Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994 TAG: 9406300073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The results of a study of the Salem Buccaneers' books and the impact of a new stadium were detailed to Salem City Council Monday night. Council commissioned the study from an independent auditor so voters could see the figures before voting July 19 on building a new baseball stadium.
The Bucs' current home, Municipal Field, will not meet major league baseball standards after this season and is too small and obsolete to be profitable, team owner Kelvin Bowles said.
The study found that in addition to the impact from a 70-home game season, the economic contribution of special events - such as the Division III baseball championships the city will bid on next week - could mean another $12,000 to $190,000 per event.
Joey Altizer, a supervisor from Brown, Edwards & Co., which conducted the study, said the firm's estimates were conservative, at city council's request.
"These numbers aren't only real, they are conservative," Mayor Jim Taliaferro agreed. "They aren't overinflated."
Bowles called them "low, ... a worst-case scenario."
Salem voters will decide in an advisory referendum next month whether to spend up to $5 million for a new ballpark near the civic center. Bowles believes taxpayers will recoup that money within two or three seasons. He also now believes that with the preparation the city is doing now - getting architects' renderings and plans - an April '95 season opener is possible at a new field.
The study showed that Bowles has a deficit in the ballclub of $96,800.
"It's not been a very good profit operation," he said. "But in the last few years, we've been in the black just enough to make us happy. I want people in Salem who think I'm operating a private business in a public facility and making major dollars (to know) I've not been."
In addition to an economic contribution of $983,000 last year, professional baseball also created 40 full-time job equivalents, the study said. That could increase to as many as 55 full-time job equivalents with a larger stadium.
City Manager Randy Smith said other cities with new stadiums that Salem contacted saw an increase in attendance of 100 percent for the first three years before leveling off.
The accountants determined the economic contribution on the basis of total sales, personal income, value added, and employment.
The study also reported that:
Ninety-two percent of fans live within 45 minutes of the stadium; 76 percent live within 30 minutes.
The percentage of fans by locality is: 55 percent, Roanoke and Roanoke County; 21 percent, Salem; 9 percent, Montgomery County; 8 percent, surrounding counties; 7 percent, other localities.
Ninety percent of the fans are over 18.
Sixty percent of the fans are male, 40 percent female.
From 1982 to 1993, attendance increased 309 percent - from 47,000 to 146,000.
by CNB