THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504090172
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Will the Hampton Roads Admirals be sold in the next few months?
That's hard to predict. Admirals president Blake Cullen says the team is not on the auction block but adds that if the right offer comes, he might take it.
``I've had some inquiries,'' he said. ``Nobody has made me an offer.''
But two prospective buyers have called and promised to get back to him soon, he said. It is expected he will settle for nothing less than $3 million. South Carolina's franchise recently sold for $2.8 million.
Cullen let it be known a month ago that he was willing to sell the team if anyone wanted to move an American Hockey League franchise to Norfolk. He said he met with one prospective buyer who decided not to make an offer.
The AHL is a dead issue for now, but his franchise is one of the most lucrative in minor league hockey.
``I expect to be here next season,'' he said. ``But one phone call could change things.''
Some predictions on other changes that might occur during the offseason:
HIGHER TICKET PRICES: Cullen won't say so yet, but ticket prices surely will rise.
The Admirals charge $6 and $7 per game. That's among the lowest in the league and costs are going up, thanks in large part to a new players' union. The salary cap of $6,000 per week likely will double or be banished altogether.
Players also are demanding comprehensive health insurance and other incentives. Ticket price hikes have already been announced in most ECHL cities. It'll happen here, too.
NEW FACILITIES: Norfolk city officials took a good, hard look at the Admirals' offices and locker rooms during the team's abortive fling with the AHL and didn't like what they saw. The Admirals are staying in the ECHL, but they're not staying in the same facilities.
``We need to make some changes,'' Mayor Paul Fraim acknowledges.
At minimum, the Admirals will get renovated locker rooms and offices. Cullen has also asked the city to build a suspended press box above the stands and to look at ways to increase seating.
Scope seats 8,990 for hockey and is often sold out on Friday nights. The press table area is usually congested and there is little room for cameras, technicians and announcers when games are televised.
A suspended press box would open space for perhaps 150 more seats, pushing Scope's capacity to more than 9,000.
An architect will soon come to Scope to determine the cost of each of these improvements. Cullen has also asked that the city look into the cost of adding upward of 1,000 seats to each end zone. With 11,000 seats, Hampton Roads would lead the league in attendance, he says.
NEW OPPONENTS: Greensboro, the arch-enemy of Hampton Roads for the last six seasons, is moving to the AHL. Raleigh likely will follow the Monarchs. Those teams filled 11 of 34 dates at Scope last season and were part of an East Division that likely won't exist next season.
The league probably will be divided into two or four divisions and the scheduling will be revamped. No longer will teams to limited almost exclusively to playing division rivals. Look for South Carolina to be a frequent opponent.
Toledo, Nashville and Tallahassee, whom the Admirals didn't play during the regular season, will be on the schedule next season. So, likely, will be most of the four expansion teams - Jacksonville, Mobile, Louisville and Lafayette, La.
COACHES: Assistant coach Al MacIsaac probably won't return. Mobile and Jacksonville have spoken to him about their head coaching positions. As openings occur in the Colonial and Central leagues, MacIsaac is likely to be offered a head coaching job.
PLAYERS: As usual, the turnover will be heavy. Veteran Dennis McEwen has hinted he'll retire, and if he does, he'll be an assistant coach candidate if MacIsaac leaves. Expect Kelly Sorensen, another year-round Hampton Roads resident who'll be a veteran next season, to retire unless the three-man veterans rule is waived or increased.
Chris Phelps, Ron Pascucci, Trevor Halverson, John Porco and Rick Kowalsky likely won't all return. Porco says he'll play in Europe if he doesn't land an IHL or AHL contract.
Three players under contract from Portland - Rob MacInnis, Brian Goudie and Matt Mallgrave - become free agents on April 15, when their Portland contracts expire. MacInnis, currently playing for Prince Edward Island in the AHL, has expressed a strong desire to return if he doesn't remain in a higher league.
At least one familiar face is sure to return - left wing Rod Taylor, who could break most of the team's career scoring records next season.
Others likely to return include Brendan Curley, Tom Menicci, Tony MacAulay, Ron Majic, Mike Nemirovsky and goaltender Shamus Gregga.
Defenseman Jason MacIntyre might return if the Nova Scotia native doesn't land a full-time law-enforcement job in Canada. Goaltender Corwin Saurdiff is under contract to San Jose, but it doesn't appear likely the Sharks will resign him. He'll become a free agent on April 15 and the Admirals will attempt to sign him. by CNB