THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512030228
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
The Hampton Roads Regional Sports Authority's sports arena feasibility study, calling for a 20,000-seat facility at an estimated cost of $140 million, received a favorable response Saturday morning at a Hampton Roads Coalition of Civic Organizations Steering Committee meeting.
Sports Authority executive director Art Collins, speaking to a group of eight representatives, defined the potential construction of such an arena as a ``quality of life'' issue, adding that it could be used as a major ``advertising vehicle for our community.''
Steering committee members gave the presentation high marks.
``People in our communities are so used to hearing about these things second-hand and giving approval after the fact,'' said Tony White of Norfolk. ``This gets people involved on the ground floor. (Collins) should receive a warm reception wherever he goes to present this study.''
``People in Charlotte realized that they needed an economic boost,'' said Carolyn Lincoln of Virginia Beach in reference to Charlotte's acquisition of the NFL's Panthers and the NBA's Hornets. ``Some of our cities are still in denial.''
``Our civic organizations can drive advisory referendums in the various cities and I don't think that will happen until you get the cities behind it,'' said Gene Waters of Chesapeake. ``You have to have the people's vote of confidence.''
Touching on some of its major points, Collins said that one of the ways to fund such a venture would be to raise local sales taxes from the existing 4.5 percent to 4.75 percent, or one-quarter of a percentage point.
``If we were to do that, we could pay for the arena in six years,'' Collins said. ``I think sales tax is the way to get it. Then you get it quickly and out of the way.''
Other ideas proposed by the study, which was produced by HOK Inc. of Kansas City, the designer of Harbor Park, include increases in amusement, tobacco and hotel/motel taxes.
The report does not identify an ideal site for such an arena, though Collins said he knows of as many as 15 different possible sites.
``Where will it be located is a key question,'' Collins said. ``But wherever it is, it will help everyone around it.''
The arena would be designed for basketball and hockey use, as well as for major concert tours that do not presently come to the area because of the lack of space at both Norfolk's Scope and the Hampton Coliseum.
``If you have an anchor tenant (NBA or NHL franchise), then you can make a positive go of such an arena,'' Collins said.
Collins added that while Hampton Roads median income lags behind the national level - the study estimates it at 89 percent of the national average - the area's 1.5 million people makes the area ``large enough to support a national franchise.''
Collins frequently referred to Nashville during his hour-long presentation. Last winter, Nashville made a serious bid for the New Jersey Devils hockey franchise before the Devils opted to remain in East Rutherford, N.J.
This fall, Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams signed an agreement to move the team to Nashville by 1998.
Nashville's politicos viewed landing a professional sports team as a prime way to boost its economy and broaden its image, now limited to its nickname: Music City U.S.A.
``Nashville is smaller than Hampton Roads,'' Collins said.
``But they have gotten into the business of competing for major league franchises because they see it as a `quality of life' factor and they see sports as an important part of advertising their community.''
The study, Collins said, is designed to ``create community-wide discussion of what an arena could do for Hampton Roads. The region has to find something it can rally around. Then, people around the country will discover that this is a pretty terrific place to live.''
Collins stopped short of calling his presentation a ``sales pitch.''
``I haven't been asked to sell an arena to anybody,'' Collins said. ``That's what the document does in measuring the community's market size, industry strengths and area dynamics. Then it details how we'd compete.''
Collins admitted that starting with the coalition of civic organizations was purely a timing factor.
``They invited me to talk today about the Sports Authority and what we're doing right now,'' Collins said.
``But how do you wrap your arms around 1.5 million people? It's very difficult.'' by CNB