Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 27, 1990                   TAG: 9007270105
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

TAGLIABUE'S WISH: EXPANSION BY '93, REALIGNMENT BY '92

On Thursday, Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the league's realignment and expansion committee recommended to team owners that expansion should take place by 1993 and realignment could begin in two years.

"I restated my personal belief that a two-team expansion in 1993 is a realistic objective. . . . and the committee members shared that belief," Tagliabue said. "With that goal in mind, we realize there is a great amount of work to be done in the months ahead."

The addition of two teams could mean multimillion-dollar windfalls for each of the 28 current teams. In 1976, the last time the NFL expanded, Seattle and Tampa Bay each paid a $16 million franchise fee. There have been reports that new franchises would have to pay an entry fee as high as $100 million.

Tagliabue said the final expansion decision will be made by late 1991 or early '92 to permit play in '93.

"Expansion involves examination of many complex issues, including competitive balance, revenue sharing, television, scheduling and player employment," Tagliabue said. "The committee recognized that economic conditions in professional sports and the general economy are difficult to assess beyond the term of current NFL television contracts. The committee also recognized the possible bearing on expansion of the current labor relations situation in the league. If this continues, the prospects for adding new clubs could be negatively affected."

Tagliabue said the consensus of the committee at its last meeting on June 15 was that selection of cities, not ownership interests, would come first for the league and that, despite growing interest in the NFL overseas, expansion will be limited to North America.

The World League of American Football, underwritten by the NFL, is scheduled to begin play next spring in several European cities, Montreal and Mexico City.

Cities and communities mentioned in the expansion franchise derby are Jacksonville, Fla.; Memphis, Tenn.; and the Carolinas, as well as Baltimore and St. Louis, which had teams that moved elsewhere.

Charlotte, N.C., unveiled plans this week for a 70,000-seat football stadium to be built if the city is granted a franchise. Mark Richardson is the son of former NFL wide receiver Jerry Richardson and general manager of Richardson Sports, which is spearheading Charlotte's effort.

"We are encouraged that there has been formal movement toward a timetable for expansion," Richardson said. "Our investment in having complete site specific drawings prepared and the cooperation which the city, county and state governments are providing will give us that much more of a head start. We would have no trouble whatsoever being ready with our state-of-the-art stadium for the 1993 season."

The Richardsons sold out an NFL exhibition game between Philadelphia and the New York Jets last year in Raleigh and have sold out another exhibition Aug. 11 in Chapel Hill between Washington and Atlanta.

"Our 9.9 million market of new NFL fans within a reasonable drive and our overflow crowd in Raleigh last year and this year's sellout in Chapel Hill will be strong evidence in favor of our area," Richardson said.