by Ken Gimblin

SAN FRANCISCO–San Francisco Giants presdient Larry Baer once proposed to the Warriors a space for a new arena at AT&T Park’s parking lot at Lot A the current VIP lot for Giants customers during the baseball season. Baer actually proposed this idea to the Warriors before any announced idea by the Warriors to build at Piers 30-32.

The Warriors had big dreams for the Pier 30-32 location and according to Warriors spokesman P.J. Johnston they still do, the Warriors would like to build a ten story hotel, a 17 story luxury condo across the street from Piers 30-32 and of course the 12 story new arena on the pylons of piers 30-32.

Johnston and the team realize that the neighborhood opposition is immense and the team has discussed a back up plan to build the arena next to AT&T Park on the parking lot next to the ball park if the Warriros can’t move to piers 30-32, “It’s still full steam ahead on Piers 30-32, but we have always and will always consider backup plans” said Johnston

With that full steam ahead idea in mind the opposition once again are gearing up for a fight, the opponents just recently delivered ballots to city hall proposing to put a ballot measure asking voters if there should be any development that exceeeds over 40 feet at piers 30-32, the Warrios are proposing a 125 foot arena which would block waterfront views of the bridge and the east bay at the Embarcadero. In a poll taken the development idea was shot down because of the objections in height size.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee who said in light of the San Francisco 49ers leaving the city that a Warriors downtown arena would be a “legacy” to his administration. At first it appeared that the mayor would back off and let the voters decide how they would like this measure to go but has said recently that he wants to see this project move forward according to his press secretary Christine Falvey, “(the mayor) looks forward to sitting down again very soon with the Warriors’ownership to discuss steps for the arena and Piers 30-32 site” said Falvey.

The AT&T Park idea is being taken under consideration by the Warriors as a backup plan if there is a vote that goes against development at the waterfront. There are also plans by the Giants to develop retail, hotel and condo space near AT&T and owned by the team. The Giants are looking to build two apartment towers standing 30 stories and a 2,100 parking garage to make up for the loss of lot A.

The residents might find compromise in that for not losing the views and having development in that part of the waterfront of Piers 30-32. The way it stands right now if the Warriors push for Piers 30-32 development the neighborhood would push right back and oppose any development along the waterfront that goes over 40 stories that would include at AT&T Park or Pier 70 owned by Forest Cities properties who also is considering condo and retail developemnt at the Dog Patch loacation off of Third Street.

Former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos sees compromise to the idea by building a new arena next to AT&T Park that way the Warriors get to move into the waterfront neighborhood and the neighbors keep the views at Piers 30-32 and minus more Embarcadero traffic on game days, “I am very open to Lot A for a Warriors arena, the leadership of the city should get the Warriors and Giants together to work out a mutually satisfactory business agreement and the sooner they do it, the better” said Agnos.

Baer was not available to talk to Sportstalk radio and declined to discuss this matter, Baer in previous years did propose the idea to the Warriors about an arena on the Giants grounds but the Warriors wanted their own property and building but the team is realizing that this dream is not as easy as they thought it would be. Former San Francisco Board of Supervisor President Aaron Peskin who was a staunch opponent of any development at the piers says he would support a new Warriors arena at Lot A “without hesitation or reservation, it would be perfect” said Peskin.

If the city leadership, Lee, Agnos, the Giants, Baer, the Warriors owners of Joe Lacob and Peter Gruber, and most importantly the neighborhood and the voters of San Francisco find favor for AT&T Park for the arena than the Warriors could be looking at a shot at coming to the waterfront. The measure could get on the ballot for the AT&T arena location as soon as November of this year or as late as 2015.

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