Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 2, 1993 TAG: 9303020289
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MORE CONCERTS LIKELY AT STADIUM
Rock music fans, take heart: More concerts may be coming to Roanoke's Victory Stadium.City officials will try to book concerts by well-known bands to raise money to help pay for renovations to the 50-year-old stadium.
The city hopes to have at least one concert in the stadium this year and more in future years, said Vern Danielsen, chairman of the Roanoke Civic Center Commission.
Danielsen said Monday the city could make $75,000 to $100,000 on each concert. The money could be used to help pay for the renovation of the stadium, he said.
"We see this as a good source of revenue," Danielsen said.
The Civic Center's management and commission are responsible for booking events in the stadium because of a recent organizational change in the city.
At a news conference to review the center's past year and plans for the new year, Danielsen said the commission hopes to start a dialogue with reporters about its actions and goals.
Danielsen said portable dressing rooms and toilets would be needed for rock concerts because the stadium's facilities are in such bad shape.
Plans for a Grateful Dead concert in the stadium two years ago were shelved because of potential parking problems. Danielsen mentioned the Dead as a band that might be booked.
At City Council's meeting Monday, Councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden said the stadium is an eyesore that needs to be repaired or demolished.
McCadden said a new stadium would be too expensive, and the city will have to be content with a refurbished facility. Officials have estimated that it would cost $750,000.
Danielsen said the Civic Center management hopes to book more sports events in the coliseum in the next year.
He said it appears doubtful, however, that the Roanoke Valley Rampage, a hockey team based in Vinton, will move to the Civic Center. He said the commission is still waiting word from Larry Revo, the team's owner.
Danielsen said the Civic Center is a major contributor to the city's economy and generates $20 million in sales for food, lodging, fuel and other items.
Although the center has an annual operating deficit of about $400,000, he said, the city generates nearly $950,000 a year in net revenue to the city.
He said the commission plans to resurface the parking lot and make other repairs.
Danielsen said the Civic Center will be affected by plans for the Hotel Roanoke and conference center project.
If the city had a trade and convention center, there could be more rock concerts and other money-making shows in the Civic Center.
Because many trade shows and conventions are booked in the Civic Center - often several years in advance - the center loses out on concerts, said Bob Chapman, manager of the center.
When promoters call to book a show, often the Civic Center does not have an open date.
"If we had a convention center, we could book trade shows there," Chapman said recently.
"In 1981, I predicted that the 1980s would be the decade for trade shows. And I think that this will be even more true in the 1990s," Chapman said.
The city's long-range plans call for the construction of a convention center, at an estimated cost of $30 million. One possible site is the old Norfolk Southern office buildings near Hotel Roanoke. But there is no timetable for the project.