First of all, the Rubber Bowl is miles from Akron U and used to belong to the city. It's in a sparsely populated area and any junior high kid could sneak in. It's sad to see what was one of the best municipal stadiums in Ohio fall into disrepair. As we've learned from the on-campus stadium, newer isn't always better. I have some very fond memories of playing in the Rubber Bowl way back when.

There used to be remnants of a concrete grandstand over on the Mill Street side of Siegfried Hall. Can't remember exact location. It appeared to date back to the 50s or before. I always wondered what that was for. An old high school field? Does anyone know?

The Rubber Bowl has probably seen twice as many fans in its history as Peden. It never really was viewed at Akron U's stadium but as the city of Akron's stadium.

Here's the field you're talking about Robert. I believe Athens High played their games there when the high school was up on West State (current Athens Middle School).

http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/ref/collection/archive...

In the 70's and up until it moved up to the Ridges, the Child Development Center playground was between Putnam and the stands/field.

That was the Athens High football field back in my day. I've heard rumors, which I've never been able to confirm, that an early OHIO football field was in the same or nearby location. The earliest OHIO football field that I can confirm was where Porter Hall now stands. In my youth it was the baseball stadium, but in an earlier time there was an OHIO football field in that location. For exactly how long, or what the time period was, I do not remember as it been a number of years since I looked at the relevant documents.

Back to the Rubber Bowl for a moment, what kind of city government takes $38K for a 7 acre site that includes a municipal stadium with that tradition? Did I read correctly? Even the most optimistic development director had to be skeptical of plans from an untested entity that included a dome.

Cities are often in a tough spot with too little enough money to maintain let alone upgrade facilities while the public harangues them over their condition.

Franklin County (Columbus) has it's own red herring now in the former Clippers/Jets/ RedBirds stadium visible from I 70. It has been partially torn down but parts still stand. It also is a highly visible, decaying grey lady that many here want to see survive somehow. No one, however, wants to pay for it. Development ideas prominently feature some kind of motor racing venue but the site happens to abut one of the oldest cemeteries in the area. Not a great fit.

It sits as a set of stands and physical structure that has been stripped and decayed. The surface is gone, and the outfield fence is gone.

Those photo galleries definitely are definitely creepy to look at. I am sure many on here probably have memories of shopping for Christmas presents at these malls, going with family to Geauga Lake etc. I went to that Sea World as a kid.