Portsmouth Spartans Historical Society member Bill McClurg may have a new address in the near future.

“If they tear down Spartan Stadium I'm looking for another place to live,” he said on Wednesday. “It's pathetic. I'm very disappointed with the community.”

Portsmouth City Council Vice President Marty Mohr on Monday talked about the possible demise of Spartan Stadium which was once home to the Portsmouth Spartans.

The Spartans later became the Detroit Lions.

“Let's get rid of Spartan Stadium and turn it into light industry,” Mohr said.

However, there currently are no plans to tear it down.

But the city schools system wants to build a downtown athletic complex, meaning the Portsmouth High School football team would vacate Spartan Stadium.

School officials say the Notre Dame High School football team is invited to join them. There-fore, Spartan Stadium could be without a football team in a couple of years.

“This is a big deal,” McClurg said. “The Detroit Lions were born in our community. The vision of Portsmouth City Council is very limited. They don't see the bigger details of anything. They just want to tear everything down. Other cities restore their history, so why can't we?”

The city is co-sponsoring a concert on Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. to raise money to possibly restore the stadium.

“I hope this is not the only thing that is done,” McClurg said.

He also said Mayor Jim Kalb, service director Chris Murphy and radio host Steve Hayes have said something could possibly happen to save the stadium from demolition.

“I'm just one person,” McClurg said. “But there are a lot of people who are afraid to speak out against tearing the stadium down.”

He said he will seek help from City Councilman Bob Mollette to see if Mollette can help prevent the stadium's demolition.

“We may have had our differences,” McClurg said of Mollette. “But I don't think City Council is serving the best interest of the community. They don't ask us what we think.”

McClurg said he questioned an architectural study school officials paid for. The report showed cracks in the concrete of the stadium, among other issues.

“I don't see anything falling down in the stadium,” McClurg said. “Just because there's a little separation in the concrete doesn't necessarily mean it's unsafe. There will be a little crack in the community if we tear that stadium down.”

JEFF BARRON can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.