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

DATE: SUNDAY, May 15, 1994                   TAG: 9405150030
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D-13   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DEMOLISH VICTORY STADIUM

I think Roanoke should demolish Victory Stadium, fill the hole with dirt, plant some shrubs and flowers and watch the crowds roll in for Sunday afternoons. Obviously, this plan would draw bigger crowds to the area than the plan now in place (no plan).

Years ago, when Victory Stadium was built, the planners must have thought Roanoke would grow economically and, therefore, would need a stadium with 24,540 seats. How wrong they were!

While Greensboro, N.C., just completed an addition to its coliseum so it could hold the ACC basketball tournament and Charlotte, N.C., built a new coliseum to attract an NBA franchise and Salem built a new football stadium and did a great job as host of the NCAA Division III football championship, Roanoke is concerned about tearing down a stadium instead of building one.

Roanoke does not need a stadium because Roanoke does not want to grow. If Roanoke would consolidate governments and start offering some tax incentives to attract new business and industry, then maybe Roanoke would need a stadium. Until that happens, residents of Southern Virginia will continue to drive across the state's southern border to see good sporting events. RODNEY SPICKARD TROUTVILLE

by CNB