THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601170472
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM AND KAREN WEINTRAUB, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Virginia Beach and Norfolk officials say that when they rejected the Canadian Football League Tuesday, they took the first step toward bringing a major sports franchise to Hampton Roads.
In a rare show of regional cooperation, both cities announced they would not aid the CFL Pirates and instead would pursue an NBA or NHL team. It would be area's first unified effort to land a major sports team.
Officials from the two cities say they will call upon a regional group, perhaps the Sports Authority of Hampton Roads, to conduct a study to determine what course the area should take to land an NBA or NHL franchise.
Two recent studies have indicated that Hampton Roads, the nation's largest metropolitan area without a major sports franchise, would support an NBA or NHL team if the region were to build an arena seating more than 20,000.
One study, done by Brailsford Associates and HOK Sports, was commissioned by the sports authority and released to the public. Another, done by Walsh Associates of Seattle for the city of Norfolk, has not been released.
``If you're going to build one of these facilities, the way they pay for themselves is if you lease luxury boxes,'' Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim said.
Fraim said the facility would need approximately 50 such suites, renting for around $50,000 a year.
``We need to know if there is sufficient corporate support in the region . opportunities in the NHL or NBA for a franchise? We hope that study will tell us that.''
Norfolk economic development director Bob Smithwick said a third study is indeed needed.
``We need to get an answer to the question: `Can we obtain a major league sports franchise?' '' he said. ``In doing so, what is it going to take on the part of the owner to have a comfort level that luxury boxes would be filled? You need to be able to be certain that the franchise owner agrees this is a marketplace he thinks he can be successful in.
``Just as importantly as all of the above, we need to be certain the league, regardless of which sport it is, is agreeable to expanding a franchise into this area or relocating here.''
Fraim and Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf first discussed a cooperative study last week when they met to discuss the Pirates, who had asked the cities for $400,000 to renovate Foreman Field.
Norfolk has begun preliminary efforts to recruit an NBA or NHL franchise, and has even contacted potential ownership groups. Fraim indicated last month that another study was needed, but said he expected it would be funded by the Greater Norfolk Corp., a private group that seeks to promote business in Norfolk.
However, in discussions that carried over through the weekend and into Tuesday afternoon, Fraim and Oberndorf agreed that their cities should cooperate on the study.
Oberndorf said she stressed in her conversations with Fraim that all area cities and counties should be given the chance to join Virginia Beach and Norfolk in the study.
``We don't need a whole lot more studies,'' Virginia Beach Councilman W.W. Harrison Jr. said. ``What we need to resolve is where to locate this thing. Then let's go do it.''
Harrison said he thinks it makes sense to locate an arena in downtown Norfolk with help from Virginia Beach and other neighboring communities. Brailsford Associates agreed, saying a downtown location is essential to the success of an arena.
Harrison, who was instrumental in bringing the amphitheater to Virginia Beach, said the arena project would be his next major focus.
``I really think Norfolk has the appetite for a pro sports team and I'd like to be a partner with them for an NBA/NHL team,'' he said. by CNB