DATE: Tuesday, May 27, 1997                 TAG: 9705270040
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY F.G. EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   83 lines

VIRGINIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME SEEKS A NEW, AND LARGER, HOME

The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame sits on High Street in a small building, tucked away in a courtyard next to the Arts Center at the 1846 Courthouse.

Those who find it have to be looking for it.

The Hall's executive director, Eddie Webb, wants to change that, and he has support from city officials.

Webb, who in September 1996 became only the second director in the Hall's 25-year history, envisions a much more visible sports museum - both in terms of location and in the type of activities offered.

Toward that end, Webb has become a busy and persuasive advocate of change and growth for what he calls ``a secret treasure right here in Portsmouth.''

He and several others visited similar facilities in other Southern states, notably Alabama, to get ideas.

The city recently brought in a consulting group, Nashville-based 1220 Exhibits, to walk officials through a one-day workshop and talk about plans for change.

The group recommended a new location and a larger facility. The current Hall contains approximately 5,500 square feet. All parties agree the space is too confining.

Elizabeth Tate, director of Museum Services at 1220 Exhibits, said a new location is necessary.

``They absolutely need a new facility to do what they want to do,'' Tate said. ``I would say a 20,000-square-foot building to implement these plans.''

Webb said that Tate's report was helpful but believes that 15,000 square feet can accommodate the memorabilia and exhibits needed to update the Hall. Webb also said that the city will bring in two other consulting firms to get more opinions.

There also is consensus on the need for interactive exhibits, either electronic or physical.

Webb imagines a sports hall of fame with a first floor devoted to exhibits and a second floor full of activities.

``It's a family concept,'' Webb said. ``Exhibits, memorabilia for the parents and older visitors. Interactive activities for the younger visitors. We need more space to accommodate parties and alumni groups. We could have monitors to watch games, a small movie theater.

``It's not so much what we need now, but what we will need 15 years from now.

``This could be a tremendous boon to Portsmouth tourism.''

Trips to other states' sports halls of fame have convinced Webb that Virginia needs to throw more support behind its Hall of Fame. The Virginia General Assembly has designated the facility as the state's official sports hall of fame. However, as it does in most matters, money plays the key role.

``We don't want this to be just a Portsmouth Hall of Fame, but a Virginia Sports Hall of Fame,'' said Webb, who envisions regional halls in the central, southwest and northern areas of the state, as well as an expanded Portsmouth facility.

The Virginia General Assembly budgeted $100,000 for two fiscal years, 1996 and 1997.

Webb called sports everybody's hobby, saying that it wasn't a partisan political agenda.

``There are more positive role models in this building than on the sports pages most days,'' Webb said.

Deputy City Manager Tim Little sat in on the 1220 Exhibits workshop, saw the group's report and traveled to other states to get ideas.

Little said the city wants to find a 15,000- to 20,000-square-foot building to house the Hall.

``We're looking for either a new building or one which can be refurbished,'' Little said. ``We would like to keep it within walking distance of the business district, in the High Street corridor.''

The area the city is looking into is between Water and Effingham streets, a block on either side of High, Little said. Little called the sports hall search a two- or three-year plan.

Webb realizes the value of fund-raising, another emphasis of the 1220 report.

``Of course, it's going to take a combination of public and private funds,'' Webb said. ``When you talk about corporate support, you're talking about finding a company - any company - willing to put up money.

``I'm an equal opportunity recipient for the Hall.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MARK MITCHELL/The Virginian-Pilot

Eddie Webb, executive director, stands in the present home of the

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, next to the Arts Center at the 1846

Courthouse in downtown Portsmouth, and admires the display that

features the career of basketball great Ralph Sampson.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu