Public invited to see Evansville amphitheater's condition

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Evansville officials are inviting the public into a long-shuttered amphitheater for a close-up look at its structural woes as they weigh whether it should be renovated.

The Mesker Amphitheatre closed in 2012 and it's plagued by roof damage, inoperable stage rigging, an aged electrical system and extensive damage to rooms beneath its stage.

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke's chief of staff says the southwestern Indiana city was inviting the public to see the 65-year-old venue's condition for themselves at events Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Evansville Courier & Press reports (http://bit.ly/23kcYbb ) that past cost estimates for bringing the amphitheater up to modern standards have ranged from $9 million to $12 million.

A music festival held last month raised $2,000 for the amphitheater.

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com