THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997 TAG: 9702200133
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: NHL In Hampton Roads
SOURCE: Staff writers Karen Weintraub, Toni Guagenti, Tony Wharton and
Jim Ducibella contributed to this report.
LENGTH: 122 lines
A sampling of area reactions to the National Hockey League's decision to eliminate Hampton Roads from consideration for an expansion franchise:
Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf:
``The effort that was put forth to try and set up a positive atmosphere for them is to be congratulated, but I think it was too quick a time frame to allow all of the cities to grow into the concept.
``I think we learned what it takes to compete on a national level.
``Obviously the goal for this region is not only to be known world-wide but to be able to provide a 365-day-a-year job market where young people can return from college and find a way to earn a living for themselves and their families. I don't think that effort was damaged at all (by the NHL's decision).''
Virginia Beach council member John A. Baum:
``I wasn't surprised. . . . It didn't sound to me like there was much chance to start with.
``My feelings had nothing to do with regionalism, it was this whole idea about professional sports. I used to follow everything, now I follow it less and less, the more I hear about high-paid players and owners threatening to move - I don't want us to get into that kind of stuff. If we went with this deal, how long would it last?
``I don't think as far as most of us (on council) are concerned that this was a regional issue - trying to get even with Norfolk and so forth. I never did see a reason for it in the first place.''
Hampton Roads Planning District Commission Executive Director Art Collins:
``I'm disappointed, obviously. But beyond that . . . I think it's a learning process for us. The message that I take away from this based on what I know right now, is a group of influential business people from throughout the United States and Canada have not viewed Hampton Roads as (being) as competitive as some other communities for a hockey franchise. I think it's important for the region to understand that. That ought to tell us something about ourselves.
``There's nobody to blame. We need to stay away from that . . . I give the region credit for coming together, putting together a credible proposal in a very short period of time, and i think that's a positive.
``There are lots of communities that didn't succeed the first time around in obtaining a professional sports franchise. We find ourselves in rather distinguished company.''
Norfolk Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield:
``I'm not shocked we're not getting a team, but I'm shocked we've been eliminated already. The commissioner's remark about our market size was ludicrous. They leave Oklahoma City and Columbus in and we're bigger than both.
``(This is) a hot dog-and-beer town. I've been selling tickets to four sports here for 36 years. I haven't met the $50- and $75-ticket buyer in any great numbers. I don't know those people. Price in this market is everything.
``The area has had this complex that it would die if it didn't have a major-league team. This sounds self-serving, but I've never heard of an area dying because they didn't have major-league sports.''
Portsmouth Mayor James W. Holley III:
``I think that eventually, a (major league) sport will come to Hampton Roads. I think we were pretty close to it this time.
``I think that as a region we will never go forward until we look for something dramatic and dynamic to capture our imagination. We've got to continue to work on that. I think we still ought to try to build the arena (even without the hockey franchise). It shows that you took a step up to the plate.''
Hampton Mayor James L. Eason:
``From the very beginning, everybody thought it was a long-shot. Quite honestly, it probably got further along than maybe people estimated at the beginning. Those of us who had worked pretty hard on it, the goal was to get to New York (to make a presentation to the NHL), and we accomplished that goal.
``I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't some additional conversations (with other team owners) over the next month or two. I would be shocked if we didn't hear from somebody - hockey or basketball. We are initiating some conversations too. I don't see this as the end of it . . . I can't tell you who when where or what, but I think it would be very unusual if it didn't happen.''
Old Dominion University associate professor of economics, Christopher Colburn:
``I'm on record being somewhat skeptical what the gain would be from an NHL team. I don't think we're necessarily that much worse off. I don't think it sends any specific signal.
``If it means anything, I would think that the NHL was looking for the demand for it in Hampton Roads, and didn't find it.
``It would have added one more piece to the package, but its loss isn't necessarily that significant.''
Virginia Wesleyan College economics professor David G. Garraty:
``I think if anything, to this point, it has enhanced our economic status by exposing a lot of people nationwide to our name. I was in Mexico City recently and read about this whole hockey thing in the Mexico City newspaper.
``The area's got to do a sales job. The key to sales is persistence. This door closed on us. OK, what else is there? What would hurt us is if the community closed up and died because of this. The community's reaction is key.''
Norfolk City Councilman Randy Wright:
``It's a dark day in my mind. But we've gotten ourselves on the major league sports map. People will be looking at us. We may even in the future get a franchise here, but we still have to wrestle with the arena deal. We've got to stop worrying about somebody getting one marble more than somebody else and look at the whole picture of what this region needs.''
Iceland of Virginia Beach rink supervisor Lance Perschau:
``It's kind of difficult to get things rolling when you don't work together. Unfortunately, people don't have the foresight . . . they don't see hockey as a major sport.''
Winners Sports Club bartender Gil Carolino:
``No one really gave it any support.'' Carolino said Winners held a couple of Rhino rallies, but that the Virginia Beach bar sold only six season tickets, four of which were Winners' company tickets.
KEYWORDS: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE FRANCHISE EXPANSION ARENA