THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 10, 1996 TAG: 9601100789
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM AND KAREN WEINTRAUB, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
The mayors of Norfolk and Virginia Beach will meet today to discuss whether the area's two largest cities should help the CFL Pirates, but one of the participants has doubts about using public money to help the team.
``I'm very tentative. I'm just not sold,'' said Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf, who will meet with Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim at Norfolk City Hall.
``I would have to hear something extraordinarily reassuring. There are too many unanswered questions.''
The Pirates have asked Norfolk to spend $400,000 to bring Foreman Field, a 25,600-seat stadium on Old Dominion's campus, up to minimal Canadian Football League standards. Fraim has suggested that area cities combine to fund the $400,000.
In return, Norfolk would share a portion of amusement tax receipts from Pirates games with those cities.
Fraim hopes regional cooperation on such a relatively small sports venture might become a model for future sports franchises.
Oberndorf met recently with Pirates president Lonie Glieberman, but apparently did not come away convinced the Pirates are right for Hampton Roads.
``I would have to know why we didn't look for a winning team like the CFL team in Baltimore,'' she said.
The Baltimore Stallions briefly considered moving to Hampton Roads, but were told by CFL commissioner Larry Smith that the Pirates had territorial rights to Hampton Roads. The Stallions, who won the CFL championship, might be forced out of Baltimore by the impending move of the NFL's Cleveland Browns.
Fraim has not commented on whether he supports the Pirates, who moved to Norfolk from Shreveport, La., in November, but hinted Tuesday he will urge Virginia Beach to help fund the stadium improvements.
``My hope is that any venture into professional athletics might be done on a regional basis,'' he said. ``Hopefully (today's meeting) will help us reach an agreement on what we should do about this venture.
``I think it's good for the two cities to have a dialogue. ... Together, we have the ability to get a lot of things done.'' by CNB