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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 15, 1995                   TAG: 9511150069
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LANDMARK NEWS SERVICe
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

CFL TEAM WILL RELOCATE TO TIDEWATER

The Shreveport (La.) Pirates unexpectedly announced Tuesday they are moving their Canadian Football League franchise to Hampton Roads. And in spite of an 11th-hour bid by league rival Baltimore to block their path, it appears the Pirates will play next season at Foreman Field.

``We've relocated to Hampton Roads,'' team president Lonie Glieberman said at a press conference at the Omni Hotel, ostensibly held to announce a season-ticket drive to test the waters in Hampton Roads. Glieberman's pronouncement was so casual many reporters missed it.

The Pirates were planning to wait out an eight-week ticket sales drive before announcing their intention to play in Norfolk. But their hand was forced by Baltimore Stallions owner Jim Speros, who said Monday he, too, was interested in moving to Hampton Roads.

On Tuesday, Speros challenged the Pirates' announcement, claiming, ``I own the rights to that marketplace in my franchise agreement, which gives me rights to all of Maryland, Virginia and Washington.''

``That's my territory,'' Speros said. ``The Gliebermans have to go through me. I will be down there next week to meet with people in the Norfolk area. I'm still interested in that market.''

But by Tuesday night, CFL officials had researched the Stallions' franchise agreement and determined Speros does not have the territorial rights to Hampton Roads.

Bernie Glieberman, the Pirates' owner and father of Lonie, said CFL general counsel John Tory called him in Orlando, Fla., where he is attending a builders' convention.

by CNB