City leaders in Norfolk and Virginia Beach said yesterday
they would not commit public dollars to the CFL Pirates, "a move
that likely ends the team's hopes of making the Hampton Roads
home," according to the VIRGINIAN-PILOT. A joint statement read:
"It was decided that the long-term interest of the citizens of
Hampton Roads would be better served by pursuing other
professional and amateur sports opportunities." VA Beach City
Council Member W.W. Harrison: "We have higher aspirations." The
council decided not to pay $400,000 to fix up Old Dominion's
Foreman Field for the Pirates, but will instead pursue a
basketball or hockey NHL team. Pirates President Lonie
Glieberman said the team still hopes to play in Hampton Roads,
adding "we are prepared to go it alone with our own money." But
area officials "made it clear they were rejecting not just the
Pirates, but the CFL as a whole" (VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 1/17).
STALLIONS BOLT STABLE: CFL Stallions Owner Jim Speros will
announce today whether the Grey Cup Champions will remain in
Baltimore or move to Houston, according to the Baltimore SUN.
Gary Lambrecht writes that "all signs" point toward Houston
(Baltimore SUN, 1/17).
