Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 11, 1994 TAG: 9401110196
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
County supervisors say they would be willing to help finance a stadium if county taxpayers would get a direct return on their investment.
Supervisors also say they would consider supporting a private authority similar to one set up in Richmond to build The Diamond, the home to an Atlanta Braves AAA team.
But county supervisors have ruled out pitching in $1 million with no strings attached, as requested by Salem Mayor Jim Taliaferro.
Taliaferro said Monday that Salem has no interest in a joint venture, given problems with an authority that once managed the Salem Civic Center.
Roanoke City Manager Bob Herbert said Monday he is still reviewing Salem's request for Roanoke to also provide $1 million for a stadium.
Herbert said he hopes to have a recommendation for City Council by the end of the month.
Herbert would not say what he will recommend, but some council members have said it is doubtful Roanoke would provide the money without some control.
Taliaferro confirmed what county officials have thought all along - that Salem may move ahead with a $5 million stadium with or without help from other valley governments. The stadium would be on city-owned land next to the Salem Civic Center.
A new facility to replace Municipal Stadium is needed to keep a New York group that has a contract to buy the Salem Buccaneers from moving the Class A Carolina League team out of the area.
Bucs owner Kelvin Bowles has sold the team to a group headed by Eric Margenau of New York, pending league approval.
Salem officials have gone on record with the Carolina League as opposing out-of-town ownership.
Taliaferro said professional baseball would be reluctant to approve the sale if Salem were opposed to non-local ownership and if it would commit to building a new stadium.
"There is nothing in the league bylaws that says that out-of-town ownership is illegal," Carolina League President John Hopkins said. "I don't know what the owners will say [during the approval process for Margenau's group]. It may be a factor with each different owner, but I can't put a weight on it."
If Margenau is approved, the Bucs would be the only league team that has ownership without any local ties, Hopkins said.
Taliaferro would not say whether the city would proceed with the stadium if out-of-town ownership was inevitable.
"We have to cross one bridge at a time," he said.
But the mayor said professional baseball was too important to the valley's economy and quality of life to let it slip away.
"Personally, I don't know how we could not build it," he said.
Margenau has called Salem to set up an appointment with city officials. Taliaferro said he would be able to meet with Margenau at the end of next week at the earliest.
Staff writers Joel Turner and Ray Cox provided information for this story.
by CNB