THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603050363
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 194 lines
After weeks of preliminary discussions, Hampton Roads political leaders appear ready to take their first major step this week toward building a 20,000-seat arena designed to attract an NBA or NHL team.
On Friday, Virginia Beach and Norfolk will ask the mayors and chairmen of the boards of supervisors of the region's 15 cities and counties to hire a consultant. Sources say a positive response is expected, and that Rick Horrow of Miami likely will be chosen as the consultant.
The consultant will determine where an arena should be located, how it should be financed, whether area corporations would purchase enough luxury boxes to make the arena feasible and whether other regional projects should be funded along with the arena.
Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim, who will make the request, said he hopes ``we'll get the nod to move ahead'' on Friday.
The request will be made at the Mayors and Chairs meeting, a monthly gathering of area municipal leaders held at rotating sites. This week's meeting will be hosted by Portsmouth Mayor Gloria O. Webb at the Portsmouth Children's Museum. Chesapeake, Suffolk, Franklin, Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and Williamsburg also will be represented, as will the counties of Isle of Wight, Southampton, York, James City and Gloucester.
The meeting will come a little more than three weeks after Norfolk and Virginia Beach city councils promised to pursue negotiations with neighboring jurisdictions about an arena estimated to cost around $140 million.
Officials say Fraim and Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf have worked with other mayors to reach a compromise on a framework for hiring a consultant. Oberndorf has promoted the arena concept at public functions, including two television talk-show appearances and a speech before the Virginia Beach Branch of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
Norfolk officials sought a relatively small group to oversee the consultant selection. Oberndorf wanted representation for all 15 localities. A breakthrough came two weeks ago during a private, two-hour meeting when the five South Hampton Roads mayors agreed to a framework for hiring a consultant and agreed that Peninsula cities and outlying counties would be asked to participate.
``I welcome the study,'' Newport News Mayor Barry E. Duval said. ``I hope Newport News will support the evaluation and investigation of bringing a professional sports franchise to Hampton Roads.''
Among the items already agreed upon:
The group will choose a five- or six-person executive committee to oversee the work of the consultant. It will include four members from South Hampton Roads and one or two from the Peninsula, and likely will meet once or twice each month. Committee members are expected to be selected Friday, Oberndorf said.
An advisory committee with one member from each of the participating jurisdictions will work with the executive committee. It likely will meet every few months to receive updates on the consultant's progress.
The consultant will be chosen by the cities and counties, but hired by a private group, perhaps the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. A mix of private and public money will pay for the consultant, who officials hope to hire this month.
The executive committee will decide which consultant will be hired.
Norfolk officials have recommended that the region hire Bob Walsh, a Seattle-based consultant who brought the NCAA basketball Final Four and the Goodwill Games to Seattle and an NBA expansion franchise to Vancouver.
He is heading a Seattle effort to land the 2008 Summer Olympics.
However, Oberndorf and other Virginia Beach officials objected to Walsh in part because he already has produced a report for Norfolk. Oberndorf said she prefers a consultant with no hint of a bias toward any city.
``I have said that I just want to make sure it's an open and fair (selection) process,'' Oberndorf said.
Horrow, who spoke in Norfolk two months ago at the invitation of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, is thought to be the compromise choice.
He specializes in putting together regional packages of sports, recreation and cultural facilities, and has no ties with local cities.
Horrow was hired by Oklahoma City in 1992, and two years later had assembled a $285 million project that included a 20,000-seat arena, a museum, a convention center and six other facilities.
The project, and the accompanying regional sales tax increase, was approved overwhelmingly by voters. The arena is under construction.
If the region does not select Walsh as the consultant, Fraim said the Norfolk City Council will hire him - possibly to recruit an NBA franchise.
``We know there's a constructive role that Bob can play and we should take advantage of his many talents,'' Fraim said.
Norfolk officials say Walsh's company, Bob Walsh Associates, is the region's best hope for acquiring an NBA franchise. Walsh, a former player-agent and NBA assistant general manager, has extensive contacts in the league.
Walsh is bullish on the region's chances of landing an NBA team once an agreement is reached to build an arena.
Walsh said the NBA ``would be a slam dunk'' in Hampton Roads, the nation's largest metropolitan area without a major sports franchise.
Oberndorf said she is upbeat but cautious about the region's prospects for supporting a major sports team.
``I think it's worth looking at,'' she said. ``It would take a lot of planning and wouldn't happen immediately.
``I think we need something that makes (Hampton Roads) stand out. We have not made any great strides in becoming a household name across the world. . . necessary that we be recognizable.
``I know that the men with whom I speak are absolutely convinced that this is their ticket to the big-time. I'm a little more cautious.''
Fraim, meanwhile, is bullish. He said the recently concluded run of Phantom of the Opera at Chrysler Hall, a play some critics said would flop locally because it was too expensive for blue-collar Hampton Roads, convinced him the region is ready for major league entertainment.
``We had $6.5 million in ticket sales,'' he said. ``It played to 93 percent capacity. And the prices started at $66 for the best seats.
``That tells me that the market will bear a major professional ticket price. That tells me we're ready to take the next step.'' MEMO: Staff writer Karen Weintraub contributed to this report.Staff writer
Karen Weintraub contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Photos
THE CONSULTANTS
RICK HORROW
Title: President of Horrow Sports Ventures; Miami, Fla.
Specialty: Sports facility development
If hired in Hampton Roads: Would determine whether enough
corporate support exists to purchase luxury boxes in a proposed
20,000-seat arena. If so, he would plan how to fund the arena and
other projects.
Current clients: National Football League, Ladies Professional
Golf Association, Oklahoma City, Prime Sports Network, National
Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, Continental Basketball
Association.
Resume:
In 1983, he founded Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority, which
constructed the Miami Arena.
From 1983-87, he led the Miami NBA Expansion Committee, which
successfully attracted a expansion franchise by selling 10,000
season tickets.
Founded South Florida Baseball Inc., laying the groundwork for
the successful acquisition of a major league expansion franchise.
In 1989, founded Horrow Sports Ventures.
From 1989 to 1994, contracted by Boston to help plan Fleet Center
arena.
In 1991, hired by Columbia, S.C., to plan a feasibility study for
new arena.
In 1994, hired by Continental Basketball Association to plan
league expansion.
Since 1992, has worked to help Oklahoma City plan and fund a
series of nine projects, including a 22,000-seat arena.
Background: 40-year-old Miami native has an undergraduate degree
from Northwestern University. Graduated from Harvard Law School in
1979. . . . Authored the book ``Sports Violence: The Interaction
Between Private Lawmaking and the Criminal Law.'' . . . Has lectured
at more than 180 colleges and universities and appeared on
``Nightline'' and ``CBS Evening News.'' . . . Hosts weekly TV show,
``The Sports Business Report,'' on Prime Network. . . . Esquire
magazine featured him in a 1984 story on Men and Women Under Forty
Who are Changing America.
BOB WALSH
Title: President and CEO of Bob Walsh and Associates, and Bob
Walsh Enterprises Inc.; Seattle, Wash.
Specialty: Sports and sports-events marketing agencies.
If hired in Hampton Roads: If area cities agree to build an
arena, Walsh be hired by Norfolk to assemble an ownership group and
attract a National Basketball Association or National Hockey League
franchise.
Resume:
Was a journalist in the 1960s and early '70s. Was program
director at KABC radio in Los Angeles. Was executive producer of
WNAC-TV in Boston, where he produced the Al Capp Show.
From 1973 to 1977, was assistant general manager of Seattle Super
Sonics.
In 1977, founded Bob Walsh Associates, which successfully
attracted the 1984, 1989 and 1995 Final Four basketball tournaments,
two women's Final Fours and the 1987 NBA All-Star game to Seattle.
In 1990, headed a group that attracted Goodwill Games to
Seattle.
In 1992, founded Bob Walsh Enterprises, with offices in Russia
and Georgia, to develop business opportunities between the former
Soviet Union and the United States. The company's vitamins, Walsh
Polyvit, are sold throughout Russia, Georgia and the Ukraine.
Background: One of only four Americans - including former
presidents Reagan and Bush - to have received the Supreme Soviet
Award from the Soviet Union, presented to him in 1988 by Mikhail
Gorbachev. . . . Honored for introducing CARE to the former Soviet
Union and for helping to coordinate aid to Armenia after an
earthquake there. . . . With help of President Edward Shevardnadze,
arranged for the distribution of food and medicine to Georgia. . . .
Named Man of the Year in the state of Washington in 1990 and given
the 1990 World Citizen Award from the World Affairs Council. . . .
The Boston native is a graduate of Marietta College in Ohio. ...
Close friend of former Celtics great Bill Russell, whom he
represented as an agent.
by CNB