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

DATE: MONDAY, January 2, 1995                   TAG: 9501070057
SECTION: EDITORIALS                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOHN GAGNON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HOCKEY IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

I WAS disappointed in what I feel are several misleading statements by reporter Mark Morrison in his Dec. 11 article headlined ``Concerts vs. hockey: Petty dispute or heartbreaker?''

Mr. Morrison's reference to Roanoke Civic Center Manager Bob Chapman's seeing ``revenue going to another city'' upon turning down a concert due to a pre-scheduled Express game is flat-out preposterous.

As Mr. Morrison reported, concerts ``can generate $20,000 to $35,000 for the civic center'' per concert. Certainly, by contrast, a good hockey night does indeed generate around $10,000 for the civic center, per each of the 37 home games.

But let us take this economic equation one step further than Mr. Morrison chose to research.

Concert promoters roll into town, put forth $20,000 to $35,000 into the Roanoke Civic Center, and roll immediately out of town with anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 of the Western Virginia/Roanoke Valley concert-goers' ticket money to spend elsewhere in the world.

However, the second-year Roanoke Express franchise recirculates more than $1 million right back into the Roanoke Valley community every year, through our daily purchasing operations and overall commitment to local business - in addition to the increase in revenue for many associated businesses.

Just ask any of the dozens of service stations, restaurants, bars and hotels within a five-mile radius of the civic center on any hockey game night.

Tom Petty might come to Roanoke, at best, every four years or so when he releases a new album. But the Roanoke Express is here 37 times a year, and it serves as an integral part in the fiscal operation of the Roanoke Civic Center. The center had its best financial year ever last year, which was also the first year of Express hockey.

We (the Roanoke Express) reserve our dates at least two years in advance, and it would be abnormal and eventually financially devastating for the Roanoke Civic Center to keep dates open in case rock stars should call, when the rock stars have nowhere else to go and feel that Roanoke is a good place to pick up a couple hundred thousand dollars out of the local economy.

John Gagnon of Roanoke is president of the Roanoke Express Hockey Club.

by CNB