THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 1, 1994 TAG: 9407010504
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
The Admirals will remain affiliated with the Washington Capitals and, because of a survey of their fans, with the name Hampton Roads, officials said Thursday.
Team president Blake Cullen also announced the Admirals will host preseason games with Johnstown on Thursday, Oct. 13, and Wheeling on Friday, Oct. 14. Road games will follow with Johnstown on Oct. 15 and Wheeling Oct. 16.
The Admirals, who have been asked in past years by Norfolk city officials to adopt the city's name, mailed surveys to 2,000 fans and nearly half were returned. More than 90 percent said they preferred that the Admirals retain the Hampton Roads name.
``That was the question that received the most vocal answers,'' Cullen said. ``About 23 percent of our business comes from the Peninsula and they (Peninsula fans) were adamant in saying that we should represent the area, not just one city.
``Even the people who responded from Virginia Beach said, ``No, you're the area's team.' ''
The Tidewater Tides baseball team changed its name to Norfolk last summer in response to a request from the city. Cullen said officials haven't asked him in recent years to make the same change, but wanted input from Admirals fans to see if such a change was desirable.
``The results were overwhelming,'' he said. ``We will continue to be called the Hampton Roads Admirals.''
Other results from the survey:
More than 94 percent desire to see more Admirals' road games on television.
80 percent are happy with the current starting time of 7:30 p.m.
Nearly 50 percent would like the Admirals to resume playing Sunday games.
93 percent favor the current system of breaking a tie, in which a 5-minute sudden-death period is followed by a shootout.
Cullen said the Admirals will try to place more road games on television and will experiment with some Sunday games, even though their last Sunday afternoon game several years ago drew poorly.
Cullen said the agreement with the Caps has worked well even though the Admirals had no players last season under contract to Washington.
``It's developing the way we thought it would,'' he said. ``They direct a lot of players to us they haven't signed. It's been a productive relationship for both teams.''
Former Admirals' star Byron Dafoe was on the Caps' roster last season and played in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Cullen said tickets for individual regular season games will go on sale Sept. 13, about a month later than usual. Until then, only season tickets will be sold. by CNB