ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 17, 1996 TAG: 9610170065
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORFOLK
SOURCE: Associated Press
The owner of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets reportedly is considering the Norfolk area as the possible home of a National Hockey League franchise.
George Shinn has met twice with community and business leaders to discuss buying an NHL team and moving it to southeastern Virginia, The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday. The report said Shinn also is exploring Raleigh-Durham, N.C., as a possible home for either an expansion or existing team.
Leaders in the Hampton Roads area - Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Virginia Beach - have talked about pursuing a major sports franchise for years, and Shinn's interest would give the region an individual with the financial clout to make it happen.
Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim confirmed that he has met with Shinn, but refused to say whether they discussed an NHL franchise.
``He came here at my request to offer advice and consultation on the prospects of Hampton Roads being a viable market for professional sports,'' Fraim told the newspaper. ``I'm encouraged by our discussions.''
The NHL has not announced a timetable for expansion, but some expect the league to add at least two teams in December, then more in a few years.
While Raleigh is expected to apply for an expansion team at the first opportunity, Hampton Roads officials have said they expect to wait for the anticipated second wave, meaning hockey is at least four years away.
With 1.6 million residents, Hampton Roads is the nation's largest metropolitan area without a major sports franchise.
Raleigh-Durham, however, is the 30th largest television market - and the largest without a major franchise. Hampton Roads is the No.38 TV market.
Raleigh also has a larger median income ($18,652 to $15,592), more of the large corporations that are crucial to the success of a major sports franchise, and appears to be further along in plans to build an arena.
Raleigh and North Carolina State say they will build a 20,000-seat arena at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. Hampton Roads officials, meantime, have squabbled since January over hiring a consultant to do an arena study.
Until recently, Hampton Roads leaders seemed more inclined toward the NBA. A contingent from the area met with NBA commissioner David Stern late last year and said Stern encouraged their pursuit of an expansion franchise.
Recently, though, Fraim has been hinting that he was talking to potential ownership groups and that the focus of discussion had shifted to hockey.
``We're on their radar screens,'' he said of both leagues at last month's meeting of the Sports Authority of Hampton Roads. ``They know who we are. We've talked with them and they like our market.''
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB