THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606090173
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 82 lines
The focus turns to broadcasting this week for the new owners of the Hampton Roads Admirals, who face the possibility that not all of their games will be on radio next season.
The Admirals have no radio or TV contracts and their hopes on the radio front appear murky. WTAR has broadcast Admirals games for the last seven seasons, and the relationship has been good for both parties. The broadcasts drew good ratings and made money for the radio station, and were a valuable promotional tool for the team.
But WTAR was recently purchased by Sinclair Communications, which also owns three other local stations. Some in the new management group don't want to see talk-radio host Mike Reagan interrupted 70 nights a season by hockey.
If WTAR doesn't do the Admirals, the team's options are few. WGH radio is willing, but doesn't have enough available air time. WGH also does the Old Dominion men's and women's basketball teams, and ODU's contract calls for all their games to be broadcast, many on Friday and Saturday nights, when the Admirals are playing.
ODU ended a decades-long relationship with WTAR a few years ago in part because of conflicts with Admirals games.
``WGH wants to work with us and we have a great working relationship with them,'' said Mark Garcea, who along with Page Johnson bought the Admirals earlier this month. ``But there's a limit to what they can do.''
Garcea, Johnson and promotions director Amy Dyches are scheduled to meet this week with Bob Sinclair, general manager of the Sinclair stations.
``Bob says he hopes we can work something out, and so do we,'' Garcea said.
If not, the Admirals' options appear limited. WTAR and WGH have a virtual lock on sports broadcasting. WTAR has the Redskins, Virginia and the Tides. WGH, an all-sports station, has ODU, Virginia Tech and the Baltimore Orioles.
While it is generally believed in radio circles that no station other than WGH or WTAR will touch the Admirals, Johnson said he has talked with at least two other stations, whom he declined to name. He says both are interested.
Meanwhile, Johnson is working on putting upward of half a dozen games on TV next year. He's made contact with WGNT of Portsmouth and WPEN of Newport News.
The Admirals had only one game televised in the last two years - a regional cable broadcast in 1994.
``We have to be on TV,'' Johnson said. ``It creates exposure for the team. That's one of the few areas in which the previous ownership could have done a better job.''
Expect to see home games on TV, but only on Friday nights.
``I don't think it will hurt our attendance on Fridays,'' Johnson said.
GM SEARCH: Now that coach John Brophy has signed a two-year contract, the Admirals next two hires will be a general manager and assistant coach.
Al MacIsaac, assistant coach for three years, is head coach of the Philadelphia Bulldogs of Roller Hockey International this summer. Because he hasn't been able to return to Hampton Roads, he has not met with Johnson and Garcea face to face.
He spoke at length with them Friday by telephone. ``We want Al back and hope to get that deal done as quickly as possible,'' Johnson said.
The search for a general manager, who will run the club's business operations, probably will take a couple of weeks. Johnson said the GM probably will also run the Hampton Roads Mariners soccer team, which he and Garcea also co-own.
Garcea said they would like to interview Tides assistant general manager Jack Ankerson, formerly sports director of WTAR and general manager of the Virginia Squires of the ABA. But when Johnson asked Tides president Ken Young for permission to speak to Ankerson, he was politely refused, Garcea said.
Ankerson said Saturday that he would not apply to be the Admirals GM. However, when told Garcea and Johnson were looking for someone to run both the hockey and soccer teams, he declined further comment.
Young was unavailable for comment.
WORKING AGREEMENTS: Brophy will set to work Monday to renew working agreements with the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Admirals received players from Portland, Maine, the Caps AHL affiliate, and Cleveland, the Penguins IHL affiliate.
``Portland is still in the playoffs and Cleveland just got beat,'' Brophy said. ``I wanted to give them both some time to get past the end of the season.
``I'll talk to Pittsburgh Monday and begin working on Washington when Portland is finished.''
``We want our two affiliates back, and I see no reason why they wouldn't be. It was a good deal for them last year.
``There are also two NHL teams with no affiliates in our league I'm working on. I think we've got a shot at getting them, too.''
Brophy will work on the affiliates from Forrest, Va., until July 1, when he returns to Norfolk to prepare for next season. by CNB