Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993                   TAG: 9307310148
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

YOU THINK OUR SMOKING POLICY IS TOUGH? TRY CHARLOTTE'S

At least they don't have to go outside - even if there are restrictions on where they can light up.

Attention has been focused on the issue because of the recent decision to ban smoking in the Charlotte (N.C.) Coliseum.

Beginning in September, concert spectators and Charlotte Hornets basketball fans will have to go to roped-off areas behind the 23,000-seat coliseum if they want to smoke.

They won't be permitted to smoke in the concourse or private corporate boxes, because coliseum officials want to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.

The major coliseums in Virginia also have restrictions on smoking, but none goes as far as Charlotte's ban.

In Roanoke, spectators are requested not to smoke in the Civic Center coliseum. No-smoking signs are posted at the doors to the arena. But smoking is allowed in the concourse.

Bob Chapman, civic center manager, said the no-smoking signs are designed to discourage people from smoking.

But there is no official ban on smoking inside the coliseum, he said, because enforcing it would be difficult, if not impossible, for some types of shows.

"If you have 11,000 people for a rock concert and the lights are down, it would be pretty hard to enforce a ban," said Chapman.

Similarly, he said, it would be difficult to prevent spectators from smoking at some country music shows, such as Hank Williams Jr.'s and Charlie Daniels'.

Chapman said spectators at most sports events, family shows and concerts by singers such as Neil Diamond comply with the request not to smoke.

"It is pretty easy to control smoking at these types of shows," Chapman said.

Chapman said city officials are studying the possibility of a ban similar to Charlotte's, but they have reached no decision.

Officials at other civic centers in Virginia report similar experiences: Smoking bans are difficult to enforce at rock and country music shows, but spectators at most other shows honor requests not to smoke.

Smoking is permitted at private meetings in the exhibit hall at the Roanoke Civic Center, but is banned in the auditorium.

Chapman said there have been no complaints about the ban in the auditorium, which includes the concessions area, lobby, backstage and restrooms.

"We put it into effect last winter and I haven't received any objections. Frankly, I was kind of surprised that there haven't been any complaints," Chapman said.

In Salem, smoking is prohibited in the civic center arena, but it is permitted in the concourse and lobby.

Carey Harveycutter, manager of the Salem Civic Center, said many people who attend the rodeo, car shows and rock concerts are smokers.

If smoking were banned in the concourse and lobby, he said, it might be difficult to enforce.

Harveycutter said ushers try to enforce the ban inside the arena. If spectators won't stop smoking after being asked to do so, he said, police officers ask them to leave.

Smoking also is banned in the Richmond Coliseum, but smokers can light up in the concourse.

Stacy Bradham, marketing assistant for the coliseum, said the ban applies to all types of shows, but it is tough to enforce sometimes.

"When you have a rock concert and the spectators are standing up, with festival seating, it's hard to see everyone who might be smoking," Bradham said.

In Norfolk, no smoking is permitted in the Scope coliseum. But smoking is permitted in designated areas in the concourse. Smoking also is banned in the lobby of Chrysler Hall, an adjacent auditorium, but is allowed in the lobby.

There is a similar policy in Hampton. The Hampton Coliseum bans smoking in the arena, but smokers may light up in the concourse.