when the lookouts could not find an affiliate from 1966 to 1975, the stadium began to deteriorate. despite amateur games being played at engel day and night all summer long, it was not being properly maintained. in 1972, chattanooga news free press columnist allan morris wrote that "paint is peeling off the walls, the floor is filthy, the roof is falling down, and it looks like a tornado hit the place." when woody reid bought the club in 1976 and gained a major league affiliate in the oakland athletics, he hosted "sparkle days" at the stadium, where fans volunteered their time to fixing up engel.