THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160426
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce board of directors voted unanimously on Wednesday to endorse the Shreveport Pirates' move to Hampton Roads.
The vote is significant because the board includes some of the area's most influential business leaders - bank presidents, university officials and representatives of some of the area's largest businesses, including Norfolk Southern and Sentara Health System. About half of the board's 43 members were present for the vote.
Area business leaders have been slow to warm to Pirates president Lonie Glieberman, who is making his third franchise shift in four years. He has been bitterly criticized in Ottawa and Shreveport, where he lost more than $10 million in four years and has been accused of leaving behind unpaid bills.
In other related developments:
Jim Speros, the owner of the Baltimore Stallions who on Tuesday said he could block the Pirates' move, said Wednesday his is considering moving to Richmond.
CFL commissioner Larry Smith said the Pirates' application to relocate to Hampton Roads will be voted upon at the league's board of governors meeting Nov. 29-Dec. 1 in Toronto, and hinted that the application will be approved.
The Pirates received orders for 800 tickets, including cash or credit-card deposits for 600, in the first 24 hours of their season-ticket sale, which began Tuesday.
Glieberman was informed of the chamber vote Wednesday night, hours after he and coach Forrest Gregg made a brief presentation to the board.
Jeff Sias, director of sports promotions for the chamber, confirmed that the chamber will issue a press release today endorsing the Pirates' move to Norfolk's Foreman Field, which was announced Tuesday.
``The business community as represented by members of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce has embraced'' the Pirates, Sias said.
Speros, meanwhile, acknowledges that Houston remains a prime relocation option, though, as a Virginia resident he would prefer moving to Virginia. The impending move of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore makes a relocation of his franchise almost certain.
Speros had thrown a curve at the Pirates earlier this week by announcing he was considering moving his franchise to Norfolk, then claiming on Tuesday that he had territorial rights in Virginia that would allow him to keep the Pirates out of Hampton Roads.
But CFL commissioner Larry Smith confirmed Wednesday that he has no such rights and that the Pirates are free to move to Norfolk.
``The league position is that Jim has a 150-mile radius'' around Baltimore, Smith said from Regina, Saskatchewan, where the CFL Grey Cup is being held. ``It does not include Norfolk. Norfolk is open for the Pirates to pursue.
``If there is season-ticket support, evidence of support from the corporate community, a signed lease and all the paperwork properly presented to the league, I would say there's every chance the relocation to Norfolk will be approved by the board.''
Speros, who lives in Great Falls and whose wife is a Virginia Tech graduate, said, ``I am looking into Northern Virginia. I've got other partners and we've talked about the possibility of building a new stadium in Dulles. I haven't ruled out Northern Virginia or Richmond.
``But if I'm interested in Richmond, how do two teams exist'' so close together?
Glieberman said that's a good question.
``I don't know where they would play, but we'd have no problem with them moving to Northern Virginia,'' he said.
``But we'd have to sit down and talk with Jim about Richmond. It's so close to our market. The good thing about Richmond is that we'd have a great rivalry with them.''
Asked why he never mentioned his territorial claims before Tuesday, Speros said: ``With Jim Speros staying long-term in Baltimore, I would have no reason to block anyone from moving to Norfolk. Why wouldn't I want a rival there?
``But when Jim Speros doesn't have a home, I've got to look after my best interest first. I didn't think I'd be in this situation.
``I'm not going to make any more comments on whose territory that is. That should be done behind closed doors in meetings. I plan on being a responsible partner in the CFL and working with my other partners.
``I didn't know how aggressive they were in that market. I didn't know until yesterday how committed they were to that region.''
Glieberman said the ticket sale ``is going well'' given the confusion caused by Speros and an aborted attempt by the Hampton Roads Sharks to launch their own season-ticket sale for a proposed CFL expansion team last week.
``The phones are ringing,'' he said. ``We've got six lines and there are times when all six are lit up. We're going to have to expand the phone bank.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Pirates president Lonie Glieberman said the team received orders for
800 tickets in the first 24 hours of its season-ticket sale.
by CNB