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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 16, 1994                   TAG: 9407160038
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SALEM TAKES ITS OFFER FOR BASKETBALL TO HOOP

\ Salem city officials went before another NCAA committee Friday, hoping to bring the Division III men's basketball Final Four to the civic center for a three-year run beginning in March 1996.

The city, already the site of Division III football's Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for two more years, also learned that NCAA women's softball has been recommended to return to the Moyer Sports Complex in 1995 and '96.

The Division II softball committee has recommended Salem as its site for its six-team championship tournament next May. Division III, which played its national tournament at the Moyer fields two months ago, is seeking to return to the site in 1996 after it plays at Storm Lake, Iowa, next year.

Both committee recommendations are subject to final approval by the NCAA Council, which meets Aug. 8-9. Salem was praised by the Division III committee for its efforts with the '94 softball tournament, and the council often rubber-stamps sports committee site choices.

Salem Civic Center manager Carey Harveycutter said the eight-member Division III men's basketball committee plans to inform the four bidders for the tournament of its decision next week. Harveycutter, Salem assistant city manager Forest Jones and Joe Yates, Salem's director of planning and development, met with the committee Friday in Kansas City, Mo.

"We thought our presentation was well-received, but we didn't get a feel for what they were thinking," Harveycutter said. "They did ask a number of questions, and they did say money was not an overriding concern. What they're looking for is attendance and a good atmosphere."

Emory & Henry coach Bob Johnson is a member of the Division III committee. He could not be reached for comment Friday, and Harveycutter said the committee would not reveal the names of the other sites bidding for the Division III Final Four, except to say Salem was one of four bidders.

Salem's financial package was very similar to the offer that landed a three-year Stagg Bowl commitment. The city is offering the NCAA an annual $20,000 guarantee. The next $8,000 would be retained by Salem to cover expenses, and any revenue above $28,000 would be split 60-40, with the NCAA getting the higher percentage.

Harveycutter said Salem "fairly" estimated the men's Final Four would draw "2,500-3,500 per session" to the 5,800-seat building, although the capacity can be reduced by eliminating end-zone seats.

Salem also is waiting to learn a final NCAA decision on its bid for baseball's Division III World Series, which could move to the city as soon as next season. Salem presented plans for its proposed ballpark to an NCAA committee this month, although if the ballpark isn't built or not completed, Municipal Field could be the NCAA site.

Salem's competition for the World Series comes from current site Battle Creek, Mich., Marietta, Ohio, and Trenton, N.J. As with the Stagg Bowl and Division III softball, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference is Salem's NCAA member sponsor.

Because Salem needed a Division II conference or institution to co-sponsor the Division II softball bid for next spring, ODAC commissioner Dan Wooldridge asked Longwood College to be the host institution for the event.