THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 1996 TAG: 9605290393
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 99 lines
Hampton Roads' hopes of acquiring a major-league sports franchise have received a boost from senior NBA officials, including Commissioner David J. Stern.
The encouragement came last month in New York during a 90-minute presentation by three members of Norfolk's Economic Development Department, which quietly has been wooing the NBA for the past three years.
``I asked David at the end of the meeting, `What is your opinion of all of this?' '' said Robert Smithwick, Norfolk's then-economic development director. ``He told me to tell the people here that the commissioner of the NBA thinks Norfolk has a good shot (of acquiring a franchise) and that we ought to put together a proposal and present it'' to the NBA owners committee.
Stern could not be reached for comment, but Russell T. Granick, the NBA's deputy commissioner and Stern's top assistant, was at the meeting and said Smithwick ``made an impressive presentation.''
Granick, who said he and Stern ``speak with one voice,'' stressed that although the league made no commitment to Hampton Roads, ``It appears that Norfolk is the kind of market that could support an NBA team on the model of a Charlotte, an Orlando or a Portland.''
``We were aware of (the Hampton Roads area) prior to the meeting,'' Granick said, ``but I think they made a pretty good presentation of the growth and virtues of the city we had not thought about.''
NBA officials said a proposal to league owners must include an ownership group for a team that would cost more than $125 million, and a commitment to build a 20,000-seat arena. So far, Hampton Roads - the nation's largest metropolitan area without a major sports franchise - has neither.
League officials also say the NBA has no plans for expansion and that no existing franchise is known to be looking to relocate.
However, the NBA had announced no expansion plans in 1993, when it awarded franchises to Toronto and Vancouver. And the NBA planned to add no more than two teams in 1986, when it admitted all four that made presentations - Orlando, Charlotte, Miami and Minneapolis.
Bob Walsh, a Seattle-based consultant who wrote a report for the city of Norfolk on the region's hopes for acquiring a major sports franchise, said he believes the league will add two teams by the year 2000. Walsh headed Vancouver's successful effort to land a franchise three years ago.
While a Hampton Roads' ownership group has not been identified, sources say local businessmen have contacted potential owners, including Julius Erving, the former Virginia Squires and Philadelphia 76ers star. Sources say Erving, who could not be reached for comment, made at least one trip to Hampton Roads to meet with local business-people about a franchise.
Hampton Roads officials have been debating a proposed 20,000-seat arena since January, when Virginia Beach and Norfolk officials began to discuss hiring a consultant to determine if the region could support an arena. The consultant will be hired by the Hampton Roads Partnership, a newly formed group of 53 regional leaders, but won't begin work until early or mid-summer.
The April meeting with Stern and Granick was arranged by Horace Balmer, a Norfolk native and the league's vice president for security. Balmer was at the meeting along with Smithwick, Billy Mann and Charlie Bauman of the Norfolk economic development office.
Last summer, Mann and Bauman met with Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo in Phoenix. Last month, Smithwick, Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim and Norfolk City Manager James Oliver met with Balmer and Rod Thorn, the NBA's senior vice president for basketball operations, during the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
Fraim said his city began promoting Hampton Roads to the NBA in part because the region had no group to carry out that task. Once the consultant is hired, he said, Norfolk will ask the Hampton Roads Partnership to assume that role.
``These are very encouraging developments for the region as a whole and should add incentive to the Hampton Roads Partnership to push ahead with its study,'' said Fraim.
Smithwick resigned as economic development director recently, but is expected to continue leading Norfolk's pursuit of an NBA team from his new base in the city manager's office.
Smithwick said he discussed possible arena sites with Stern and that Stern agreed that a site near Harbor Park in downtown Norfolk, also favored by Norfolk officials, appeared most logical.
``He'd heard of Harbor Park,'' Smithwick said.
Smithwick said his presentation touched on all facets of Hampton Roads, from the revitalization of downtown Norfolk to the availability of 8,500 Oceanfront hotel rooms in Virginia Beach to tourist attractions on the Peninsula. Stern seemed impressed, Smithwick said.
``He said, `Get your presentation together and I'll get you in front of the owners committee. I think we can do that,' '' Smithwick said.
Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Mexico City are believed to be the region's chief competitors for an NBA franchise. Smithwick said he believes Nashville, a region of about 1 million residents that is building a 20,000-seat arena, is Hampton Roads' primary opponent. Hampton Roads has 1.6 million residents.
``One thing we've got to be concerned about is Nashville,'' Smithwick said. ``They're running amok, talking to every professional team they can find.''
Smithwick said Hampton Roads must move quickly.
``If we're going to get an opportunity, I think it will come in the next six months,'' he said. ``We need to get in front of the (owners) committee and make our case.'' ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC
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