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

DATE: TUESDAY, February 12, 1991                   TAG: 9102120451
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

METRO TOURNEY OFFICIALS TRYING TO BOOST SALES

The Roanoke Civic Center will be trying to push the sale of Metro Conference basketball tournament tickets in the Roanoke Valley and Western Virginia in the coming weeks, partly because sales at the conference schools are lagging.

Only about 4,800 tickets have been sold for the March 7-9 tournament.

"It is important for basketball and sports fans in the valley to support this tournament," George Snead, director of administration and safety for the city, told the Civic Center Commission on Monday.

The success of the tournament could have a significant impact on the city's ability to book major sports events at the center, Snead said.

Snead noted the Metro will be competing with televised games in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament for fans' attention. But he said the "festive atmosphere" at the Metro would make it "tenfold better than watching ACC games."

Snead said the tournament committee has contacted the eight schools in the conference in an effort to sell more tickets. The city's economic development staff is also trying to develop strategies for boosting ticket sales.

The tournament has been plagued by the impending withdrawal of four schools from the conference and poor play this season by Louisville and Memphis State, traditionally the league's top two teams.

Dan Wooldridge, a commission member, said tournament officials need to make sure sports fans in Western Virginia know tickets are available.

"We've got to let people in Danville, Lynchburg and other places know they can still buy tickets," Wooldridge said.

by CNB