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

DATE: SATURDAY, April 1, 1995                   TAG: 9504030074
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PRICE TAG FOR SALEM BASEBALL STADIUM TOPS $9 MILLION

\ Salem City Council promised citizens a first-class stadium, but Friday they learned quality comes at a price.

Friday morning, council accepted J.M. Turner & Co. Inc.'s bid for the final work on the stadium, nudging the price tag to just over $9 million - $4 million more than voters approved in an advisory referendum in July.

That $9 million does not include the cost of more-expensive general admission seats, which the city approved a few weeks ago, or work the city has done on the project. City crews are installing the lights, putting in the warning track, erecting the outer fence and planting trees.

Last fall, city Councilman Alex Brown predicted the stadium would have about a $1 million overrun. But the lowest of the two bids submitted for the final work, which includes concession stands, sky boxes, plumbing and detail work, was $4.27 million - about $2 million more than expected.

``That's considerably more than we anticipated, but you don't do these things but once in your lifetime,'' Mayor Jim Taliaferro said. ``I don't mind taking the blame, if there is such a thing as blame in something like this. I insisted that we do it first class.''

He blamed the underestimate on inexperience.

``I never built a baseball park before,'' he said. ``We used the numbers provided to us by other cities building ballparks.''

The July referendum was not binding. The additional funds for the project will come from the city's capital reserve fund.

``Even in my pessimism, I didn't expect them to exceed 60 percent over,'' said Aaron Smith of Salem, founder of a taxpayer watchdog group.``The referendum said `not to exceed $5 million.' I feel like I've been had by my elected representatives. ... This is another example of Salem and its paternalistic arrogance.''

Salem resident Gibson Brown, however, supported the stadium when it cost $5 million, and he still does.

``I just love the way Salem does things,'' Brown said. ``I'm not happy that the price is more, but I'm sure it'll be something to be proud of.''

The ballpark, which was due to be ready for the Avalanche's Carolina League home opener April 14, will not open until May. It's a fact Taliaferro doesn't find surprising.

``I never dreamed that it would be finished April 14,'' Taliaferro said. ``They will have us in there for the NCAA.''

The National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Baseball Championship is scheduled to be played in the new ballpark May 24.

But even then, the stadium will lack some finishing touches, such as bathrooms and concession stands, Taliaferro said.

That isn't ruffling the feathers of Avalanche owner Kelvin Bowles or general manager Sam Lazzaro.

``It will be one of the finest Class A stadiums around,'' Lazzaro said, ``and when you know what we have coming, it's hard to be disappointed.''

Bowles echoed that sentiment.

``If anyone should be upset, it should be me,'' Bowles said. ``I'm the one losing the money, but I'm not the least bit disappointed.''

To begin the season in old Municipal Field, which does not meet professional baseball specifications, the Avalanche will need Carolina League approval. Bowles said he doesn't foresee a problem.

But playing in Municipal Field also raises a logistical problem - tickets.

The Avalanche has been selling tickets with assigned seats for the new stadium, but many of those seat numbers don't exist in the old one.

``To keep things as simple as possible, we will honor those tickets, but it will be more of an open seating,'' Lazzaro said. He recommends that fans come early opening night to avoid the potential ``scramble'' for seats.

Tickets for the opening game are still available at the Avalanche office next to Municipal Field; they can be ordered by phone at 389-3333.

\ WHAT'S IT COST?

Approved expenditures for Salem's new baseball stadium

$319,248: Seats (this does not include a recent change in specifications)

$273,000: Lighting

$4,181,000: Site work, rough grading and concrete work for stands

$4,270,000: Clubhouses, plumbing and detail work

$9,043,248: Total