THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 2, 1997 TAG: 9702020100
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 67 lines
While officials seeking a National Hockey League team for Hampton Roads have put off votes on funding for a proposed arena, two of the region's chief competitors for an expansion franchise are moving on their arena fronts.
In Raleigh, hockey proponents are demanding a verdict on arena funding from their city council. In Columbus, Ohio, a corporate commitment has strengthened that city's arena hopes.
The 15 cities and counties in Hampton Roads that will be asked to fund a $143 million, 20,000-seat arena in downtown Norfolk have delayed votes indefinitely, saying they will wait until the NHL gives an indication of whether the region will get a franchise.
An update on some of Hampton Roads' competitors:
Raleigh: The Centennial Authority, which hopes to build a 21,000-seat arena for North Carolina State basketball and an NHL team, told the Raleigh City Council last week that unless it approves funding for an arena on Tuesday, the authority will build a smaller arena. That likely would kill Raleigh's NHL bid.
The authority has commitments for $72 million - from N.C. State, the city, Wake County and the state of North Carolina - but needs $48 million more to fund the $120 million arena.
But Raleigh city officials have balked, saying the arena is too large and expensive. Raleigh Mayor Tom Fetzer has warred publicly with Felix Sabates, who heads the prospective NHL ownership group, and has bitterly criticized the arena plans.
Columbus: Officials last week announced a $17.5 million commitment from Nationwide Insurance for that city's proposed downtown arena/stadium complex, a move officials say virtually guarantees an arena will be constructed.
The complex would house an NHL team in a 21,000-seat arena and a Major League Soccer team in a 30,000-seat stadium. Including infrastructure, the complex would cost $285 million.
Nationwide offered all revenue - an estimated $17.5 million over 30 years - from a parking garage it owns next to the arena site when arena events are being held.
That put Columbus over the $43 million mark officials said they needed from private sources. Banc One earlier committed $35 million for naming rights at the two facilities, and Worthington Industries had chipped in $5 million.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners plan a referendum on a half-cent sales tax for early May. The tax would expire after three years and the arena would open debt-free, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The state will be asked for about $20 million, but has yet to approve funding.
St. Paul: The arena lease reportedly remains a huge stumbling block. An NHL team would have to pay $3.9 million per year in rent, considered too high by league officials. The Hampton Roads Rhinos would pay $1 million per year.
Oklahoma City: USA Today and The Hockey News report that NHL officials say Oklahoma City had the best New York City presentation among the nine cities because of its proposed arena deal. The city would give the hockey team control of all arena revenues and the arena, funded with a sales tax, would open debt-free.
Houston: The Houston Chronicle reports that NHL officials have grown impatient with the war between three prospective ownership groups, one that threatens the construction of an arena to replace The Summit. They have told Houston officials that the city will not receive a franchise unless there is a written guarantee that a new arena will be constructed before 2000.