THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 3, 1994 TAG: 9406030950
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: D4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONY WHARTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940603 LENGTH: NORFOLK
Michael Bartlett, executive director of Nauticus, explained his initial reluctance by saying, ``My only fear was that too many people would be looking too closely at the figures, trying to make something out of them.''
{REST} The $52 million maritime center opened at 2 p.m. Wednesday after dedication ceremonies.
By late afternoon, a Nauticus employee said about 900 people had passed through the turnstiles. But after Nauticus closed at 9 p.m., Bartlett refused to release the complete attendance for the day.
Thursday morning, he said, ``We're not going to report attendance numbers on a daily basis. We're going to release them at an appropriate time.''
That might not be until the end of the summer, he said.
However, following discussions with city officials, Bartlett released the opening-day attendance figure Thursday afternoon. by CNB