Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – After years of complaining about the Springfield Park District’s upkeep of Robin Roberts Stadium, the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes now have what they want.
The Springfield city council Tuesday approved a transfer from the park district to a nonprofit group, via the city. The “Friends of Robin Roberts Stadium” now own the century-old ballpark – for a dollar and “other contractual requirements.”
“I’ve been at Robin Roberts Stadium a whole bunch of times in my past profession,” said Friends president Jim Ruppert, former State Journal-Register sports editor. “I’ve seen it go downhill, let’s face it. There’s a plan in place for that to become the jewel of the city as we’d like think it has been and was.”
The sale caps a big week for baseball here. The group which owns the Horseshoes announced earlier Tuesday that there will be a Prospect League team in Decatur. And Monday the Women’s Pro Baseball League announced it’s partnering with the owners to stage its entire 2026 season in Springfield.
