Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220085
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Montgomery County official Nick Rush has purchased franchise rights in hopes of bringing professional football to the Roanoke Valley.
Rush and his partner, former Virginia Tech football player Donald Wayne Snell, have been negotiating with National Minor League Football (NMLF) in Charlotte, N.C.
Plans are for the league to begin play in the fall of 1995, with 26 teams from New York to Los Angeles. Franchises are being considered for Northern Virginia; Charleston, W.Va.; Chambersburg, Pa.; and Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
``Looking at it from a business standpoint, if it's marketed correctly and the league is strong, we can be successful,'' said Rush, 26, a member of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.
Rush said he has held talks with the Roanoke City Department of Parks and Recreation concerning the availability of 24,540-seat Victory Stadium.
``We think that would be an appropriate venue,'' said Rush, who indicated that consideration already has been given to a coach and team logo.
Parks and Recreation director John Coates termed himself ``very, very interested'' after touring the facility with Rush.
``No commitment has been made at this point,'' Coates said, ``but we're trying to make it work. The facility definitely has been underutilized.''
Coates, noting that the future of Victory Stadium is a subject under study, conceded that improvements would have to be made to the locker-room area.
``It's rather spartan at this point,'' he said. ``Before we know what direction we want to go, I think we first would try to freshen up the locker rooms and bathrooms.''
Rush compared the new league to the Continental Basketball Association and said that the Italian-American Football League would draft players from the NMLF.
``We're hoping to draw players interested in playing at the next level - the Canadian Football League, the Arena League or overseas,'' Rush said. ``There are a lot of professional opportunities now below the NFL.''
Rush said the proposed Roanoke Valley team would play a 10-game schedule, with games at home and on the road against each of the teams in its six-team division. The home games would be held either Saturday afternoon or Saturday night, depending on the gate.
``If Virginia Tech is away, we'll be home,'' he said. ``If Tech's home, we'll be away.''
Rush, a former Christiansburg High football player, said a realistic goal would be 5,000 fans per game. He recently met with a group of potential Roanoke Valley investors and Roanoke City Councilman Mac McCadden.
``When we heard about this league and checked with the New Century Council, we found that we could draw from an area with 500,000 people,'' said Rush, who works as a courier for Federal Express and co-owns a dance studio with his wife. ``The demographics are perfect.''
Memo: NOTE:L Shorter version ran in Metro edition.