ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 10, 1996 TAG: 9610100104
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MEGAN SCHNABEL STAFF WRITER
THE CIVIC CENTERS IN Roanoke and Salem go smoke-free today. Officials say they expect little trouble.
Starting today, smokers attending games or concerts at the Roanoke Valley's two largest venues may want to bring a jacket with them if they plan to light up.
The Roanoke and Salem civic centers, responding to complaints and requests from nonsmoking patrons, on Wednesday announced that they will now be completely smoke-free during public events. Both facilities will offer outdoor smoking areas, which will be secured so smokers can re-enter the buildings during events.
The two civic centers had been discussing the idea for months, said John Saunders, assistant director of the Salem Civic Center.
"It sooner or later was bound to happen," he said. "They do this virtually everywhere in the country now." A 1994 survey conducted by the International Association of Assembly Managers found that more than 60 percent of arenas in the country do not allow smoking in public areas, he said.
Additionally, more than 70 percent of auditoriums and theaters prohibit smoking. According to the survey, he said, most of the smoke-free facilities had few problems enforcing their policies.
"Once people grow accustomed to it, it's not such a big deal," Saunders said.
The greatest resistance may come from vendors, who won't be allowed to smoke inside during two- and three-day trade shows, he said.
Smoking has been restricted at both facilities for some time. In Salem, smoking was allowed only in the concourses and the lobby of the arena. Many smokers went outside, Saunders said. Neighboring Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium is smoke-free as well.
In Roanoke, the civic center auditorium had been smoke-free for several years. During Roanoke Express hockey games, smoking areas were set up in the concourse area of the coliseum; the seating area and main concourses were smoke-free. Smoking had been allowed in the concourses during concerts.
Roanoke Civic Center management wanted to institute the new policy before the start of the hockey season, said marketing coordinator Chris Powell. Express general manager Pierre Paiement had urged smoke-free games, she said, after complaints from nonsmoking fans.
Either facility probably would have gone smoke-free on its own, Saunders said. But because the two civic centers are just eight miles apart, it made sense to coordinate their policies, he said.
"We buildings do work together," he said.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB