THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
My husband was born in Norfolk. I have resided here almost 50 years. We are proud of our city.
We were in favor of the original Waterside construction but not the subsequent addition, because the original part never appeared to have 100 percent occupancy. We were in favor of Harbor Park and Nauticus. We have a lukewarm feeling for MacArthur Center and an ice-cold feeling toward a new sports arena for Hampton Roads.
When the dust settles and the sports arena is crammed down our throats, what will happen to Scope? If it loses hockey and basketball games, Scope will be history.
Scope lost the Boat Show to Virginia Beach a few years ago. I do hope the consultants will note this loss of revenue to Norfolk in their overall report.
I don't know why the dreamers feel we can support NBA or NHL franchises when we can't even support the one-day-a-year Oyster Bowl game. It's ironic! The Oyster Bowl is fading away at the same time the NBA and NHL are being promoted.
If it is so easy to raise $140 million to promote more sports jocks, why not raise that money for computers to educate our students and show them it is just as important to be a scholar as a player of sports?
Why should I pay taxes for a sports arena that I will never use? I have no desire to attend a basketball or hockey game even if the tickets are free. Any expenditure for a sports arena should be decided by a referendum.
I leave you with this thought: Has any consultant rendered a disappointing view on any project he was hired to promote?
MARY JUNE HALL
Norfolk, March 10, 1996 by CNB