THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606070200
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: On the street
SOURCE: Bill Reed
LENGTH: 61 lines
There's been a lot of talk recently about building a big arena somewhere in Hampton Roads and inviting an NBA team to occupy it.
As a matter of fact, all Hampton Roads communities have agreed to study the issue, but can't agree on how to fund it.
That's not a good omen for a facility aimed at putting some horsepower in the local economy and making the region a ``major league'' venue - as opposed to a ``bush league'' venue.
If ever an agreement is reached on how such a study would be financed and when, the aim presumably would be to find out:
If this region could agree to build and finance a $140-million-to-$200-million, 20,000-seat arena with all the appropriate bells and whistles - namely, corporate boxes, fancy concession booths and state of the art media appurtenances.
If Hampton Roads communities could comfortably support an NBA franchise with all of its multimillion dollar salaries and $40-to-$50-per-person tickets - not to mention the high dollar snacks and drinks sold at such places that make a family night at the game a venture into bankruptcy.
If such an investment has long-term value for the taxpayers supporting it, meaning: Will it still be here 10 to 15 years down the road? Will it give this area a national identity like, say, the Charlotte Hornets, the Chicago Bulls or the Utah Jazz?
If it would bring in more jobs and revenue to balance the taxes and services required to operate it. In other words, would it pay for itself and benefit the people who support it - like the ticket buyers?
Can a franchise owner be found who won't milk the area for every nickel he or she can get out of it, then skip town to set up shop in Topeka or Memphis?
And probably the most important question of all - at least to locals - where would the arena be built and who would make that decision?
Given the history of greed, capriciousness and deceitfulness of big time professional team owners and players, is it really worth it to the average Tidewater Joe or Jane to risk a sudden pull-out or the annual demands for bigger and better facilities?
Does being a major league destination really mean that much to a region known for its solid, lunch pail Navy and maritime traditions?
The problem of maintaining a major league franchise - even a minor league franchise - is M-O-N-E-Y. There is never enough of it.
Money problems brought down the Virginia Squires in 1976. The team was the area's first major league franchise, and it played for six years in arenas in Norfolk, Hampton, Richmond and Roanoke before going belly up.
The Squires were brought to Virginia in 1970 as an ABA (American Basketball Association) franchise by owner Earl Foreman, and its roster included the likes of Julius ``Dr. J'' Erving, George ``The Iceman'' Gervin, Swen Nater and Charlie Scott, all Hall of Fame selections or should-be selections.
Six years later, the financially troubled team folded after Foreman sold off his all-star talent and relinquished ownership to a group of local investors. The investors couldn't scrape up enough money to make the payroll or pay the league's annual assessments and the ABA yanked the franchise. The league itself folded shortly afterward.
Now things really haven't changed that much in this corner of Virginia since then, have they?
KEYWORDS: REGIONALISM PROPOSED ARENA by CNB