THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511050228
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
Though the Canadian Football League's Shreveport Pirates hope to call Foreman Field their ``new'' home next season, there is nothing new about it.
The brickyard on Hampton Boulevard was built back in 1936, funded as part of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. Since then, Foreman Field has seen plenty: Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach in an Oyster Bowl and Johnny Unitas and Sonny Jurgensen in NFL exhibitions.
But don't expect to see their likes ever again at Foreman Field. The best it can hope for now is a CFL team - and for only a couple years at that.
If the Pirates come to town, they will play in Foreman Field. Pirates president Lonie Glieberman hopes to average more than 20,000 fans a game, possibly enticing civic leaders to back a new stadium that would serve as home to his team, the Oyster Bowl and other football and soccer events.
One obstacle to drawing those crowds, however, is the comfort factor at Foreman Field, which is used mostly for Norfolk State football, Old Dominion University field hockey and the Oyster Bowl. Even though it was renovated in 1981, it is not the most pleasant place to watch - or play - a game.
Among its drawbacks:
Every one of the stadium's 25,400 seats are bleacher-type without backs;
The concession stands and restrooms are inadequate for large crowds;
Parking is very limited;
The artificial turf is old and hard;
The locker rooms, built for and smaller teams of the '30s, are cramped;
The field is 30 yards shorter than CFL standards;
Peeling paint and cracked bricks are everywhere;
The ceilings in the press boxes are falling in.
These factors not only eliminate Foreman Field as a permanent home for a CFL team, they also make it an imperfect interim option.
Were he building a stadium for 25,400 people, Jim Walters, vice president of HOK Sports of Kansas City, Mo., would call for 205 restroom stalls and at least eight full-service concession stands. Foreman Field has 82 restroom stalls and four concession stands.
If a CFL team is to come in, upgrading to just the bare essentials could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. No exact estimate is available, and no one is volunteering to pay the bill, either.
Yet Bill Haase, executive vice president of the Pirates, said Foreman Field will do nicely, thank you.
``It's a different facility, but it's not something that can't be made functional for our purposes,'' he said. ``Is it what we need long-term? No. Can it be an interim facility? Yes, with some enhancements.''
Those likely will include:
Demolishing one press box, probably on the east side, and replacing it with a newer and larger facility;
Building modular locker rooms, perhaps underneath the end zones;
Installing portable restrooms and concession stands;
Finding a way to overcome the lack of parking.
``We have to make sure parking is available nearby,'' Haase said. ``If not, we may have to use bus transportation. A lot of facilities, including the Pontiac Silverdome, use buses because there's not enough parking on-site.''
Who will pay for all this? ODU owns the stadium, and although athletic director Jim Jarrett won't comment on the current situation, in the past he has said the university won't pay for, but must approve, any changes in Foreman Field. Glieberman said the Pirates can't and won't pay for renovations.
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim said the city might consider funding some renovations, though it is awaiting a written request from Glieberman before it acts. The Sports Authority of Hampton Roads, which is funded by eight area localities, is another possible funding source.
Also, Gov. George Allen apparently is interested in the CFL, and with his help, state funds could be used to help bring pro football to Hampton Roads. Last week, Allen's office requested copies of all CFL-related stories written by The Virginian-Pilot, but the governor, a friend of Pirates coach Forrest Gregg, did not respond to requests for an interview.
Is Foreman Field the only option as a temporary home? No, but the Pirates have rejected the other candidates.
The other options - such as Harbor Park and Norfolk State's proposed new stadium - also do not appear to be long-term possibilities.
Harbor Park could be expanded, but there are many negatives. A standard CFL field can't fit into Harbor Park. The Tides' season would conflict with the current CFL schedule. Plus, the Tides, who are paying $1 million per year to Norfolk for use of the stadium, would not be enthused about a football team tearing up their turf.
Norfolk State is planning to build a 30,000-seat stadium on campus. But parking and access will be limited, and it won't be finished until late 1996 at the earliest.
Other stadiums, such as Todd Field in Newport News, Darling Stadium in Hampton, and William and Mary's 18,000-seat stadium, aren't feasible because of parking, transportation and/or seating limitations.
CFL officials still have not approved Foreman Field, or Hampton Roads, as a home base for the Pirates. Although the league has made exceptions for shorter fields in Memphis, Birmingham and Las Vegas (which no longer has a team), CFL commissioner Larry Smith said an exception won't be guaranteed for Hampton Roads.
``That's something we would have to approve,'' he said. ``I'm not sure how the board of governors would feel about that.''
Haase said he's confident the league will grant a waiver. He's more worried about making the stadium fan-friendly.
``The important thing is that we have to make sure the stadium is inviting to people, and that when they get there, we make sure they have a good time,'' he said.
Which means much remains to be done. MEMO: Staff writers Rich Radford and Steve Carlson contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot
Foreman Field, built in 1936, has peeling paint and bleacher-type
seats with no backs.
by CNB