Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505080058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK BULLOCK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Lazzaro, general manager of the Salem Avalanche, says ``barring anything totally unforeseen,'' the stadium will be open for the second half of the Carolina League season, which begins June 20.
``We're right on schedule,'' Lazzaro said last week. ``Everybody is very optimistic at this stage'' that work will be completed by the target date. Lazzaro hinted an earlier opening might be possible, but stopped short of saying so.
Lazzaro said there's no question the stadium ``will not be 100 percent complete before we occupy it,'' but said by that point ``all of your major items will be done.''
``There will still be some landscaping and other odds and ends, things we won't be a factor in,'' Lazzaro said.
Crews were installing seats during the past week, and Lazzaro used seating as an example of how the stadium plans have evolved from the original concept.
Originally, he said, there were going to be 3,000 ``top-of-the-line'' seats for the box seat and reserved sections. The other 3,000 seats were to have been aluminum benches with back supports.
City officials later decided to install individual seats throughout the stadium.
``This is the top seat on the market,'' Lazzaro said, citing Camden Yards in Baltimore, Coors Field in Denver and The Ballpark at Arlington (Texas) as examples of major-league stadiums that have the same seat. ``This is the kind of thing that will put this stadium ahead of any Class A park in the country.''
Other subtle features fans will notice are improved leg room and visibility.
According to Lazzaro, the typical lift between rows at most stadiums is 7 inches. At this ballpark, that distance will be 18 inches, which means fans will have a much better view of the field, even if it happens to be hat day at the stadium.
Rows will be deeper, too, meaning fans won't have to sit with their knees in somebody's back or with their back against somebody's knees.
``This is comparable to a 10,000-seat stadium in terms of size,'' Lazzaro said. ``So imagine that same size with only 6,000 seats and how much more comfortable it's going to be for the fans.''
Lazzaro said it is unfortunate the team wasn't able to open the season at the new stadium, but said ``the wait will be well worth it.''
HOLDING THE LINE: When asked about cost overruns and the price tag for the new stadium, Lazzaro defended Salem city officials.
``They said all along they anticipated no tax increase, and they've held the line on that,'' Lazzaro said. ``The city has kept its word by coming up with additional money to eliminate the need for a tax increase.''
WHO'S PAYING: The city is footing the bill for most of the stadium construction, but Lazzaro said the Avalanche ``has put sizable amounts'' into the project.
Among the items the team is responsible for are the electronic scoreboard, construction of the outfield wall, equipment for the concession stands, furnishing the administrative offices and computers for ticketing and the stadium sound system.
EXPECTATIONS: Lazzaro said the team is ``about where we expected to be'' in terms of revenue and attendance after two home stands this season.
Wet, cold weather hurt the turnout the past week, and Lazzaro said many regular customers have elected to wait until the new stadium is open to come to the ballpark.
``You expect to have ups and downs on the field, and we've had those,'' Lazzaro said. ``You expect to have ups and downs with the weather, and we've had those, too.
``But overall, interest has been phenomenal. We couldn't be happier as far as that is concerned.''
PRODUCT ENDORSEMENT: Lazzaro likes what he has seen so far from the Avalanche, which went into Saturday night's action having won seven of its past eight games.
``It's been an exciting brand of baseball,'' the general manager said. ``Win or lose, you're never bored. I haven't seen one instance when they haven't gone down swinging, and over the long haul that will surface.''
The parent Colorado Rockies have been responsive to the team's needs, too, Lazzaro said.
``They've shown their concern for what's going on on the field,'' Lazzaro said.
When the team was struggling, losing 11 of 14 games, ``they went out and got some players from a higher classification [Class AA New Haven] and sent them here.''
by CNB