THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 14, 1995 TAG: 9511140222
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
The Baltimore Stallions are not only headed for the Grey Cup, they say they might be headed for Hampton Roads.
Baltimore owner Jim Speros said Monday that he's considering moving his Canadian Football League team to Norfolk's Foreman Field next season even though the Shreveport Pirates are set to kick off a season-ticket sale today.
Pirates president Lonie Glieberman has rented an office in Virginia Beach and will announce the ticket drive at 10 this morning at the Omni Hotel in downtown Norfolk.
When told of the ticket drive, and of comments from a Stallions official last week that the team would not attempt to move to Norfolk, Speros said: ``The Gliebermans have not filed any formal notice with the league that they plan to relocate to Norfolk. I understand they have an interest there, and I know I'm looking there. I want to assess it for myself.''
Speros, whose Stallions will meet Calgary in the CFL championship Grey Cup game Sunday, likely will be forced to relocate because of the impending move of the NFL's Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. Speros lists Houston, Norfolk, Miami, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Portland, Ore., as cities he's considering, though he said he might remain in Baltimore.
Speros apparently had hoped to move to Houston to replace the Oilers, who are considering a move to Nashville, Tenn. But an expected agreement between Nashville and the Oilers wasn't signed Monday and could be put off for months.
Speros said Hampton Roads is high on his list.
``Tidewater is definitely an intriguing area for me,'' he said. ``There are not many areas of that size (1.6 million people) without major professional sports.
``I think that area is ready for professional sports. Norfolk is a sleeping giant. . . . I plan to speak with people there and to ask what kind of venue they will have in 1996. I would expect that if the CFL moved there, another stadium would be needed by 1999.''
Glieberman said he was surprised by Speros' comments.
``It was verbally communicated to them that not only are we interested in moving here, this is where we want to move,'' Glieberman said from a condominium he recently rented in Virginia Beach. ``It's a little late to be considering moving'' to Hampton Roads.
``Baltimore is a good partner and we look forward to working with them,'' he added. ``We look forward to their support in our move to this market, just as we will support them in Baltimore or wherever they choose to be.
``This surprises me, obviously, but it's not a factor in what we're doing. We're going to move forward and get things rolling.''
Speros hinted that he will be meeting with area officials later this week, but wouldn't name them.
Jeff Sias, director of sports promotions for the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, said he hasn't heard from Speros.
Morton V. Whitlow, a Portsmouth attorney who is chairman of the Sports Authority of Hampton Roads, also said he hasn't been in touch with the Stallions.
``I don't have any scheduled meetings,'' Speros said. ``I have not talked to any state or local officials there. But I'm trying to set a date. I would like to meet with some representatives before the Grey Cup.''
Glieberman said he will ``definitely'' talk to Speros about Hampton Roads at a CFL board of governors meeting later this week in Saskatchewan prior to the Grey Cup. ILLUSTRATION: Owner Jim Speros
by CNB