Retro Louisville: Visual walk down memory lane at Old Cardinal Stadium

Jeff Blosser of Louisville, who works for the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center changes the scoreboard to add a run for the Cubs on Monday. Apr. 19, 1982

Fans line up outside Fairgrounds Stadium last night for what may be the Colonels' last game in the park. Louisville plays at Rochester tonight and Thursday, if necessary, in the IL playoffs. Aug. 1972

A booming crowd of 15,301 turned out at Fairgrounds Stadium last night to watch the Louisville Colonels drop a 4-0 decision to the Syracuse Chief. Dan Fazio bats for the Colonels with Ed Phillips in the on-deck circle. June 13, 1970

OPENING CEREMONIES OF KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL

Joe Martin, the Louisville policeman who gave Muhammad Ali his start in boxing, shakes hands with the champ at the welcome home ceremonies for Ali at Fairgrounds Stadium. A crowd of about 9,000 was on hand to pay tribute to Ali. Sep 22 1978

Freestyle motocross competitor, Jimmie McGuire, of Oklahoma, gets a feel for the jumps at Cardinal Stadium at the Fairgrounds. June 8, 2005

Mick Jagger led the Rolling Stones through their show last night. Sept 19, 1989.

Pro baseball back to Louisville. 1982

Hall of Fame shortstop Pee Wee Reese threw out the first ball last night in the Louisville Redbirds' home opener against the Denver Bears, who won the 1983 American Association title. Apr 9, 1984

The largest crowd ever to attend a football game in Louisville - 28,631 - welcomed the University of Louisville Cardinals to the renovated Fairgrounds Stadium last night U of L responded with a 24-10 win in its home opener. Oct. 7, 1973

Darius Rucker, lead singer of Hootie and The Blowfish

Farm Aid Concert at Cardinal Stadium. Oct. 1, 1995

Panels that are part of the scoreboard, and billboard, are being unloaded. The scoreboard itself will be very similar to the one at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. April 3, 1982

Paul Christopher picked up a trimmed edge of green carpet being put down at Fairgrounds Stadium for tomorrow's home-opening baseball game for the Louisville Redbirds. Workers will be there around the clock and are expected to finish in time for the game, barring rain. April 6, 1982

T.W. Alley,left, takes a look at work on the 14,000-seat addition to the Fairgrounds Stadium grandstand. Alley, new University of Louisville football coach, has a stake in the progress, which he inspected Monday. Work is expected to be finished in July. Jun 20, 1973

Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Eli Marrero hopes Louisville is his final stop on the way to the major leagues.

Cheerleaders assembled at the beginning of the day as they attempted to break a Guiness World Record cheer at the Old Cardinal Stadium.

Fairgrounds Stadium during a horse show.

Louisville Colonels game from 1958.

The state has awarded a contract to South End Services Inc. to tear down the bleachers beginning Monday at the old Cardinal Stadium at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Oct. 4, 2007

The expansion of Fairgrounds Stadium, in Louisville is proceeding toward expected completion by Oct. 6 for University of Louisville football games. The expansion and renovation, which will cost more than $2.2 million, will boost capacity from 21,000 to 38,000. May 16, 1973

The Billy Graham outdoor crusade brought an estimated 28,000 to Fairground Stadium, Oct. 14, 1956

Members of the Little League World Champions Valley Sports doff their hats to the crowd at Cardinal Stadium as the crowd welcomed them home. 8/26/02-

Fairgrounds Stadium.

A not-so-steady press box is one of the drawback at Fairgrounds Stadium, which may be revamped in the event professional baseball returns to Louisville in the future. Aug. 2, 1981

Fairgrounds Stadium. Sept. 7, 1956

Here's part of the crowd of 6,488 at Fairgrounds Stadium last night for Louisville-Omaha game. June 5, 1957

An expected record crowd was to attend the event with those wearing red & white & blue being let in free in the bleacher area. The first 5,000 were to be given statue of liberty flags. June 30, 1986

This is the view from the Fairgrounds Stadium scoreboard as Colonels' right fielder Al Yates catches a fly ball against Syracuse. Louisville won the playoff game 4-0 last night. Sept. 5 1969

Construction on the exterior additions to the U of L football stadium at the Fairgrounds is nearing completion. July 20, 1973

Bleachers at Cardinal Stadium were pulled out Thursday in preparation for today's football game between the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University.

Workmen removed a goal post from Cardinal Stadium yesterday in preparation for the Louisville Redbirds' opening game Friday. Apr.9, 1986

Fairground Stadium, home of the Colonels, is a sea of mud now as ground crews await a few days of good weather to put in sod. Apr. 7, 1958

Workers put down an asphalt coating atop crushed rock at Cardinal Stadium yesterday to form a base for new AstroTurf to be installed before the Louisville Redbirds baseball season opens on April 10. Feb. 5 1987

More than 21,000 can be seated in theater-type chairs in the new Fairgrounds Stadium. There is room also for at least 10,000 bleacher seats.

Masses of earth are scooped up here by machinery treading the site of the future State Fairgrounds and Exposition Center between Crittenden Drive, Phillips Lane, and Preston Highway. June 12, 1951

A mass of wet concrete is underfoot and a tangle of reinforcing steel hangs loosely where forming gave away during pouring of a stadium floor at the new State Fairgrounds off Crittenden Drive. May 25, 1955

Putting back on seats in the grandstand gives Glenn Davis, Before, Ky,. "a long row to hoe." Aug. 13, 1956

Like a huge visor, a roof is going on the stadium being built at the new, $15,000,000 State Fairgrounds. Mar. 20, 1956

Painting continues at the new State Fairgrounds with this unusual rig for painting the ceiling.

Stadium columns of reinforced concrete are being formed on the second level already, with other work on the installation well advanced. The stadium is to seat up to 31,000.

Steel for the roof over stadium seats taking shape at new Kentucky State Fair and Exposition Center is stacked in the foreground. Also going up is the coliseum at the left in the background. Oct. 25, 1955

Some seats already in place, other tiered concrete rows await the placing of seats which are held tight by the bolts sticking out. June 14, 1956

The Kentucky State Fair Board will ask the state for money to tear down the old Cardinal Stadium and replace it with a music amphitheater. Nov. 19, 2009

An old ticket window at the Old Cardinal Stadium at the Louisville Expo Center. April 26, 2013

Wood decays inside ticket windows at the Old Cardinal Stadium at the Louisville Expo Center. April 26, 2013

Fireworks rain on the field below in 1990 at the old Cardinal Stadium at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center during the Kentucky Derby Festival Extravaganza, a precursor to Thunder Over Louisville. Fireworks fell from the sky during the Kentucky Derby Festival Extravaganza, a precursor to thunder Over Louisville. The event was hled at the old Cardinal Stadium at the Kentucky Fair and Expoistion Center. April 27, 1990.

The Baltimore Colts played the Philadelphia Eagles at the newly opened Kentucky fairgrounds, while the state fair took place in the background. Sept. 9 1956

Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones in concert in Louisville at Cardinal Stadium. Photo taken Sept 19, 1989.

Mick Jagger belted out a song last night at Cardinal Stadium during a stop on the Rolling Stones' "Steel Wheels" tour. Traffic heading to the concert was backed up on I-65 and Watterson Expressway for several miles. Approximately 40,000 people attended the show.

Dwight Yoakam performed during a free concert in Cardinal Stadium at the Kentucky State Fair. Aug. 22, 2006

Farm Aid Concert at Cardinal Stadium. Ruth Ann Coin of Bloomington; Vicky Yocum and Dennis Meredith, both of Louisville, during performance of BlackHawk. Oct. 1, 1995

People lined up at the fairgrounds to get first shot at tickets for the Farm Aid concert. After arriving early, Amity Davis of Charlestown, Ind., relaxed with friends before the windows opened. August 28, 1995

Farm program at Newmarket Hall involving officials, farmers, and others. Katie Godfrey, 10 of Powersville, Mo., whose family does cattle farming. She also wrote a poem which she read during the program. Oct. 1, 1995

Farm Aid Concert at Cardinal Stadium. Lead singer of BlackHawk. Oct. 1, 1995

Farm Aid Concert at Cardinal Stadium. Watching performers, fans, etc. are Jackie Herrell (Shelbyville) and Steve Highbaugh (Louisville) in front. Man in middle is Doug Rae (London, Ontario, Canada) and woman in back is Phyllis Hurst (Tazewell, Tenn.). Oct. 1, 1995

Willie Nelson at left and Brandenburg, Ky., farmer Mattie Mack sang a duet early on in the Farm Aid Concert at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Mack, who also raises hogs and cattle on 100 acres with her husband, William, has been a tobacco farmer for 34 years. Oct. 1, 1995

Redbird's Dan Cholowsky was out at 2nd in the 4th inning but he broke up a double play with this slide under Bisons Casey Candaele. Sept 11,1995

Farm Aid Scene in Louisville 10-1-95.

In a otherwise dark season for the Louisville Redbirds, catcher Eli Marrero, above, has been dazzling, showing strength at the plate and behind it.

Workmen remove old carpet in Cardinal Stadium at Fairgrounds. Home plate was at bottom left. They are working along the first base line.

This week's crusade will be Graham's biggest event in Louisville since 1956, when 493,000 people attended 26 services spread over four weeks at the newly opened Fairgrounds Coliseum and Stadium - as Freedom Hall and Cardinal Stadium were known.

Billy Graham in Louisville speaking at Kentucky State Fairgrounds Stadium. 10-28-56

Billy Graham makes final entrance at Fairgrounds. 10-28-56

Boyle Co's no. 58 Brad Scholtz and no. 54 Ben Wolfe lift the championship trophy for the Boyle Co. Fans to see after they beat Rockcastle Co. 21-0 for the Class AAA high school football champion ship. behind them no. 66 Charlie Cox and MVP of the game Jacob Tamme.-

Trinity players celebrated after beating Male by three points in the Class 4A Football Championship at Cardinal Stadium.

Three men make their way through debris scattered across the parking lot at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. The main section of Freedom Hall was severely damaged yesterday by a tornado.

Randy Travis in concert, Cardinal Stadium, at the Kentucky State Fair.