THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602230192
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
As a lifelong resident of Tidewater, I have to ask what many friends and business associates also wonder: Why is Councilman Robert T. Nance Jr., assisted by Commonwealth's Attorney David L. Williams, determined to rid Chesapeake of valuable key officials who have been greatly responsible for the success of the city of Chesapeake?
The first mission was accomplished with the firing of City Manager James W. Rein. Who is next on this politically oriented hit list? Could it possibly be Police Chief Ian M. Shipley Jr., who is partly responsible for the city of Chesapeake recently being credited as the safest city in the state of Virginia and the fourth safest in the nation for cities of its size?
Perhaps an investigation is warranted as to how gossip and city business is leaked to the news media when city employees and police officials are not allowed to give interviews?
Patty Cooke
South Military Highway Expensive tickets
I think it is very impressive that Virginia Beach and Norfolk officials decided (on their own), that the need for a professional basketball or hockey team for the entire Tidewater area is so important that we should not even waste our time with a Canadian Football League franchise.
However, have they bothered to look at the fact that the average minimum ticket price for these sports events is between $50 and $60, while the CFL was planning to sell all tickets at only $12.50?
I do not feel there is enough money in this area for a professional franchise, especially if the taxpayers are going to have to pay for the coliseum, too. The average person cannot afford to buy season tickets. For that matter, if he has a family he can't afford to take them to more than one game a month, if he's lucky! If I wanted to take my family to a game, it would cost me $200 in tickets alone, and that's for the cheap seats! Add in parking and overpriced popcorn and soda for everyone and you're talking $230 a game! Of course, the whole family can go to an Admirals or Tides game for the cost of one of those professional tickets.
I'm not saying we should have gone with a CFL team. But the excuses like no one would come to watch them because they had a losing record last year or that we need to wait on a ``real'' pro team are way off the mark.
We have minor league baseball and minor league hockey, and both draw quite well when they are winning. There are a lot of military people at these events because they can afford to go. Most will not be able to afford the price of big-time sports.
Tidewater area taxpayers better get hot and demand a vote on this or we are going to buy a coliseum and have nothing to show for it. It's plain and simple: Tidewater has its rich people, but there is not enough money here for professional sports.
Don't forget about the ``cable TV blackout rule,'' too. You'll be able to pay the taxes to help get the coliseum, not be able to afford a ticket and still not be able to watch the local team on TV unless it's a sellout. That's fair, isn't it?
We should have taken the minor league football team to go with the minor league teams and money already here. Heck, maybe we can get an arena football team now. They could play in Scope or Hampton Coliseum and at least everyone can afford to go see them.
Pat Garrison
Lela Lane by CNB