THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997 TAG: 9702120452
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 58 lines
George Shinn says he doesn't think a proposal from the Hampton Roads Admirals to build a scaled-down arena in the suburbs will affect his bid to bring a National Hockey League team to the region.
``I think it's kind of peculiar,'' said Shinn, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, of the proposal for a 15,000-seat arena.
``It's kind of difficult to hang your hat onto something that you don't know how much it's going to cost, when you don't have a site.
``But I don't think it will affect us.''
The Hampton Roads Partnership signed an agreement with Shinn in December to build the 20,000-seat arena if he lands a team. Admirals owners Mark Garcea and Page Johnson say they will not pursue their arena plans unless Shinn's quest for an NHL team fails.
Nonetheless, backers of the 20,000-seat arena are worried the Admirals' proposal could weaken already fragmented support from suburban communities for the arena, which would be regionally funded.
``It's something else that's on the table,'' said Brad Face, chairman of the Hampton Roads Regional Arena Task Force, a consortium of business groups attempting to promote the 20,000-seat arena. ``However . . . the only opportunity before the people of Hampton Roads to pursue major league sports'' is the 20,000-seat arena.
Reaction from the region's elected and business leaders was cautious and largely noncommittal. Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf and Chesapeake Mayor William E. Ward said they knew nothing about the proposal.
Ward met with Johnson last summer, and Johnson said they discussed the arena. Ward said he doesn't recall any discussion about the arena, but added: ``If the Rhinos' plans fall through, then the city of Chesapeake would be willing to talk with Mr. Johnson or anyone else about an arena.''
Virginia Beach Vice Mayor W.D. Sessoms Jr. said he had brief discussions with the Admirals owners about an arena.
``The two things I'm focusing on for the city of Virginia Beach are good quality golf courses and a professional soccer stadium,'' he said. ``To say it's on the back burner would be an exaggeration. It's been no more than a very, very casual conversation.''
Others were skeptical about the size of the proposed facility.
``It would be very surprising to me if any individuals would build an arena with private money,'' Norfolk Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield said. ``What is it going to do that Scope doesn't do or the Hampton Coliseum doesn't do?''
Added John Hornbeck, president of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce: ``I don't want the region to shoot too low. I would like us to be competitive, not only for major league sports, but also in attracting major intercollegiate sports.
``I don't know what the requirements are for attracting events such as the Final Four. All I know is that the region lost the CIAA tournament because we didn't have a facility to accommodate them. It concerns me . . . when the preliminary round of the NCAA tournament goes to Richmond. We ought to be in a position to be competitive for those kinds of events.'' MEMO: Staff writer Karen Weintraub contributed to this story.