THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, February 5, 1997           TAG: 9702050006
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Editorial 
                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

WHY EVEN HOCKEY HATERS SHOULD SUPPORT ARENA MANY OTHER USES

Many Hampton Roads residents who don't like hockey wonder why they should each pay $1.50 to help fund a Rhinos' arena.

Here's why.

The arena would be used 43 times a year for hockey, leaving 322 days free for other uses, or 323 in leap years.

So a lot of days would be available for big-time sports and entertainment in the area. By one estimate, the arena would host 76 non-hockey events its first year and 148 its fourth year.

Currently the region cannot compete for major men's and women's college sports tournaments because there is no place to put them. With the arena, there would be a place.

Some national entertainment acts are too big for current arenas in the region but would fit nicely in the Rhinos' arena.

For the above reasons, many of the arena's most avid supporters are not hockey fans. They are arena fans.

The Rhinos' arena plan calls for the arena owners, users and beneficiaries to be responsible for more than 70 percent of the costs. No new taxes or rate increases of existing taxes would be needed to fund it. Localities' contributions would be limited to $1.50 per capita per year for 30 years.

If a person attended but one event a year at the arena, the $1.50 annual fee would be worthwhile.

Even as the successful new amphitheater in Virginia Beach makes life better for everybody in Hampton Roads who likes popular music, the arena should make life more fun for everyone.

Ideally, the arena deal can be part of a regional effort providing something for all the localities.

But one way or another, an arena would serve the entire region - and not just hockey fans. It would belong to and serve everybody.

Also, the arena would make it just a little easier to entice companies with high-paying jobs to Hampton Roads.

Fourteen regions with less population than Hampton Roads have major-league franchises. Four of them have two professional teams. We're being left behind, and we shouldn't like it.

The arena is one way to catch up.