ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601170042
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL rejects a proposal to tear down Victory Stadium and decides to explore renovating the facility instead.o
Years down the road, Roanoke's beloved Victory Stadium may get a raised football field, a 400-meter track and a covered band shell for concerts as part of a major renovation that could cost city taxpayers as much as $13 million.
City Council on Tuesday chose that option as the most preferable of a series of potential sports facility plans presented to it by Atlanta-based consultants last month.
And it clearly indicated that the 53-year-old, 26,000-seat stadium's future is a priority over other recreational and sports facilities.
"The good news is, we're taking care of it now," Mayor David Bowers said after the vote. "The bad news is, we haven't done anything with it in the past 40 years, I think."
Council said that a new stadium probably is out of the question because of the cost - $21 million - and the land it would need - 40 acres.
Also rejected were a $14 million plan to tear down half the stadium, a $10 million blueprint for scaled-back renovations and a $6 million "bare bones" fix to the stadium that would leave the playing field in the flood plain.
The 5-0 vote shelved for the time being the movement toward building a field house or recreation center with an indoor ice rink, pool and gym - a facility that could cost $20 million or more, not counting the land that would be needed.
Agreeing with Bowers that the costs of those facilities should be shared with other Roanoke Valley governments, council asked City Manager Bob Herbert to consult with Roanoke County, Vinton and Salem about working jointly on some or all of those projects.
A residents' lobbying effort for a field house and recreational facilities, led by former Vice Mayor John Edwards, caused the city to hire the consultants in the first place.
"A regional sports complex sounds like a wonderful thing," Councilwoman Linda Wyatt said. "But I don't see how we cannot do something to renovate Victory Stadium. One of the things we've got to do is provide a place for our [high school] kids to play football on Friday nights."
Councilman William White agreed.
"Victory Stadium is a tangible item that we've had for more than 40 years," White said. "These other things are conceptual. ... We need to deal with Victory Stadium and then move forward with regional cooperation on these other things."
Councilman Mac McCadden said it may be time to bring back an idea for a regional sports authority to build a field house.
The path chosen by council doesn't guarantee that the stadium will get a major face lift in the near future. Herbert said after the vote that it merely sets the stage for a years-long process that would put the project in long-range capital improvement plans.
Funding, whether through bond sales, tax increases or cash out of the city's operating budget, has yet to be identified.
Instead, council's vote asked the consultant, Heery International, to come back with more specifics about the project within 60 days.
If the city ultimately goes ahead with the plan, Victory Stadium would see major changes, including:
Ripping out the first 17 rows of seats on each side of the stadium.
Removing the existing fountain and raising the playing field by 5 feet to get it out of the flood plain.
Widening the field to allow for soccer.
Building an eight-lane, 400-meter track and area for staging track and field events.
Building a band shell or covered stage for concerts.
Updating the lighting and adding a new press box.
Building new locker rooms and entry gates.
Making the stadium accessible to the handicapped.
LENGTH: Medium: 82 linesby CNB