Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 8, 1992 TAG: 9203080048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Civic center manager Carey Harveycutter said the Salem arena, which can seat up to 6,000 for basketball, will make its bid in conjunction with the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The civic center has been the site of Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournaments and district and regional high school play for years.
The Big South completed a contract with the 2,500-seat Anderson (S.C.) Civic Center with Saturday's championship game. Harveycutter said he has spoken with Radford university athletic director Chuck Taylor about supporting Salem's bid.
The Big South grows from eight to nine schools next season, losing Davidson to the Southern Conference but gaining Towson State and Maryland-Baltimore County, which are moving from the East Coast Conference.
Harveycutter confirmed that the league has discussed playing its first-round games at campus sites to increase revenues. However, Salem wants to make sure that Radford and Liberty are in the field as area attractions.
The civic center manager said that in order to entice the Big South to keep the entire tournament at one site, the Salem bid package may include one night's lodging and one day of meals for four teams.
Liberty also has expressed interest in bringing the conference tournament to its 9,000-seat Vines Center on the Lynchburg campus. However, some Big South administrators would prefer a neutral site.
by CNB