THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 17, 1995 TAG: 9503170675
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 115 lines
Norfolk city officials have urged the Hampton Roads Admirals to jump to the American Hockey League.
Norfolk mayor Paul Fraim and other city officials, including other members of the City Council, met for several hours with Cullen Wednesday afternoon at City Hall.
The city is expected to offer incentives if the Admirals move up to the AHL. Renovated Scope offices and locker rooms, a renegotiated Scope lease and the city's help in marketing Admirals' tickets could be part of a deal with the city.
The development comes amid growing signs that Admirals' president Blake Cullen is leaning toward moving to the AHL.
Cullen spoke by telephone for the second day in a row to AHL president Dave Andrews on Thursday. Cullen said he called Andrews to get a commitment on what it would cost him to move to the AHL.
Cullen would not comment on his conversation with Andrews. However, sources say three major hurdles remain:
The Admirals won't move into the AHL if they must pay anything more than a token franchise fee. Cullen would be surrendering an East Coast Hockey League franchise worth more than $2 million and forfeiting perhaps $350,000 in expansion fees from the ECHL.
He must have an NHL affiliate before he will commit.
Cullen insists that he retain coach John Brophy. Some NHL teams insist on naming their own coaching staffs.
Charlotte and Greensboro announced Tuesday that they are jumping from the ECHL to the AHL. The AHL also has negotiated with Raleigh and Richmond. Roanoke also has expressed an interest in moving up, and sources say the AHL might expand to Greenville, S.C., a city long expected to move into the ECHL in 1996-97, when an arena is in place.
Fraim said he met with Cullen to express two concerns.
``Number one, the city is very interested in furthering the relationship we have with Blake Cullen,'' he said. ``We want to nurture it. We want to maintain this good working relationship.
``Number two, our interest is to have an America Hockey League franchise in Norfolk next year.
``We think the fans deserve an American Hockey League franchise. My belief is that it would will facilitate the occurrence one day of a National Hockey League franchise. In simple terms, it would be easier to move from the AHL than from the East Coast Hockey League.''
With 1.6 million people, Hampton Roads is the nation's largest metropolitan area without a major sports franchise. Fraim has said he is committed to bringing a major sports franchise to Hampton Roads.
Fraim, an Admirals' season-ticket holder, would not be specific about what was offered the Admirals.
``We're looking at win-win strategies,'' he said. ``We think there are several out there.''
The Admirals currently pay the city 19 percent of gate receipts, do not share in lucrative concessions and parking fees and are operating out of cramped offices and locker facilities.
Cullen said he was asked to research how the city might help him afford an AHL franchise; his budget would rise about $750,000 to at least $2.5 million in the AHL.
``The important thing is that they (city officials) stand behind us,'' he said. ``I was extremely impressed by the mayor and the others taking the time and interest in me, John Brophy and hockey.''
Andrews has declined comment on expansion, but a source close to him told the Portland (Maine) Press Herald that he expects more franchises to follow Charlotte and Greensboro.
``But we have two weeks at most to get it done,'' the source was quoted as saying.
The newspaper also reports that Baltimore's bid for an expansion franchise likely will be finalized next week. Baltimore is expected to join the ECHL clubs in a new AHL division.
Sources say Andrews is saying the AHL will take four or more franchises from the ECHL at no charge. If fewer than four move up, the price is $1 million per franchise. It isn't known whether the AHL will compromise if three teams move up.
Nonetheless, sources say Cullen has given the go-ahead to Brophy to speak with potential NHL affiliates. AHL sources say Dallas, San Jose, Chicago, Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders are possible affiliates for the Admirals.
Meanwhile, Howard Williams, a minority stockholder at Greensboro, has told reporters that the Admirals ``backed out of a deal'' to jump to the AHL. The deal was made, he said, when representatives of five ECHL teams met with Andrews Monday in Charlotte. He accused Cullen of ``getting cold feet.''
Cullen denied the accusation.
``There never was a deal,'' he said. ``I don't know why he's saying that. I have never committed to anything. I'm still considering the AHL, but I think it's prudent to investigate this thoroughly. I have not made up my mind, nor have I committed to anyone.''
Cullen phoned ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly Thursday to inform him that he is considering a move to the AHL. He volunteered not to appear at the ECHL's meeting Monday in Charlotte, he said, if that's the league's preference. Sources say Charlotte and Greensboro will be barred from the meeting.
Cullen acknowledged that the Admirals' phones have been ringing almost nonstop with fans urging the team to move up.
``I want to be fair to our fans, to everyone involved,'' he said. ``It could be great for all concerned, but I have to take the time to review it thoroughly.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
``We think the fans deserve an American Hockey League franchise.''
Paul Fraim, Norfolk mayor
Three major hurdles remain:
The Admirals won't move into the AHL if they must pay anything
more than a token franchise fee. Cullen would be surrendering an
ECHL franchise worth upwards of $2 million and forfeiting perhaps
$350,000 in expansion fees from the East Coast Hockey League.
They must have an NHL affiliate before they will commit.
Cullen insists that he retain coach John Brophy. Some NHL teams
insist on naming their own coaching staffs.
by CNB