THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230311
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 89 lines
The debate over whether Hampton Roads' cities and counties should help fund a $143 million, 20,000-seat arena in downtown Norfolk will begin on a modest scale Friday when leaders of the region's 15 largest jurisdictions meet in Williamsburg.
Officials have not decided when the localities will be asked to consider funding for the arena. Privately, they say it could be March before the request is formally made.
But the region's mayors and chairs of county boards of supervisors will hold their first discussion on the issue when they tackle an agenda item on economic development in Hampton Roads.
Cooperation on an arena, which would be built to attract a National Hockey League expansion team, would be unprecedented in a region where cities are accustomed to fighting over water, mass transit and even the names of interstate highways.
And that will be only the beginning. The mayors and chairs also will be asked to consider whether the Hampton Roads Partnership should hire Rick Horrow, a Miami-based consultant who specializes in sports and municipal projects.
Horrow has asked the Partnership to retain him to help bring a consensus among the region's jurisdictions for a series of regionally funded projects. Horrow's biggest success came in Oklahoma City, where in a year and a half he brought the city, county and state governments together on a $285 million series of 11 projects, included a 20,000-seat arena, a convention center, an art museum and mass transit construction.
Horrow has declined comment on what projects would be included in Hampton Roads, saying he would ask leaders in each community what they want. But the arena, a convention center in Virginia Beach, an art museum in Newport News and regional light rail are possibilities.
The Partnership, a group of more than 50 public and private area leaders, will hire Horrow only if the mayors and chairs consent.
``We're seeking guidance from the region's elected leaders on this issue,'' said Partnership President Barry E. DuVal.
That guidance isn't likely for another month or two. The mayors and chairs are expected to ask their cities and counties for feedback, and probably will make a decision in February or March.
Privately, officials say work on a Horrow-like series of projects has been under way behind the scenes for more than a year. The region's city managers discussed cooperation on big projects at many of their monthly meetings in 1996. They were assembling a list of regional projects when Charlotte businessman George Shinn announced his 11th-hour proposal on Oct. 31 to bring an NHL team to the region.
The Partnership cut a deal last month with Shinn that would provide for an arena, officials say, with no tax increase. More than 70 percent of the arena cost would be borne by ticket purchasers, rent payments and taxes generated on site that would not exist without the arena.
But the arena would require local tax dollars - the region's 15 jurisdictions have been asked to pay $1.50 per resident a year for 30 years, or $2.3 million per year. Without that money, the arena would run an estimated yearly deficit of $1.6 million per year.
Even arena proponents say they don't know if enough jurisdictions will approve funding to make the arena possible. Norfolk and Portsmouth, which together would provide about $450,000, appear to be the only sure ``yes'' votes among the 15. Hampton and Williamsburg also appear to be pro-arena.
Virginia Beach, the state's most-populous city, is the biggest question mark. It is being asked to contribute $650,000 per year. Beach officials have been quiet in public, but privately admit they're cool to the arena deal.
Said one Beach official, who asked not to be identified: ``I don't know what we're going to do. We'd need some assurance that Norfolk and the rest of the cities would go along with Horrow's proposal. If we help Norfolk fund an arena, I think it's only reasonable for them to help fund a convention center, which is just as important to the region's economy.''
For now, the public debate on the arena is being dominated by opponents. Since Shinn made his presentation to NHL owners in New York last week, arena proponents have been noticeably absent from the public eye.
Those opposed to building an arena have showered elected officials and the local media with letters and phone calls. Most oppose using tax dollars for the facility. Others think an NHL team isn't a good fit for Hampton Roads.
Arena proponents say their public campaign won't begin for several weeks. They have yet to decide who will lead that campaign and when the cities and counties will be asked to approve public funding.
But judging from a four-page executive summary of pro-arena arguments recently distributed to elected officials in Hampton Roads, they will cast the argument in economic-development terms.
The statement, written largely by the region's city managers, says Hampton Roads must improve its quality of life and do more to advertise itself - or the region will not attract quality jobs. ILLUSTRATION: Sports consultant Rick Horrow is to be considered for
a role with the Hampton Roads Partnership.
KEYWORDS: ARENA