Cooper Stadium closed in 2008 on the city's west side.

Cooper Stadium closed in 2008 on the city's west side.

Promises of new development never materialized. The property has fallen into further disrepair.

Officials with Franklin County and the City of Columbus said they have no idea what’s happening.



Instead of collecting tickets to what was supposed to be the Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Complex (SPARC), the stadium collects garbage instead.

The only people filling the stadium are kids trespassing inside.

"There’s a lot of riff raff that stays and sleep over there," Kyle Ebert said.

Ebert lives in the shadows of the park with his wife and four children. He said the stadium has turned into a haven for bad people.

"Here we sit where crack heads and prostitutes and drug dealers hang out and nothing gets done about it," he said.

He's not the only one frustrated with this rusted and crumbling steel stadium. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther isn't happy either.

"I'm going to meet with [Franklin County] commissioner [John] O'Grady this week trying to figure out ways to get that project moving forward or come up with a different plan so we can make sure that we can get something that is productive and contributes to the people of the west side," he said.

The city denied reports that it was going use part of its $50 million Smart City grant to develop the site for automated cars.

The sign outside the stadium still promises racing. We called the listing agent for comment no one returned our call.

Arshot Development, who owns the property, didn't return our call either for comment.

Meanwhile, people like Ebert feel a lot like the stadium: abandoned.

"You got two apartment complexes that could sit on that property. I use to go baseball games with my family and stuff and it was a great place to hang out and stuff and they just let it go to waste," he said.