by Ken Gimblin

SAN FRANCISCO–A recent poll sampling showed that out of 400 potential San Francisco voters 75 percent of them would be in favor of a new downtown arena at Peirs 30-32. The Golden State Warriors are gearing up to start their campaign for a new arena and get it on the ballot. They need 9,702 registered San Francisco voter signatures by February 3rd to get the measure on the June ballot.

The Warriors new arena campaign manager Jim Stearns feels this is acheivable and with a little more than two weeks left to make deadline Stearns said that the campaign finance goal of up to $100,000 and if the opposition turns up the heat he can get more that where that came from, “we’re going to need between $75,000 to $100,000 to get the signatures and if there is deep pocketed opposition we’ll have more.” said Stearns.

If Stearns and the Warriors campaign were to get the 9702 signatures they will put a ballot proposal that could be in front of the San Francisco voters by as early as June. The opposition which consists of former San Francisco mayor Art Agnos and the Sierra Club are taking steps to a new Warriors arena, but they could consider also stopping a high rise development proposed at AT&T Park by the San Francisco Giants and the Warriors would have luxury condos across the Embarcadero near Piers 30-32 that would include a brand new hotel building.

Not to mention that Pier 70 in the Dog Patch neighborhood just off Third Street is proposing high rise development there that would include housing and retail. Agnos said that blocking the bay views and developing and changing the waterfront landscape should be stopped in protecting what environment and what views the waterfront has left, “it’s a reaction to what appears to be the unchecked granting of exemptions of City Hall for high rise luxury developments along the city owned waterfront, if these projects are good as they say, then they should have no problem.” said Agnos.

Agnos’ point stemming from the 8 Washington condo ballot measure last November in the form of the San Francisco propositions B and C went down to defeat in the proposal for development on the waterfront not too far away from piers 30-32. However Warriors spokesman Nathan Ballard is confident in not only the recent poll results but if the Warriors pursued the signatures to get the meausre on the next ballot the Warriors would have no problem getting them, “we are confident when the voters see the entire (arena) proposal, they will support it.” said Ballard.

The Giants who stand to be the only show in town after the 49ers leave for the South Bay want to develop part of their parking lot property to high rises, condos, shopping retail and other activity along the waterfront but with the Warriors new arena coming on the scene the Giants might be forced to take a side because of all the opposition to the over development of the area. The plot thickens stay tuned.

Ken Gimblin is covering the arena developments for the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings for Sportstalk radio