THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, December 16, 1995            TAG: 9512160422
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: THE SHREVEPORT TIMES 
DATELINE: SHREVEPORT, LA.                    LENGTH: Short :   48 lines

SHREVEPORT CITY COUNCIL WANTS $1 MIL FROM PIRATES CONTRACT SAID TEAMWOULD REFUND THE MONEY IF THEY MOVED

The Shreveport City Council passed a resolution Friday asking the Canadian Football League's Pirates for its $1 million back.

Shreveport provided the Pirates with $1 million last season under a contract that called for the city to help subsidize the team if it lost money. The Pirates lost more than $3 million, and the city responded with a $1 million payment, the maximum allowed under the contract.

In the contract, Pirates owner Bernie Glieberman guaranteed he would personally refund the $1 million if the team moved from the city before the end of its three-year commitment. The Pirates have one year remaining on their agreement to play at the city's Independence Stadium.

Glieberman could not be reached for comment Friday. Pirates president Lonie Glieberman refused comment.

After the 6-1 council vote, the next move is up to Mayor Bo Williams. He said Friday he would make a decision ``in the next few days'' after conferring with the city attorney. The vote sets the stage for a possible lawsuit by the city to reclaim the money.

``This holds up our end of the bargain,'' said Councilman Phil Serio, who proposed the resolution. ``We're going to wait and see what happens.''

Pirates attorney Mark Gilliam said more steps will have to be taken before ``we know what we're dealing with.''

Shreveport is asking the Pirates for other payments, too. The city says the team owes nearly $320,000 for reimbursement on renovations to make Independence Stadium suitable for CFL play. It also seeks $125,000 for violating the city stadium lease agreement, caused by the team's move. In addition, an Iowa sign company says the Pirates owe about $274,000 for a stadium scoreboard.

Councilman Cedric Glover said he hoped the mayor would sign the resolution. Citizens, he said, shouldn't worry about the Pirates returning. The team has closed its Shreveport offices and is planning to play in Norfolk in 1996.

``Obviously they've made no secret about what their intentions are,'' Glover said. ``If I was in their shoes, I don't see a scenario in which I would come back to Shreveport.'' by CNB