THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 25, 1996 TAG: 9608260767
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 85 lines
Some Manteo businesses are crying foul about the Babe Ruth Baseball World Series.
Dare County lobbied hard to host the national tournament; officials for two years have said the eight-day series was expected to reap a $1.5 million ``economic impact'' for the county and attract up to 100,000 people to the Outer Banks.
But some shopkeepers say they are disappointed, and even some of the most ardent supporters concede that the tournament hasn't boosted business.
The tournament began Aug. 17 with the first of 16 games. Eight teams from eight states participated in the series, in addition to the Dare County host team. The championship game was held Saturday.
``We've lost a lot of business,'' said Anne Broadhurst, group sales manager for the Elizabethan Inn in Manteo, one of the host hotels for the event. ``Usually we'd be jammed . . . Vacationers leave their vacation till the last minute, a lot of them. I felt from the word go that it would be more detrimental to the area than beneficial. And I don't think a lot of them are big spenders when it comes to meals.''
Some restaurateurs agree.
``I pumped myself to think that we were going to be slam-packed every day,'' said Paige Beshens, owner of Dock of the Bay Cafe off U.S. Route 64 in Manteo. ``But I have not seen an increase in traffic on the street or coming through our door.''
Some said they were baffled by skimpy business. ``I thought for sure they'd be a lot of families coming in with the kids, but they're not,'' said Becky Carawan, assistant manager of Pizza Hut in Manteo. ``Last year at this time, we'd be jammin'. This week has been like a winter week for us.''
Carawan theorized that money might be tight for the participating families, and they can't afford to eat out. Or host families provide all their needs. Or, she said, the county has provided so much for them - including food at the event. Or, perhaps, everyone is spending most of their time at the beach when they're not at the game.
``It's been sad,'' Carawan said. ``We went from doing real good business last week - then on Saturday, it just dropped. We were just sitting around here doing nothing. People in general were expecting a lot more people. Dare County got a shock.''
The event has cost the county at least $100,000, including stadium improvements at Manteo High School and money paid to the league for its expenses, although details are not yet available.
The Northeastern North Carolina Economic Development Commission, prodded by Manteo businessman Ray Hollowell, granted the county $60,000 to promote the series. Thousands of volunteer hours and numerous donations from the community have also been contributed since preparation for the series began months ago.
``Based on all the information we had heard, I was expecting there would be so much going on,'' said Edward Greene, owner of the Christmas Shop in Manteo.
Greene shared the opinion of other merchants that the series may have scared off the regular local shoppers and diners, and other vacationers.
``With the people and traffic coming to the game, I thought it would do us harm,'' he said.
Although Greene said he had a good month, ``nothing I've seen would make me believe it was a result of Babe Ruth baseball.''
Dare County Commission Chairman R.V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr. conceded that dollars have not been rolling in from Babe Ruth attendees.
``I think the business community has been kind of disappointed,'' Owens said. ``I don't know what happened or what's going on. More than anything else, most of these people haven't seen the ocean and I think they're just doing the recreational thing.''
Owens said the $1.5 million economic boon to the county probably won't materialize.
``How that figure got out there . . . I never thought it would reach that,'' he said.
But the chairman said the event has brought the community together, has been a great morale booster, and will generate long-term economic benefits from the publicity and the national exposure for the Outer Banks. The semifinals and championship were televised by Home Team Sports.
In about a month, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce will be able to gauge a portion of the economic impact of Babe Ruth, when the occupancy tax and retail sales figures are released. Long-range benefits will remain to be seen.
``Anytime anyone sees the area - I just think that has to be a very positive thing,'' said Ron Bennett, chamber president. Business can't help but profit from such events, he added.
``It has been a very exciting tournament. We've had wonderful weather,'' Bennett said. ``I don't see any downside.''
John Bone, the chamber's executive vice-president, said the last week before school starts is normally slow. Hurricane Felix's threatened visit around this time last year, he said, prevents any comparison to this year.
``I can tell you, this is not a big week,'' he said. ``You can tell by the traffic out there. But it's nothing that's not happened for ages.'' by CNB