THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510260586
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Lonie Glieberman continued his quest Wednesday to bring a Canadian Football League team to Hampton Roads by meeting with Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim and Old Dominion University athletic director Jim Jarrett. He then attended a Hampton Roads Admirals hockey game at Scope, where he met with team owner Blake Cullen.
Glieberman, who has pledged to move the Shreveport (La.) Pirates to Norfolk if a season-ticket sale is successful, termed all three meetings casual but positive.
Shreveport head coach Forrest Gregg, a former NFL star, coach and a Hall of Fame member who coached the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl, accompanied Glieberman and got his first look at Foreman Field, where the team hopes to play. The 25,400-seat stadium is located on ODU's campus.
Gregg said the 59-year-old stadium would suffice as a temporary home. Glieberman has said area cities eventually must build another stadium if the team is to succeed.
``I was prepared,'' Gregg said with a smile about his inspection of Foreman Field. ``It was better than I had expected.
``We need dressing rooms and a larger press box. And the (artificial) turf on the field is a concern. It's so hard. But I think it would work as a temporary home.''
Gregg, accompanied by his wife, Barbara, said the entourage's reception on Wednesday ``was positive all the way. The people here have been great. Jim Jarrett and the mayor are sharp, straightforward people, the kind you like to deal with.''
Fraim termed his meeting with Glieberman ``a chance to get to know each other.'' He said he asked Glieberman to meet with him again soon and to provide specific proposals as to what the Pirates will request from the city.
``It was an informal meeting,'' Fraim said. ``We asked Mr. Glieberman to come forward with some specifics.''
However, Fraim acknowledged that Norfolk's interest in the team might be limited. He said the city has neither the money nor the land to build a stadium and that he realizes the Pirates eventually will move to another locality in Hampton Roads.
``That's something we're trying to come to grips with,'' he said. ``The rest of (City) Council needs to be part of the discussion.''
Jarrett released a one-paragraph statement acknowledging he met with Glieberman and Gregg, but declined further comment. Glieberman is attempting to negotiate a lease with ODU.
``Jim has been great to deal with,'' Glieberman said. ``But I won't comment any further than that. Our discussions with Old Dominion and the city need to remain confidential.''
Cullen hosted Glieberman, the Greggs and Spencer Steel, the team's general counsel, for dinner before the Admirals game, then gave them a quick tour of Scope and the team's offices. Although the crowd of 5,083 was the smallest of the season, and one of the smallest in recent years, Glieberman said he was impressed.
``The crowd was enthusiastic,'' he said. ``The thing that impressed me most was that so many wear Admirals apparel. The crowd wasn't huge, but I know that they usually sell out on weekends.
``This is a first-class organization. Mr. Cullen was a great host.''
Glieberman said he plans to contact officials from the Norfolk Tides baseball team, and that he will maintain good relations with both of Norfolk's other professional teams.
``I don't see professional sports teams as competitors,'' he said. ``The movie theatres, the festivals compete with us as much as any other professional team. We're all in the same business.
``If we come here, we will try to work with every team in the area.''
Glieberman said he will continue negotiations with other cities - Milwaukee is considered his No. 2 choice - while attempting to sell season tickets in Hampton Roads.
Glieberman said he will bring a consultant to Norfolk this weekend who will help him plan the season-ticket sale, which likely will be announced next week. A goal hasn't been set, though 10,000 is a ballpark figure.
``We'll continue to talk with the other cities,'' Glieberman said. ``It's the only prudent thing to do. We have 75 people in our organization. We want to make sure we're doing the right thing for all 75 people.''
Gregg, who is returning to Shreveport today, said he will come back to Hampton Roads to help sell season tickets.
``I'll do whatever I can to help make it work,'' he said.
Meanwhile, the Shreveport Times reported Tuesday that the Pirates will shut down operations in mid-November and that some employees already have resigned. A season-ticket drive to keep the Pirates in Louisiana netted just 1,702. The goal was 10,000.
``Everyone here knows it's over,'' said a Pirates employee who will remain in Shreveport and asked not to be identified. ``It just didn't work here. This area is too small.
``I hope it works in Virginia.'' by CNB