THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 1997 TAG: 9701080626
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: THE NHL IN HAMPTON ROADS
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 121 lines
Rick Horrow, a Miami-based consultant who is the NFL's primary stadium development adviser, has been hired by Norfolk to help the Hampton Roads Partnership develop a proposed 20,000-seat arena for a National Hockey League team.
Horrow's eventual mission could be much more sweeping than just an arena. During a brief visit to Hampton Roads on Tuesday, Horrow said he has submitted a detailed proposal to the Partnership in which he would be hired to develop a package of regional projects. That package could include the arena, light rail and a Virginia Beach convention center.
Horrow said that, since he was hired early last month, he has been helping the Partnership formulate funding proposals and a proposed lease with George Shinn, who has applied to bring an NHL franchise to Hampton Roads.
Though he would not comment on specifics of his proposal, Horrow said it is similar to a $285 million package he helped put together in Oklahoma City. That package included a 22,000-seat arena, baseball stadium, performing arts center, regional museum, regional convention center and mass transit project.
Partnership president Barry E. DuVal said Horrow's proposal is being ``seriously considered'' and added that Horrow could be hired as early as next month.
``I'm impressed with Mr. Horrow's credentials,'' DuVal said. ``I'm impressed with the work he's done bringing together groups with differences.''
DuVal said the Partnership - a group of more than 50 public and private sector leaders dedicated to regional economic growth - will hire Horrow if the region's mayors recommend it.
``It's up to the region's elected leaders,'' DuVal said. ``It's my hope the mayors and chairs (of the region's counties) will have an opportunity to meet with him in the near future. If they wish to pursue this concept, they will ask the Partnership on behalf of the region.''
Horrow, who said he has flown to Hampton Roads at his own expense three times in the past year, has been quietly meeting with the region's leaders in recent months. Tuesday he met in private with the Norfolk City Council and with Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf.
Horrow is known primarily as a sports consultant. He is the NFL's point man in solving stadium disputes, and played a key role in recent decisions in Cincinnati and Detroit to fund new stadiums. He also led Miami's successful effort to land an NBA team and helped lead the effort to bring major league baseball to South Florida.
But the Northwestern and Harvard Law School graduate has also worked with regions such as Raleigh; Greenville, S.C.; Columbus, Ohio; and even Chile and Brazil on municipal and sports projects.
His major municipal project success story began in 1992, when he was hired by Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick to develop regional consensus for nine projects. He helped win support from residents in the Oklahoma City region and the state of Oklahoma for a sales tax increase.
``It took a while to quarterback that process, and there were a lot of skeptics,'' Horrow said. ``It took about a year and a half from the time that I was originally hired until the time the first shovel was in the ground and the approval process was done.
``It was not a sports issue and not a convention issue, but a quality of life, job creation, community growth, regional development issue.
``I firmly believe that the next breakthrough region for a series of necessary sports, entertainment, convention, economic growth capital projects is Hampton Roads.''
Horrow says he's aware of the region's reputation for squabbling.
``There's no one person who can overcome that,'' he said. ``There's a team (of regional leaders) that has to be in place to do that.
``I worked in South Florida to put together partnerships with Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. . . . I see myself as a facilitator, providing some outside expertise without telling people what to do.
``Every meeting that I've had (with regional leaders) here has been positive. There have been some concerns about how you would develop a process like this. The most important issue, it seems, is that it must be measured and reasonable, and distribute the risks and benefits to everyone.''
NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE: Arena negotiations continued Tuesday between Shinn and the Partnership over an arena deal, but sources said the two sides were no closer to an agreement than they were Monday.
However, the Rhinos, as the NHL expansion team would be called, continue to make plans for Shinn's formal presentation to the NHL's owners next Tuesday in New York.
Shinn and a local delegation will leave Hampton Roads on Monday, make their presentation Tuesday at 9 a.m., meet with the media in New York at about 10:30 a.m., then return for a press conference in downtown Norfolk at about 2:30 p.m., said Tom Ward, who is leading the Rhinos' ticket drive for Shinn. Ward said Shinn will give a condensed version of his New York presentation to the Hampton Roads media at that press conference. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Rick Horrow could also help the area Partnership develop light rail
and a Virginia Beach convention center.
Graphic
RICK HORROW
Title: President of Horrow Sports Ventures in Miami, Fla.
Specialty: Sports and municipal facility development.
Clients: National Football League; Ladies Professional Golf
Association; cities of Raleigh, N.C., Columbus, Ohio, and
Greenville, S.C.; Prime Sports Network; National Association of
Professional Baseball Leagues.
Resume highlights: Founded Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority,
which constructed the Miami Arena. Led the Miami NBA Expansion
Committee, which attracted a franchise (Miami Heat) by selling
10,000 season tickets. Founded South Florida Baseball Inc., laying
the groundwork for acquiring a major league franchise (Florida
Marlins). Helped plan the Fleet Center arena in Boston. Had worked
with Oklahoma City to plan a regional plan of nine projects costing
$285 million, including a 22,000-seat arena. Was hired last May by
the NFL as its primary stadium consultant. Currently negotiates
leases, comes up with financing plans and mediates disputes for NFL
teams with stadium problems. Was hired to help lead recent
successful efforts in Detroit and Cincinnati to fund new NFL
stadiums.
Background: The 41-year-old Miami native has an undergraduate
degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from Harvard.
Wrote ``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.'' Esquire magazine featured him in a 1984 story on ``Men and
Women Under Forty Who are Changing America.''
- Harry Minium