THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 13, 1997 TAG: 9701130189
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A7 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: THE NHL IN HAMPTON ROADS
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 46 lines
The risk involved in pursuing an NHL franchise is great, because what if Hampton Roads actually gets one?
The chances of big-league hockey succeeding economically over the long term here appear questionable. And if the region's first and only big-league team has to move to survive, the stigma could take years to overcome.
More often, watching an NHL game live is a satisfying experience. Nationally, however, hockey is still mysterious to the masses. It is the least popular of the Big 4 sports - evidenced by its relatively minuscule national TV contract.
That, in turn, makes attending an NHL game - average ticket $38 - even more of an elitist activity than the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball.
Committing tax dollars of the region's cities, about $650,000 a year for 30 years from Virginia Beach, for example, so the well-heeled and well-connected can have a night out in downtown Norfolk, where the arena would be, probably isn't the most prudent use of tight municipal funds.
Not that anybody but the respective city councils has a say in the matter. As with other large, capital projects, notably Norfolk's Nauticus and the under-construction MacArthur Center, the public will not be heard through a referendum.
If it were, the consensus might be to pass on the NHL and continue to chase the NBA. Granted, it is difficult to rebuff a proven sports owner like George Shinn when he shows up with a game plan to get you ``big league'' status.
However, the vehicle, hockey, couldn't be worse. It isn't the sport so much as the chance to lose the ``largest area without major league sports'' label that has kicked the region's deal-makers into swift action.
Business and corporate support will make or break the deal. And the majority of business people have dropped hundreds and thousands of dollars in ticket and luxury suite commitments in the name of civic duty, rather than a burning enthusiasm to go watch hockey games.
What happens when the bloom fades and Shinn's expansion team is the dregs for a few seasons? Then the question becomes whether continued investment in an expensive sport that most people don't really care about is worth it, civic pride or no civic pride?
With a sport other than hockey, that question would have a better chance of being answered ``Yes.''
KEYWORDS: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE FRANCHISE