ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, November 18, 1996              TAG: 9611180092
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: FAIRFAX
SOURCE: Associated Press

SUPPORTERS STILL PITCH VA. STADIUM FUNDING UNLIKELY WITHOUT TEAM, SITE

The Astros aren't leaving Houston, but some people promoting big-league baseball for Northern Virginia still want legislative approval for a stadium funding plan.

``My personal feeling is I would like to see the financing plan approved by the General Assembly,'' Kenneth Crovo, chairman of the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority, said Thursday.

The Virginia Baseball Club, which is trying to attract baseball to the region, had been negotiating with the Astros. But those negotiations ended this month when Houston voters approved a $265 million ballpark to be built in the Texas city's downtown area by 2000.

Meantime, a panel of Virginia lawmakers came up with a proposed stadium financial package that includes $18 million in annual bond payments over 30 years for a $300 million ballpark.

Up to $14 million a year would come from state lottery games. The other $4 million would come from sales taxes on stadium merchandise and from the state income taxes paid by ballplayers and other team employees.

The Virginia Baseball Club would pay the stadium authority $9 million annually in rent on the 45,000-seat ballpark. A 2 percent tax on tickets would raise between $800,000 and $900,000 a year to offset money the host county would spend on police and other costs on game days.

No site has been chosen for the stadium, nor have backers found another major league team willing to move to Northern Virginia.

``If you don't have either a team or a site, the chance of the legislation passing is dubious,'' said Del. Vince Callahan, R-Fairfax County.

But Michael Scanlon, Virginia Baseball Club vice president, said the General Assembly needs to pass a financial package with a firm sunset clause.

Such a clause could put Major League Baseball on notice that the financing will disappear if Northern Virginia does not acquire an existing team or an expansion team by July1, 1998, he said.

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