THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502170018
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
A battleship in the Hampton Roads area: What a great idea! Just look to our northern neighbor, Baltimore. It has three great tourist ships, Constellation, Torsk and a Coast Guard lighthouse vessel. What a boost to the area one of these grand ships would be.
The Hampton Roads area has preached ``group effort'' in attracting tourism. Let's make the battleship a group effort. Get Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Hampton to pitch in on the cost to move the ship here. Each city would then receive a portion of the ticket sales left over after maintenance and upkeep.
If Wilmington, N.C., can make it happen with a smaller, lesser-known ship with a smaller tourism base, Hampton Roads should have no problem turning a profit, especially with the great attractions already in place.
This class ship offers enormous space. Offices, shops and other activities could be included on the ship, adding increased revenue. Maybe even a U.S. Navy recruiting office for those really excited by the ship. Concerts could be staged on its great decks - just look at the video of Cher performing for the Navy aboard the Iowa. The possibilities are endless.
Let's get the ball rolling! Virginia and Hampton Roads have been on the short end of the stick lately. We said no to Disney and Dolly and hemmed and hawed over amphitheaters, horse racing, NASCAR and riverboat gambling.
NFL franchises are kicking off this year in ``lesser'' areas. Let's start thinking Big League in Hampton Roads. A battleship is a step in that direction.
ROBERT A. PRAYDIS
Virginia Beach, Jan. 31, 1995 by CNB