

www.ballparks.phanfare.com

[Yoda]

Wow! I just looked at your pics of Chicago Stadium, incredible!

Great website!:applaud:

[bnbusser]

Thanks! I have so much I need to ad to the site.... Chicago stadium was one of my favorite buildings... that place literally ROCKED... noiseist building I ve ever been in.... Chicago stadium and old RFK stadium were the two buildings I ve been in that shook..

[Chevy114]

So your the guy who runs that site? I love it! Great shots of the boston garden and chicago stadium!

[bnbusser]

Yea, I am the guy. Glad you like it. I have been fortunate enough to see a lot of different venues that are long gone. And I shot them on film. Digital is making it easier now. Scanning all the photos takes forever....

[Chevy114]

Yeah I can def. tell the photo quality difference between the newer places you go to with digital and the older places with still cameras. Its fun to see both though. So what was so bad about chicago stadium that they had to tear it down? To small, not enough luxary boxes, or just falling apart?

[bnbusser]

Lack of luxury boxes and bells and whistles. I loved that building. It was structurally sound but just outdated. Some of my shots were when they auctioned off stuff, and I got to get into places that the public never saw. Inside, there was nothing wrong with it. Now, the Hawks and Bulls play in an aircraft hangar. Yea, its big and more seats etc etc, BUT you lose that edge. Teams hated going into Chicago stadium, Boston garden etc..

[Chevy114]

Lack of luxury boxes and bells and whistles. I loved that building. It was structurally sound but just outdated. Some of my shots were when they auctioned off stuff, and I got to get into places that the public never saw. Inside, there was nothing wrong with it. Now, the Hawks and Bulls play in an aircraft hangar. Yea, its big and more seats etc etc, BUT you lose that edge. Teams hated going into Chicago stadium, Boston garden etc..

My ex g/fs dad is from there and he told me it was loud and it would shake so bad that no one wanted to play against chicago in any sports! It's a shame they couldn't do anything with it to keep it, because man was it beautiful!

[bnbusser]

I only saw 3 events there ( I live on the west coast). One was a preseason hockey game with St.Louis. And the building literally shook. When the Hawks would score, they would blow that foghorn under the scoreboard. It was deafaning. The Barton organ, if played at full volumne, had the power of 25 - 100 piece brass bands, and would blow out every window in the building.

[Yoda]

Can't believe I never went there..... I was born in 82 and I had the chance I guess.

Old man didn't like hockey or basketball, though. Plus tickets were hard to come buy I guess.




Sorry to hijack!

[Chevy114]

Yeah I have read where the fog horn was loud and the organ was huge. Must have been good for the home team!

[bnbusser]

that and the short ice surface.... one other quirk was as a player, you had to go DOWN stairs into the basement to get to the locker room... it was an amazing building... as was the Boston garden, maple leaf gardens, the Montreal forum and olympia in Detroit

[bnbusser]

Can't believe I never went there..... I was born in 82 and I had the chance I guess.

Old man didn't like hockey or basketball, though. Plus tickets were hard to come buy I guess.




Sorry to hijack!

You aren't hijacking at all! the more the merrier... I am just thankful I have seen a lot of these places...

[Dougman59]

checked out your site

It was really great. You have been taking photos for a long time. I really like the more obscure indoor arenas. My favorite is of the Minneapolis Auditorium.
It was the first arena I ever went to but it wasn't for a game. When I was 11(1971) and several years after, my dad and brother and myself went the seasonal sports show. A huge convention held all the boats or resort kiosks but they would have entertainment at the Auditorium. It really off kilter stuff. The two things I remember a guy doing fishing line tricks, a comedy routine with a man and a dog where the dog would do nothing but the guy would be all enuthiasic. He kept saying "thataboy Louie".

I wish my dad still around because I would call him and ask him what other acts were there because I know he would have remembered every one. Thanks for the memory.

PS The Minneapolis Auditorium did look alot like Philadelphia's Civic Center. My guess is that Baltimore Arena looks pretty much the same too.

[bnbusser]

It was really great. You have been taking photos for a long time. I really like the more obscure indoor arenas. My favorite is of the Minneapolis Auditorium.
It was the first arena I ever went to but it wasn't for a game. When I was 11(1971) and several years after, my dad and brother and myself went the seasonal sports show. A huge convention held all the boats or resort kiosks but they would have entertainment at the Auditorium. It really off kilter stuff. The two things I remember a guy doing fishing line tricks, a comedy routine with a man and a dog where the dog would do nothing but the guy would be all enuthiasic. He kept saying "thataboy Louie".

I wish my dad still around because I would call him and ask him what other acts were there because I know he would have remembered every one. Thanks for the memory.

PS The Minneapolis Auditorium did look alot like Philadelphia's Civic Center. My guess is that Baltimore Arena looks pretty much the same too.

Glad you liked the site... yea the old aud looked a lot like convention hall in Philadelphia.. the Baltimore arena is still standing too...