THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 11, 1995 TAG: 9512090222
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: BY MICHAEL J. BARRETT
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Ted Evanoff misses the point at the end of a recent column. In writing about the Canadian Football League's proposed Hampton Roads Pirates, he asks ``Why should Hampton Roads spend millions of public dollars on a permanent home for a minor league that appears to face long financial struggle?''
That's not the right question.
Some 450 business and public leaders, meeting under the banner of Plan 2007, agreed that if we are to create quality, long-term jobs for our economy in the tourism and visitor industry, we must create facilities that will help us attract a new breed of visitor. Facilities for sports and entertainment should be part of that strategy.
We need regional metropolitan facilities for our growing area of 1.6 million people. We need a regional stadium, an arena, larger convention facilities and hotels, and perhaps even renewed performing arts facilities of greater size than now exist.
These new facilities, and perhaps the renewal of some existing ones, should be financed by a broad based tax (perhaps an increment on the sales tax).
They should be located in areas with great access to interstate highways. The facilities should go in the best places possible and all our political jurisdictions should share the obligations and any revenues. Only in that way will we get facilities that will attract excellent sports and entertainment for our residents and visitors alike.
Will we ever attract the NBA or NFL or NHL? If we do not have facilities we sure will not. In the meantime, the CFL, Oyster Bowl, the Hampton Roads Mariners, and other quality teams like the Tides, will do just fine. MEMO: Michael J. Barrett is chief executive officer of The Runnymede Corp., a
local real estate company.
by CNB