DATE: Saturday, August 30, 1997             TAG: 9708300576

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   81 lines

IT`S SHOW TIME FOR NSU STADIUM GAME MIGHT DRAW RECORD NUMBER OF SPORTS EVENT FANS IN REGION

Only four times have more than 30,000 fans gathered to watch a sports event in Hampton Roads. The fifth time could occur today at 6 p.m., when Norfolk State's football team christens the new Dick Price Stadium against Virginia State.

NSU officials said Friday they have enough standing room to handle about 33,000 fans at the 28,886-seat stadium. If the game sells out, it would be the largest crowd ever to gather for a sports event in the region.

The biggest crowd to date was 32,168 for the 1958 Oyster Bowl at Foreman Field, in which Tulane upended unbeaten Navy.

While the Labor Day Classic has traditionally attracted large crowds, this is the first game on campus for the Spartans in 40 years and parking and traffic problems could affect the gate.

``We know it will be a large crowd, but don't know how many will be here,'' said NSU athletic director Dick Price, for whom the stadium is named. ``If the weather is good, it'll be full. We've had bad weather for so many Labor Day games. Good weather will bring (the people) out.''

Some questions and answers on what to expect for opening day:

What is the weather forecast?

Clear skies, light winds and a high temperature in the 80s. Temperatures should be in the high 60s at game's end.

Where do I park?

If you live in the suburbs or on the Peninsula, your best bet is to park at the old Met Park site behind the Norfolk Airport Hilton. Downtown parking is available at Scope, the Harrison Opera House, the Freemason Street Garage, the city lot at Bute Street and St. Paul's Boulevard and the old Virginia Power lot at Virginia Beach Blvd. and Monticello Avenue. Parking is free and shuttle buses to the stadium begin running at 2:30 p.m.

Where can I buy tickets?

They will be sold in satellite parking lots and at stadium ticket booths beginning at 2:30 p.m.

What's there to do before the game?

A celebrity basketball game featuring former and current NBA players will be played at Echols Hall at 1 p.m. NSU officials say former UNC and Kempsville star J.R. Reid, Orlando Magic standout Dennis Scott and former ODU and Charlotte Hornets captain Kenny Gattison will take part. The cost is $10.

How about after the game?

There's a dance on campus for students. Alumni can go to the Norfolk Airport Hilton for a casino night in the grand ballroom beginning at 10 p.m.

Is the game on TV?

Yes, locally on WGNT-TV. The live feed has been syndicated by Sun Belt Video to stations in Tampa, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Baltimore, Richmond, Raleigh, Roanoke, Memphis, Toledo, Greensboro, N.C., Huntsville, Ala., Dayton, Ohio, Montgomery, Ala., Jackson, Miss., and Mobile, Ala., Pensacola, Fla. Several cable networks, including Home Team Sports, will carry it tape-delayed. HTS shows the game Monday at 2 p.m.

When do pregame ceremonies begin?

At 5:20 p.m. the NSU band marches into the stadium. Opening ceremonies begin at 5:25 p.m. Numerous guests will be introduced, including Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim and most of the City Council; Lieutenant Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr., who is running for governor; Congressman Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott; Virginia Senators Mark L. Earley of Chesapeake, Yvonne B. Miller of Norfolk and Benjamin J. Lambert III of Richmond; Charles Harris, commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; and William D. Dolan III, who is running against Earley in the November state attorney general race. At 5:58 p.m., NSU president Marie V. McDemmond throws out the first ball. Because of TV deadlines, the game will begin promptly at 6 p.m., officials say.

What other area games attracted more than 30,000?

According to Oyster Bowl records, the 1957 game, in which Navy defeated Georgia 27-14, drew 31,160. The 1959 Oyster Bowl matching Navy and Syracuse - Syracuse went on to win the national championship - drew 31,000. The next time Foreman Field saw more than 30,000 was in 1985, when NSU drew 30,307 for its 36-35 loss to Hampton University. Foreman Field had a capacity of 26,000, but had portable seating for the Oyster Bowl games. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot

NSU students and fans rev up the Spartan spirit Friday at a pep

rally celebrating the new 28,886-seat Dick Price Stadium.

Map

Parking for Tides Game & NSU Opener

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