Charlie Daniels Concert Set At Historic Engel Stadium To Benefit UTC Program For Veterans

Chattanoogan.com
March 14, 2013

The Charlie Daniels Band will be in concert at historic Engel Stadium on May 2 to benefit a veterans program at the UTC School of Business.

Janna Jahn, director of the Engel Stadium Foundation, said "the American Dream Concert" will be the first non-baseball event at the stadium in more than a decade.

She said $80,000 in updates to the stadium on East Third Street at Oneal Street are planned prior to the concert. That will go along with a number of updates made for the filming of the movie "42" about baseball great Jackie Robinson.

Ms. Jahn said the announcement - made at the ballfield - marks "the beginning of a new era for Engel Stadium."

She said the stadium is "a great place to enjoy a concert," noting that it is one of the few remaining historic ball parks in the country.

Ms. Jahn thanked donors who have provided the $80,000 for the upgrades over the past three months.

She said, "This place has a certain magic. It has a way of getting under your skin and into your heart." She said new events at the stadium are planned "so that it will always remain alive and well."

Ms. Jahn said before baseball resumes at Engel Stadium that the outfield must be repaired. She said the infield is in good shape.

She said UTC plans to rebuild the portion of the concrete block outfield wall that collapsed earlier.  

General B.B. Bell, a UTC alumnus, recalled sitting in the stands in 1967 watching a UTC club baseball team. He said the team went undefeated, though it had no scholarship players.

He said the announcement marked a milestone in renewed use of Engel Stadium.

General Bell called Charlie Daniels "a great American patriot." He said when he was commanding forces in Iraq that the Daniels agent called and said he wanted to give concerts for soldiers in the most dangerous places who otherwise would not get to enjoy the shows.

He said that was arranged and the Daniels shows were held "in the most horrific places at great risk to him."

UTC officials said the veterans program helped launch 14 veterans into new careers last year, and the entrepreneurship program will be opened to 20 veterans this year. There is no charge to veterans.

The show will be at 7 p.m.

Article courtesy of Chattanoogan.com: http://www.chattanoogan.com/2013/3/14/246576/Charlie-Daniels-Concert-Set-At-Historic.aspx