San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer called off a plan to hold two
hearings and have a city council vote on her $43.5M plan to bring
the Warriors to San Jose Arena by early next week, according to
this morning's SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. Hammer also expressed
"displeasure" over the pace of talks between the Warriors and
Sharks on reaching a deal to share the Arena. The Warriors have
said they needed a decision by October 31, or they could be
required to have exclusive negotiating rights with Oakland (Mary
Anne Ostrom, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/25). In Oakland, Robert
Salladay reports that San Jose's delay could give Oakland "an
important bargaining tool" in their dealings with the team.
Oakland officials said yesterday they will wait until October 31
before deciding on an extension of the Warriors' lease at the
Oakland Coliseum. The Warriors would want an extra month or two
to negotiate without having to commit to Oakland for '96-97.
Oakland officials could grant an extension in exchange for an
exclusive negotiating agreement, "which would effectively shut
San Jose out until Oakland has completed its deal" (OAKLAND
TRIBUNE, 10/25).
