Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 28, 1993 TAG: 9310280249
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Rodney White already has Carolina Panthers memorabilia on order.
The fight for the football soul of Southwest Virginia is on.
When National Football League owners voted Tuesday to award Charlotte, N.C., a franchise, they put a major-league football team tantalizingly close to many Virginians who have long pledged their allegiance elsewhere.
"Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities," said White, the assistant manager of Champs, a sports clothing store at Valley View Mall. "That's where young people want to be."
Marketing will play a heavy part in establishing who will be the victor in building loyalty among younger sport fans, who spend big bucks on team clothing such as hats, T-shirts and sweats.
Washington's following has been built with 20 years, for the most part, of on-field success.
But Washington is 222 miles from Roanoke - four hours and change in driving time; Charlotte is 178 miles - three hours and then a bit on the road.
The Charlotte Hornets, that city's entry in the National Basketball Association, have drawn fans from Southwest Virginia because of their proximity, their use of Virginia Tech alumni on and off the court and their recent success.
Ironically, it could be the Redskins' very popularity that drives fans to the Panthers - who won't play a real football game until September 1995.
Sarah Jackson, executive tour director for Abbott Bus Lines, said her company used to schedule Redskins game tours, but shied away when tickets became too scarce and too expensive.
She hopes the Panthers will make tickets more available to tour companies in Southwest Virginia in order to build a solid fan base in the region.
"We wanted to get back into sporting events," Jackson said. "Maybe this will be our opportunity."
Some fans in the region already are drawn to the Carolinas, where NASCAR racing reigns as one of the top sporting events.
That link between fans and Western Carolina will grow if Charlotte successfully lures former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs out of retirement to coach the team. Gibbs also owns a NASCAR team.
The Redskins' fan support could waver if the team goes into a prolonged rebuilding period. The 'Skins have won but one of six games this year and are in last place in their division.
Even diehard Redskins fans, such as Roanoke's Bill Hollifield, recognize that Charlotte could have an impact.
"I talked to several people who wanted to order season tickets and get on the list," said Hollifield, himself a North Carolina native. "I hope they do well. I think they will."
Still, he won't abandon the Redskins he's rooted for since the playing days of Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice in the 1940s.
"Charlotte has some right good-looking uniforms," Hollifield said. "I like their helmets. Maybe they'll be my second team."
by CNB