European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 14, 1980, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Tom Madden United press International he Telescope in the posh 26th floor office of . To Roberts or. In Knoxville tcnn., is zeroed in on a strip of land where he has invited the world to gather in 1982. The Telescope is aimed at a 70-acre Section of undeveloped red Clay property that is the site for expo 82, an International exposition entered around Energy. Promoters Are Billing the exposition As the world s fair of us 1930s Sod a grand Way for Knox de to assert itself As an Energy Center. Opponents Are calling it a Boondoggle and a tribute to pork barrel politics. With some nifty financing a heavy influx of Federal dollars the Hearty backing of the Knoxville establish ment and the clout of the Tennessee congressional delegation the fair has cleared most of its major hurdles and the race is on to have it ready for opening Day. A former newspaper editor the 43-year-old Roberts has been in the Vanguard of the Effort to make the fair a reality since 1976. He said he entered the struggle to bring the fair to Knoxville knowing the Road would be bumpy. There has to be an investment in Faith among people involved in the idea. There has been a has Trade orally been True in just about every world s fair a great amount of disbelief and opposition from folks who can t believe a Community can pull something like this off said Roberts a former University of Tennessee vice pres ident for Urban and Public affairs. It takes a lot of just hard gut leadership and persistence to work Between the horrendous amount of prob lems that Are going to come up in a project such As this said Roberts. The fair will be staged on a site within easy walking distance from the Center of Knoxville a bustling City of 170,000 population sprawled along the Banks of the ten Nessee River. The six month fair is scheduled to open May 1, 1982 and run through oct. 31 and is listed As a special International exposition designed to bring together the people of the United states and other countries to study the Many facets of  site clearance is about 99 percent Complete for the Fairgrounds which will contain an amusement Park restaurants and entertainment areas As Well As a Federal Pavilion. Officials Hope to convert the Federal Pavilion to a permanent Energy research Center when the fair is Over. Officials Hope to have at least 20 nations represented at the fair. Expo backers say the Energy theme will distinguish the fair from Alber similar events. Promoters selected tic Energy theme be Caw of kno Rlue growing role in the Field. The Tennessee Valley authority the nation s largest Utility is headquartered in Knoxville and the vast Oak Ridge tcnn., research Complex is but 20 Miles from the City. The University of Tennessee s kno Viilo Campus also is engaged in nearly s20 million in Energy relate research. Backers of the fair can spout a list of reasons Why the event should be held and what will be gained by the Effort. Roberts said among the chief goals of the fair is to give a stage for the latest technology advances in Energy. He also said the fair will accelerate investment in the area will revitalize Knoxville s Central business District and will give Knoxville a number of permanent Struc Tures that can be utilized in the future. He said expo also Knoxville s Energy expo . To Roberts or. Page 10 the stars and stripes is partly responsible Lor state and Federal officials com mitting about s228 million to improve the area s inter state Highway system. You have got to have a worthwhile purpose or there would be no reason in having the fair. You have got to look at what happens after the party is Over Roberts said. Our primary focus at this time is having a Success Ful world s fair. The accomplishment of that for this Region and for this country will have untold residual benefits in and of itself. So it is not contradictory to have our primary Effort directed at having a successful world s fair which will provide the Opportunity to accomplish these other Long term  fired inf for expo is coming from variety of sources. The nov profit private corporation Knox vote Interra Tiofila Energy exposition i a Aera red $25 to Fluor Lota from some 44 local regional National and International Lead a . In 1977, the Knoxville City Council chipped in is 1.6 million in Bonds for expo land acquisition. Under the bonding plan the City will own the land after the fair and will pay off the Bonds from the Sale of property. The City also May convert part of the fair site into a Public Park. Sandy Quinn vice president for marketing said the fair will be  forum for nations to show off their Energy technology. He said the fair has 200,000 Square feet set aside for International participants and 200,000 Square feet for Industrial exhibits. We Are telling people that our event is the next world s fair is the first of its kind in the Southeast is a one of kind fair and a major event of the 1980s," said Quinn former marketing director for Walt Disney world in Florida. We re saying to everyone look at the fair in its broadest context. The exhibit does t just have to be on Energy technology but it can focus on creative Energy and human  four nations Italy France Britain and West Ger Many along with the european common Market have said they will participate. Expo officials plan a fall recruiting trip in Hopes of luring China. A big question is whether the soviet Union will take part. The soviets promoters Are Billing the exposition As the world s fair of the 1980s and a grand Way for Knoxville to assert itself As an Energy Center. Opponents Are calling it a Boondoggle and a tribute to pork barrel  sunday september 14, 1980 earlier indicated they would be at the fair in Force and planned a 45,000 Square feet exhibit the largest of any foreign nation. But that was before the invasion of Afghanistan and . Boycott of the olympics. The russians Bare Given hints they would still Tike to be at the fair but expo officials said the is. State department Haa Given a cold shoulder to the idea. Roberts said the fair will be a Success with or without the  Senate recently approved funding for the . Pavilion and president Carter appointed real estate Developer Charles Fraser As the commissioner general atthe exposition. Quinn said projections show the fair will attract about 1 1 million visitors. Expo officials indicate they expect about 50 percent of the fair visitors to come from the Southeast but plan to attract fair goers from throughout the . And foreign countries. Roberts said the 1974 Spokane wash., world s fair Drew More than 5 million in visitors and helped pave the Way for a City the size of Knoxville to Host such an event. Spokane was the smallest City Ever to Host a world s fair and was successful. No question it did an awful lot in establishing the credibility for a City the size of kno Viilo to pull something like this off Roberts said. If Spokane had been a dismal failure it would have been much harder  King Cole was president of the 1974 Spokane fair and now acts As a consultant to expo. He said Spokane Citi Zens feel a sense of Pride Over what was accomplished a their fair. But All  citizens Don t favor the fair. University professor Joe Dodd helped form � Sroop that got 14,000 signatures on a petition asking that a  be held on the question of hosting the fair. Knox Elk a City Council refused to approve a vote. It is a Boondoggle from beginning to end Dodd said. I Don t see any Way even if it is a glowing Success that the Public can coma close to breaking even on Public dollars  Dodd is joined in Hij assessment by sen. Ernest hims of South Carolina